Need Help With Wiring!!

[btbrunk9]

I am getting a 14ft fiberglass boat which needs everything rewired and i need to know what gauge of wire i need to use for different things such as the navigation lights, bilge pump, trolling motor, and the motor itself. i was hoping i could run it from the battery to a gang switch panel i found at gander mountain then out to the different things.

(http://www.gandermountain.com/modpe...Panel_With_12V_Socket&aID=506I8A&merchID=4006)

 

[seabob4]

Re: Need Help With Wiring!!

Nav lgts, bilge pump, any other lighting or small pumps, you'll be fine with 16GA. Your TM? 10GA minimum, probably better with 8, and fuse it appropriately. Your TM install manual will tell you what circuit protection it needs, fuse it within 7" of the batt or source of power. Your motor? 4GA will do you...

There will some who come on here and post amp draw charts and all sorts of neat things. Follow my guidelines, you'll be fine...I wire boats for a living...

 

[btbrunk9]

Re: Need Help With Wiring!!

But i should be able to run everything right of the gang swithch panel right?

 

[seabob4]

Re: Need Help With Wiring!!

But i should be able to run everything right of the gang swithch panel right?

All except your TM, that should have an on/off switch on the head...

That switch panel you posted a link to, it had 20A rated switches (the norm is 25) and 15A fuses. What does your TM manual recommend for circuit protection (fuse/breaker size)?

 

[btbrunk9]

Re: Need Help With Wiring!!

yeah i wasn't going to run the TM of the switch panel and i went and bought the boat yesterday but i'm picking it up Wednesday so i don't know what the TM manual recommends. Also can i go directly from the battery to the switch panel

 

[seabob4]

Re: Need Help With Wiring!!

yeah i wasn't going to run the TM of the switch panel and i went and bought the boat yesterday but i'm picking it up Wednesday so i don't know what the TM manual recommends. Also can i go directly from the battery to the switch panel

You can, but it is not advisable. Run 10GA from the batt to 30A fuse or breaker (I use 40A surface mount breakers, but seeing as you will have a relatively light electrical load, 30A should do fine), locate it within 7" of the batt, then continue on forward with 10GA to feed the panel. Do NOT use wire from Home Depot, use the proper marine grade wire, I get mine from genuinedealz...

 

[btbrunk9]

Re: Need Help With Wiring!!

Another question i have is, How am i suppose to run the wire for the TM? Should i run the wire for the TM off the 10Ga wire between the fuse and the switch panel

 

[NYBo]

Re: Need Help With Wiring!!

Welcome to iboats!

The trolling motor needs to have separate wiring, and, preferably a separate battery. You don't want to get stranded because the TM ran down your only battery so you can't start the main motor. Of course, if you have an outboard that can be pull-started, that's not so much of an issue.

 

[btbrunk9]

Re: Need Help With Wiring!!

another question i have is should i just run one ground wire throughout the whole boat and connect the different grounds to that or am i going to have to run multiple ground wires

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need Help With Wiring!!

There are only two ground points on a boat. 1) the negative terminal of the battery, and 2) the ground buss at the helm. If the switch panel you have does not incorporate a ground buss then you either make one or your only other choice is to run all ground wires back to the battery. But you already were told to run a #10 black & red wire from the battery to the console. That black wire IS the ground. Install a terminal strip on which that wire connects. Then all of the ground wires from the lights and other accessories connects there. Your troller wiring will need to be a minimum of #8 due to the current draw and even then, wire size will be dictated by the size of the motor. You cannot tie the two circuits together and you definitely need a separate troller battery unless you happen to have a motor that can be rope started.