Greetings all! The previous owner has a seperate switch for each instrument (wind, depth, & speed) and another for the autohelm which I would like to change. Can anyone give me a good reason not to wire all the instruments to one switch? I would like to utilize the other switches on this secondary DC panel for some other things which need attention. Thanks!
DC Electrical Question
- Thread starter Rich B18904
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Combined Loads OK - PROVIDED
You can wire all of the DC power supplies to your electronic instruments, from a single switch, circuit breaker, or fuse - provided: 1. The master electronics switch, and the wiring to it, are rated and protected (circuit breaker or fuse) for the total amperage of all instruments etc. 2. You provide appropriately sized individual (in-line) fuses or for each separate instrument. Big Fuse - Master Switch - Splitter < Multiple Small Fuses - Individual Instruments and Thanks to MONTY for this: Page 51 of the ST4000+ MK2 manual says "The autopilot requires its own dedicated power supply - it cannot source its power from SeaTalk. However it can be used to supply power to other SeaTalk instruments." HTH Gord
You can wire all of the DC power supplies to your electronic instruments, from a single switch, circuit breaker, or fuse - provided: 1. The master electronics switch, and the wiring to it, are rated and protected (circuit breaker or fuse) for the total amperage of all instruments etc. 2. You provide appropriately sized individual (in-line) fuses or for each separate instrument. Big Fuse - Master Switch - Splitter < Multiple Small Fuses - Individual Instruments and Thanks to MONTY for this: Page 51 of the ST4000+ MK2 manual says "The autopilot requires its own dedicated power supply - it cannot source its power from SeaTalk. However it can be used to supply power to other SeaTalk instruments." HTH Gord
Raymarine recomends......
.... a seperate line for the Autohelm due to increased electrical demands. However, I have been running my Autohelm off of the other instruments breaker for two years with no problem. The seperate breaker has been on my To Do list for 2 years as well.... Jeff
.... a seperate line for the Autohelm due to increased electrical demands. However, I have been running my Autohelm off of the other instruments breaker for two years with no problem. The seperate breaker has been on my To Do list for 2 years as well.... Jeff
Other autopilots...
...recommend that you put the autohelm and any instuments that it interfaces with on the same circuit. Correction.. can be on different circuit (i.e. panel switch) - but should always be on SAME battery. Otherwise you can put multiple items on same circuit provided that the panel is set up correctly to handle the maximum load that would occur should all items be switched on concurrently. Almost all instruments wil have a blanket statement that says to run dedicated lines back to the panel and do not tap into any other wires for convenience sake.
...recommend that you put the autohelm and any instuments that it interfaces with on the same circuit. Correction.. can be on different circuit (i.e. panel switch) - but should always be on SAME battery. Otherwise you can put multiple items on same circuit provided that the panel is set up correctly to handle the maximum load that would occur should all items be switched on concurrently. Almost all instruments wil have a blanket statement that says to run dedicated lines back to the panel and do not tap into any other wires for convenience sake.
Raymarine manual
Page 51 of the ST4000+ MK2 manual says "The autopilot requires its own dedicated power supply - it cannot source its power from SeaTalk. However it can be used to supply power to other SeaTalk instruments."
Page 51 of the ST4000+ MK2 manual says "The autopilot requires its own dedicated power supply - it cannot source its power from SeaTalk. However it can be used to supply power to other SeaTalk instruments."
Careful of power fluctuations
I don't have a Raymarine, but my autopilot manual also recommended a dedicated power source for the autopilot. The main concern is that any load that brings down the amps on the circuit might cause the autopilot to go off line. I actually had this happen to me last summer when I had a loose connection. It got pretty frustrating when every 20 minutes or so the A/P would quit. Good Luck, Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
I don't have a Raymarine, but my autopilot manual also recommended a dedicated power source for the autopilot. The main concern is that any load that brings down the amps on the circuit might cause the autopilot to go off line. I actually had this happen to me last summer when I had a loose connection. It got pretty frustrating when every 20 minutes or so the A/P would quit. Good Luck, Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
Thanks!
Wow, great responses and quick too. OK, consencus is to keep the Autohelm (ST4000) on a seperate switch but the minor loads presented by the W/S/D instruments should be safe to combine on one switch. I will of course check all the load requiremnts and fuses by the 3 instruments before combining. Thanks again!!
Wow, great responses and quick too. OK, consencus is to keep the Autohelm (ST4000) on a seperate switch but the minor loads presented by the W/S/D instruments should be safe to combine on one switch. I will of course check all the load requiremnts and fuses by the 3 instruments before combining. Thanks again!!
Load sharing
If you are just using a switch to turn on all of the instruments, all can be combined off of one switch provided they each have their own overload protection, be it a fuse or breaker of some sort. If you were to add all the loads up and size your overload protection (fuse)for the combined load you have incorrectly procected your equipment and increase the chance of overload fires. I use 1 switch to turn on all of the navigation equipment, including the auto helm. The switch capacity is 1.5 times the maximum combined load(everything feeding through it). From there it goes to a navigation fuse panel I installed where each item has its own fuse sized for each device. Fair winds Gerry
If you are just using a switch to turn on all of the instruments, all can be combined off of one switch provided they each have their own overload protection, be it a fuse or breaker of some sort. If you were to add all the loads up and size your overload protection (fuse)for the combined load you have incorrectly procected your equipment and increase the chance of overload fires. I use 1 switch to turn on all of the navigation equipment, including the auto helm. The switch capacity is 1.5 times the maximum combined load(everything feeding through it). From there it goes to a navigation fuse panel I installed where each item has its own fuse sized for each device. Fair winds Gerry
Gerry, good points.
I just checked my wiring stash. I have a Blue Sea fuse panel, unused. I just located a bunch of 1 and 5 amp fuses for it and will make the change tomorrow. Thanks. Sometimes, with all the work of a rebuild, things get overlooked.
I just checked my wiring stash. I have a Blue Sea fuse panel, unused. I just located a bunch of 1 and 5 amp fuses for it and will make the change tomorrow. Thanks. Sometimes, with all the work of a rebuild, things get overlooked.
Lose One - Lose All
If you connect all through one breaker, you would lose all when one fails and trips the breaker.
If you connect all through one breaker, you would lose all when one fails and trips the breaker.
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