ground for chart plotter

[jjwelly]

Hey All:

I realize this must be a very simple question, but can someone please tell me where to tap into a ground for my Garmin chartplotter? I don't see a grounding bar in the helm, and see no reason to run a dedicated ground to battery. Planning to use one of the two accessory switches which gives me my (+) but don't see anywhere obvious for the ground.

 

[zipper]

Look for yellow or black wiring. I assume your Garmin +12v in-line fuse is a small amperage. If so, I would find the ground wire for the rarely used horn circuit and tie into that. That is the quick way. A better way is to put a BlueSea 6 ckt. Pos/Neg fuse panel under the helm for this and any future needs.

 

[jjwelly]

Thank you. Tapping into the horn ground seems to make sense to me. I am trying to figure out what all the terminals for the switches are. This boat is all new to me, so learning alot as I go. It appears (+) power comes into the switch through an inline circuit breaker? Is that what each switch has above it? Then power is run to the switch. There's an open spade which I'm believing is for your accessory (+), in my case my chartplotter (+) lead. There's also a black wire that runs to each switch, thinking this is a ground for the switch light? Would it make more sense to tap into this ground vs. the horn ground? Both are really easy to access so no one is harder than the other.

 

[HangOutdoors]

View attachment 170722Thank you. Tapping into the horn ground seems to make sense to me. I am trying to figure out what all the terminals for the switches are. This boat is all new to me, so learning alot as I go. It appears (+) power comes into the switch through an inline circuit breaker? Is that what each switch has above it? Then power is run to the switch. There's an open spade which I'm believing is for your accessory (+), in my case my chartplotter (+) lead. There's also a black wire that runs to each switch, thinking this is a ground for the switch light? Would it make more sense to tap into this ground vs. the horn ground? Both are really easy to access so no one is harder than the other.View attachment 170723

I would recommend the same as @zipper and "BlueSea 6 ckt. Pos/Neg fuse panel under the helm for this and any future needs. " Inexpensive and easy to do. That way don't have tap lines and allows for expansion and dedicated fuses. No need to mess with any of the existing wiring.

 

[jjwelly]

ok, I have time to do this the right way. I'll order this . What to power the fuse panel, do I run a dedicated negative and positive wire from the house battery to this panel? What gauge do you recommend? Even if I install this fuse panel, I still want to utilize one of the two available switches to control the power to the chartplotter. I'm trying to understand how I would run the (+) thru the switch while utilizing this panel.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Yes you run a dedicated wire from house both positive and negative. You can put in inline circuit breaker on the positive. Which is nice as well. Positive to positve and negative to the negative. Search here on the forums there are many different posts regarding it. I personally preferred to use marine duplex in a casing. Made it easy to run, nice and clean to tie up and I didn't need to put them in a protective sleeve. I used 6-2.

Really no reason to use the switch for the chart plotter since it has its own on and off button. Unless you have a specific idea in mind.

ANCOR Flat Duplex Wire by the Foot | West Marine

Here is one of the threads.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/bus-bars-and-fuse-panels.33095/post-536229

 

[jjwelly]

Yes you run a dedicated wire from house both positive and negative. You can put in inline circuit breaker on the positive. Which is nice as well. Positive to positve and negative to the negative. Search here on the forums there are many different posts regarding it. I personally preferred to use marine duplex in a casing. Made it easy to run, nice and clean to tie up and I didn't need to put them in a protective sleeve. I used 6-2.

Really no reason to use the switch for the chart plotter since it has its own on and off button. Unless you have a specific idea in mind.

ANCOR Flat Duplex Wire by the Foot | West Marine

Here is one of the threads.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/bus-bars-and-fuse-panels.33095/post-536229

ok I'm getting there.. Having trouble finding an ideal location for the panel, I'd rather not have to drill any thru holes thru the helm. looking for some pics of where people with the fsh consoles have put theirs. Wish my local WM had that 6-2 in stock. ordering online gonna take couple of weeks. They got 8-2. Thanks for the help thus far..

 

[HangOutdoors]

You may be able to source the wiring online cheaper than WM as well, just make sure it is rated for Marine. I have a WM, actually 2, within driving distance so that is how I got mine. See @zipper chart below. The 8-2 may work for you since your run maybe shorter then mine with center console.

 

[zipper]

ok, I have time to do this the right way. I'll order this . What to power the fuse panel, do I run a dedicated negative and positive wire from the house battery to this panel? What gauge do you recommend? Even if I install this fuse panel, I still want to utilize one of the two available switches to control the power to the chartplotter. I'm trying to understand how I would run the (+) thru the switch while utilizing this panel.

wire guage depends on current and the distance, length of wire run from the battery to the fuse panel and back to the battery. On the positive side of the run, red, install a 100a in line circuit breaker as close to the battery as feasable. I used one similar to this... https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Inline-Circuit-Breaker-Manual/dp/B07JG7NG87?th=1

I used this fuse panel. https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Sys...locphy=9003034&hvtargid=pla-437191848715&th=1

You can size the wire guage with this chart. Remember the wire length is pos and neg added together. I would wire it as 3% critical voltage drop.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Also I didn't drill holes through my helm. I used 3M 5200 and 3/4" - 1" Starboard and stuck a piece to my helm inside. Then I used short SS screws to screw the fuse block to the Starboard.

 

[jjwelly]

ok sounds good. I have a WM local, but website shows they don't have any 6/2 in stock. I found some 6/2 marine jacketed wire here. I ran copper wiring for my trolling motor, I guess that was a mistake.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I would roll up in there to WM first. They may have it around or can pull it from another store in a day or two, or have it coming in, plus they will cut to length. Make sure you get enough and dont run short Measure the length and see the chart above, you may be able to use the 8-2, do the math and what you may run someday. My run because I had to across the engine bay and up and around the seats up to the helm is longer than what you need to do I believe.