wiring nav and anchor lights

[ffs]

Hi all,

I have an open 14 foot aluminum v-bottom boat that I'd like to wire for navigation/anchor lights.

My questions are as follows:

1) What gauge wire should I be using to hook up these lights? This will be a direct hook to the 12V battery, as I'm running everything (motors and lights) from the stern. I'll have a fish finder and trolling motor directly hooked to the battery. Both have inline fuses.

2) The instructions that came with the anchor light indicate that a 1 amp fuse should be used to protect the lights, but I cannot find a 1 amp fuse holder. Can I use a 20 amp inline AGC fuse holder and just insert the 1 amp fuse?

3) I want to hook the nav/anchor lights up to a DPDT switch, but I don't have a control panel, and as I stated earlier the boat is open and I'm connecting lights, fish finder, and trolling motor straight to the battery. So the DPDT would be mounted on the transom, open to the weather. I figured I could just hit Home Depot and get a "waterproof" electrical box, mount the switch in it, and caulk the heck out of it, but is there another route to go?

4) Is there any difference between a straight and angled pole base other than preference (and of course, change in the height of the anchor light depending on which pole holder is used)?

I have a few diagrams on how to wire this up, but although I've done some electrical in land vehicles and houses, I'm pretty much an amateur to electrical in general, so any additional information would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the help,

Matt

 

[Q_ball]

Re: wiring nav and anchor lights

Whatever you DO NOT use a 20 amp fuse! tou will melt all your wires way before the fuse would blow. remember your fuse is your protection. 14 gauge wire would be fine, if they are LED's you could go smaller but never smaller than the wires that te manufacturer used. The switch you need would ba a three postion ON-OFF-ON and use a diode($1.50 at radio shack) or a three position double pole and not use the diode.

 

[NYBo]

Re: wiring nav and anchor lights

Welcome to iboats!

You can use 16 gauge wire with no problem. Yes, you can substitute the proper fuse size in the holder. Remember, you will also have the bow light on the same circuit when underway, so plan accordingly.

Here's the way to wire the nav lights. A water resistant switch is a water-resistant box is a good idea.

 

[ffs]

Re: wiring nav and anchor lights

Good information, tyvm for the help!

 

[Don S]

Re: wiring nav and anchor lights

Meanwhile, back at the nav/anchor light problem.