Guys, i need help. i’m wiring the boat and need help with battery Wire gauge.
. Wiring has been gutted. 2 batteries installed. Both forward of the 2 consoles a little bit. House battery for loads, and starting battery for outboard. Installing a blue sea systems ‘mini add a battery’ kit. The run from outboard to shut off switch, then to starting battery is approx 15-16’ one way, say 30’ round trip. I will have a neg bus bar installed at the battery switch which is 13’ from outboard. From there, obviously all negatives will be punched down there.
My initial google searches claimed 4awg is good. The outboard is a Yamaha F60 (60hp) made in mid 2007, advertised as a 2008 model.
Looking and comparing the spool of 4awg i just purchased to the factory battery cables generously given to me by the seller of the outboard (to short to use) show the factory yamaha cables to be much thicker. It could be bigger than 2awg, prolly 1, 0, or even 2/0.
GENERAL internet searches show results of most guys saying “ 4 is ok, but go 2 for extra security”...
Now i’m sitting here thinking i should have bought a spool of 2awg, not this 4awg i have. At 16’ on the positive, and another 14’ back to the outboard, i’m looking at a total run from outboard to battery and back of 28-30’.
My guess is yamaha uses some thick gauge wire and covers ALL the outboards they offer(generally). Cause more than 2awg for a 60hp 4 stroke outboard seems a waste. I CAN NOT find the inrush starting current for 2008 f60 outboards ANYWHERE. But the charging current of the alternator is only 16 amps.
i’m at a huge loss as to what gauge to go with from the outboard, to switch, to battery, back to outboard.. should i return this 4awg and get 2awg? Or even thicker? Tinned marine battery cable is INSANELY expensive. I want comfort in knowing i have enough, but don’t want to **** momey away on wire i don’t need.
please help!