Circuit breaker / fuse

[bronze_10]

So.. for all the electrical gurus out there.. I ran a 10 gauge positive and negative wire from the battery side of the boat around to behind the helm.. I have a distribution block and a ground block to install behind the helm for my plotter, vhf, and nmea 2000 additions.. I want to put a inline fuse or a circuit brraker where the power wire will be connected at the battery switch... what size should I use?

 

[Bruce]

Based on a 16' wire run of 10 gauge wire limited to a 5% voltage drop (13.6 in, 12.92 at the end) you would be limited to 17 amps. So I would install a 15 amp fuse.

8 gauge wire would allow for 27 amps.

 

[bronze_10]

Rgr.. all I am pulling onot it will be the plotter and the vhf radio.. and the nmea 2000 back bone but that is suppose to be very low power.

 

[Bruce]

Are you using a NMEA 2000 back bone for the VHF and plotter to communicate or do you have bigger plans for it?

You should be fine consumption wise. You can check their manuals but I would guess that the VHF and plotter combined are less than 10 amps.

I have 8 gauge wire and a 20 amp fuse to my switch panel which is powering a second bilge pump, trim tabs, VHF, plotter, freshwater shower, underwater lights and cupholder LEDS.

 

[bronze_10]

When i installed the fusion radio last year I bought the swim deck remote for it as well... it came with the nmea 2000 backbone to connect it with the radio.. so since it is there I am gonna use it to connect my fusion radio with my plotter and my plotter and vhf as well... but the way I under stand it for all of that u have to supply low level power to the backbone
.. I already have the power adaptor.. I just need several tee connectors and the cable extensions to go to each unit.

 

[bronze_10]

Soo this was the scene today... the whole family got into the boat mod project..

 

[bronze_10]

 

[Bill D]

Ugh, I'm sor jealous @bronze_10... The same scene was set at my house, except that was me in all those compartments!

 

[bronze_10]

Ok @Bruce help me find an inline 15 amp breaker.. I like the ones used for audio but amazon only has them in 10 amp incriminate

 

[Bruce]

Ok @Bruce help me find an inline 15 amp breaker.. I like the ones used for audio but amazon only has them in 10 amp incriminate

Why not use a fuse? It is unlikely to blow.

I have 10 amp breakers on my individual switches.

 

[bronze_10]

I have a 10 gauge in line fuse holder... I guess I could use that no.more power than I will draw

 

[Julian]

Wish I could get my family interested in modding the boat!!! Lucky!

 

[bronze_10]

Wish I could get my family interested in modding the boat!!! Lucky!

The odd thing is we all enjoy it... no arguing!

 

[itsdgm]

That's awesome @bronze_10 Get all of the wiring/ballast projects done before the kids grow up and are too big to fit in there

 

[KXCam22]

Thats handy having a family like that. I did it myself but had to call the fire department to get me out of the port locker. Cam.

 

[Bruce]

I believe @txav8r actually got stuck in one of the lockers. I use child labor.

 

[bronze_10]

Child labor is great.. the thing that warmed my heart is my 12 year old looked at me and said.. daddy... I love working on stuff like this! That's my girl!
And my 8 year old was all eager to do her side as well..

 

[txav8r]

I did!