Electric terminal block

Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,289
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
I'm finally finishing my instrument panel modifications and I bought a Blue Sea Systems terminal block for 10 circuits. The terminal block connects the circuits for power leads, grounds, and sensor wires for the keyed switch, push button switch, warning lights and instrument senders, etc. The original terminal block was the kind that you insert a bare wire end into a slot and turn screws down on the wire to capture the wires. I thought it might be a good idea to use ring terminals so I mindlessly bought a 20 amp - 10 circuit block for ring connectors. Two things came to mind:

1. Is a 20 amp block the right size? The starter motor wire is 10 awg and I wasn't thinking about that load (I was thinking about all the much smaller loads). I don't really understand what current needs to pass through that wire. Amperage chart seems to indicate that 10 awg is good up to 30 amps. I could have chosen a 30 amp terminal block or a 65 amp terminal block. I'm thinking I should get at least the 30 amp block and maybe the 65 amp block.

2. There is no cover for these blocks. The ring connectors are pretty well protected by the dividers, but ... you never know about all those wires inside a cramped space ... there are both positive and negative leads inside there ... I suppose I could simply cover the top of the block with tape. I don't really like the original block that relies on screw pressure to capture the wires, but the connections are better protected. Thoughts?
 
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dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,988
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
The 20 amp rating is for each pair on the terminal block.

The starter wire is the connection for the solenoid, it will draw much less than 20 amps.

The connectors are protected because they are below the top of the fences separating the terminals.
 
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Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

.
Oct 26, 2008
6,289
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
dlochner said:
The 20 amp rating is for each pair on the terminal block.

The starter wire is the connection for the solenoid, it will draw much less than 20 amps.

The connectors are protected because they are below the top of the fences separating the terminals.
Click to expand
Yes, I understood that each pair is rated 20 amps. I was really only concerned about the starter wire. There's no chance it draws more than 20 amps? It is a 10 awg wire. I also suppose that the 20 amp rating can potentially handle more than 20 amps without damage. It is just a short burst and there must be a factor of safety.
 
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dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,988
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Do you have a Yanmar? Is the wire to the solenoid outside of the wiring harness? There is a known issue with Yammers that the wire to the solenoid is undersized, many owners have replaced it with a larger 10 ga wire to reduce line loss.
 
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JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,771
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
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Project_Mayhem

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Sep 24, 2018
3,423
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
What about utilizing two panel circuits in parallel to handle the solenoid if it is indeed pulling 20 amps? You could even downsize to two 15A fuses on each circuit
 
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Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

.
Oct 26, 2008
6,289
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
dlochner said:
Do you have a Yanmar? Is the wire to the solenoid outside of the wiring harness? There is a known issue with Yammers that the wire to the solenoid is undersized, many owners have replaced it with a larger 10 ga wire to reduce line loss.
Click to expand
Yes, Yanmar ... I believe the starter wire is encompassed in a harness until it gets to the point where all the wires are fed through a leg to the instrument pod. I haven't had any difficulty in that regard so I'll leave well enough alone. I have a little more time so I think I'll just order the 30 amp terminal strip - it will arrive in 2 days or less. I didn't really pay any attention to the specs until I received the strip and saw how small the terminal screws are (#6). I don't like using rings that small (and I may not have them). The #8 screws (and the rings for that size) on the 30-amp strip are more to my liking.
 
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LloydB

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Jan 15, 2006
927
Macgregor 22 Silverton
Putting both positive and negative circuits on the same terminal strip is one way to temporarily sort out cable location for different circuits but a fuse block will supply isolation and protection for permanent connection.
Loose lips sink ships loose wires start fires.
 
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