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I am rewiring a 1992 26s and the previous job was a rats nest. I am here asking for pointers or what should I change about my plans. The rats nest that was there had a battery next to the fuel cell for the engine and another in the cabin for all the other lights and accessories. I intend to bridge both connections and have just one battery next to the fuel cell for the engine and everything else. It will not be used for anything really high powered. So far what I have planned is the engine just wired to it like normal and then have another connection running to a fuse panel inside the hull. The fuse panel suggests using an 8 gauge wire from the battery to the panel with a fuse between them. It doesn't say what type of fuse to use? Any Ideas? As far as the lights they are all LED besides the Nav lights which will remain indeascent for awhile until we can get LED lights for it. We just to intend to use 18 gauge speaker wire since they can't pull that much amperage. Then we have a Sony CDX-M30 stereo and two marine speakers to hook up to the fuse panel. What gauge should I use for the power wires of the stereo? Last but not least. All the outlets has the wires pulled out of it and will need wiring to the fuse panels. What gauge wires would be good for them?

Heres Pictures of What we are putting in!

I'll post the standard wiring gauge chart when i hit the office this am

please dont use speaker wire, a 100 foot roll of marine wire costs about 2x morebut is the right thing to use

electrical failures on boats lead to fires which are not good in confined, un-egressable places

it's a common mistake to think a low amperage circuit isn't dangerous, but in fact a short circuit In a small gauge wire is the most dangerous failure mode as it can start multiple fires in separate places!!

For wiring info you might try here:
http://stores.ebay.com/Genuinedealz/Tec ... Guide.html

or here:
http://marinco.com/page/wire-tech-data

or here:
http://www.boatfix.com/how/Ele2.html

switch info:
http://www.boatfix.com/how/Ele5.html

Hope it helps. And yes, please use marine grade wire and wire terminals, per KHE suggestion.
Pat

jpatter wrote: We just to intend to use 18 gauge speaker wire since they can't pull that much amperage.

Please Please Please dont use speaker wire for this type of installation...im not being rude but if your not sure pay a qualified electrition to do this for you....just consider how much you paid for your boat & how much the lives of the people on board are worth?????? surely the are worth more than what an electrician would charge you...

Just try to imagine what would happen if you were away from the shore and there was a short, a fire ,, and then an explosion from batteries fuel etc....it really isnt worth the risk..
Be safe....

Madguy

Well We'll take the plunge on the marine wire for safety's sake. But as far as the outlets and stereo what gauge wire are yal running to yours? Also any clue on what kinda fuse should be between the battery and fuse panel. Each breaker on the panel has a 30amp fuse but it says it needs one between?

jpatter wrote:Well We'll take the plunge on the marine wire for safety's sake. But as far as the outlets and stereo what gauge wire are yal running to yours? Also any clue on what kinda fuse should be between the battery and fuse panel. Each breaker on the panel has a 30amp fuse but it says it needs one between?

The first site in my previous post provides the formula for determining wire size. Just use a tape measure and figure out the length of the run. To figure out fuse size just figure the load per breaker and size accordingly. Just because you have 30 amp breakers doesn't mean you will be using all 30 amps per breaker. It's really quite simple, you just have to do your homework. If you don't understand DC wiring, I suggest you hire someone so the job gets done properly and safely.

Good luck,
Pat

Just because you have 30 amp breakers

30 Amps!!! Really?!!!
If each circuit really has a 30A breaker, that´s waaayy oversized for lights and outlets I think.
30 amps is close to the max rating for 14 gauge stranded marine wire. You want the fuse to blow well -before- your wire´s insulation starts to melt.
My branch circuits are all 5 amp fuses. My panel is nearly identical except I chose the fused one instead of the breaker one so I can adjust the circuit capacity easily and cheaply and fuses cost less than breakers.
I have an inverter that can pull more than 5 amps but it´s not on the panel, it has short heavy gauge wires to the battery and it´s own inline fuse.
Your circuit designations look fine, mine are pretty close. I have house lights, nav lights, pedestal power, dc circuit (outlets), bilge pump, and one leftover.
You won´t regret marine grade wiring. Definitely worth doing!

Guys, thanks for all your posts. My son was posting under my name. He is an EE major and tends to go overboard. My Question is any recomendations for all this wire and stuff? Should we pull primary wire or duplex?

jpatter

You will pay about twice as much for duplex 16-2, than buying two lengths of 16 gauge, but I think this is the way to go. The cover provides good protection when you are pulling the wires and afterwards too.