Installing a Garmin GPS

[lehighsail]

I have a Raymarine e7 on my pod and have uninstalled it to send it back for the recall. I noticed that it is fused with a 3 amp fuse on the power wire. I want to install an additional Garmin 545 on the pod for redundancy as I already own one. My question is how to wire it for power. Can I just splice it on the wire after the existing fuse? Should I splice it on the power wire before the fuse and add another inline fuse for the Garmin. The boat has a circuit board at the Nav station, so do I have to really add an inline fuse? I would prefer not to run new wires from the board to the pod if not necessary but will do what is best, not easiest.

Thanks.

 

[Chief RA]

If the wire is big enough on the battery side of the 3 amp fuse attach a new fuse at that junction with appropriate size fuse for hooking up the Garmin. I would not use the same fuse for both of them. Chief

 

[twodzusfittings]

Sensitive equipment like electronics should be individually protected and therefor it is strongly advised to put an inline fuse for each piece of equipment. Think of it this way, $1-3 insurance!
If your navigation wall has space, install a 4-6 panel, perhaps with dual accessory outlets, extended off your main power distribution or directly from your power source (batteries).

 

[lehighsail]

Installed the Garmin

I installed the Garmin on my Navpod. I found the feed from the panel that fed the other GPS in the Navpod so the one switch on the panel shuts off both and turns both on. I did install a 3amp fuse per Garmin suggestion. Crimped all connections with a Klein crimper, heat sealed them and gave them a coat with liquid tape (my idea). OMG...it worked. Thanks to all for great advice on this and other threads that help us DIY complete these projects.