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Author Topic:   Battery Cable Circuit Breaker

drbigjohn posted 09-09-2005 05:18 PM ET (US)
I'm rewiring my '79 Montauk..including adding a 2nd battery and a Perko switch, and have gotten confused about wiring in circuit breakers or fuse holders (preferably cb) in the positive cables next to the batteries. I plan to use 2 gauge cable and can't find a breaker or fuse holder to use. 4 gauge seems to be the largest cable that anything I've found can use. Would appreciate advice on what and where. Also, am I correct to fuse both cables close to the battery? All the threads I've read seem to indicate this is a good idea. Thanks...
LHG posted 09-09-2005 06:02 PM ET (US)
For bringing house wiring into the console from a stern mounted battery, I would think 10 gauge 2 wire cable would be all that is needed, or 8 gauge at the very most. On a Montauk, where there is no place to install a concealed Blue Sea circuit breaker, I would use a 20 amp inline fuse holder under the battery cover.
jimh posted 09-09-2005 10:33 PM ET (US)
Generally the battery is not fused to the primary selector switch. If you want to fuse the primary wiring between the batteries and the switches, you will need really large (and expensive) fuses.
Generally the wiring between the batteries and the primary selector switch is short and in open spaces. The selector switch should be close to the batteries and all the wiring ought to be heavy gauge wire which is not in enclosed tunnels or conduits.
In the original Whaler installation typically found on most larger models, the house circuit breaker is usually connected to the battery primary selector switch with a short length of 8-AWG heavily insulated wire. This puts the house circuit breaker downstream of the primary selector switch and protects the long run of wiring to the helm console and branch circuit distribution wiring there.
drbigjohn posted 09-10-2005 06:56 PM ET (US)
Thanks for your replies. You answered my questions.

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Author	Topic: Battery Cable Circuit Breaker
drbigjohn	posted 09-09-2005 05:18 PM ET (US) I'm rewiring my '79 Montauk..including adding a 2nd battery and a Perko switch, and have gotten confused about wiring in circuit breakers or fuse holders (preferably cb) in the positive cables next to the batteries. I plan to use 2 gauge cable and can't find a breaker or fuse holder to use. 4 gauge seems to be the largest cable that anything I've found can use. Would appreciate advice on what and where. Also, am I correct to fuse both cables close to the battery? All the threads I've read seem to indicate this is a good idea. Thanks...
LHG	posted 09-09-2005 06:02 PM ET (US) For bringing house wiring into the console from a stern mounted battery, I would think 10 gauge 2 wire cable would be all that is needed, or 8 gauge at the very most. On a Montauk, where there is no place to install a concealed Blue Sea circuit breaker, I would use a 20 amp inline fuse holder under the battery cover.
jimh	posted 09-09-2005 10:33 PM ET (US) Generally the battery is not fused to the primary selector switch. If you want to fuse the primary wiring between the batteries and the switches, you will need really large (and expensive) fuses. Generally the wiring between the batteries and the primary selector switch is short and in open spaces. The selector switch should be close to the batteries and all the wiring ought to be heavy gauge wire which is not in enclosed tunnels or conduits. In the original Whaler installation typically found on most larger models, the house circuit breaker is usually connected to the battery primary selector switch with a short length of 8-AWG heavily insulated wire. This puts the house circuit breaker downstream of the primary selector switch and protects the long run of wiring to the helm console and branch circuit distribution wiring there.
drbigjohn	posted 09-10-2005 06:56 PM ET (US) Thanks for your replies. You answered my questions.