Windless Wiring

[Mickey Goodman]

I will be installing a windless in my Legend 37 this weekend. After reviewing the wiring requirments for the windless to go back to my house batteries I find that I need size 2 wire which, at West Marine, is about $2.89 a foot. With the number of feet I need the price far exceeds the cost of a separate battery. I do have room to put the battery very close to the windless therefore eliminating the need for extensive wiring.My question is this. Should I hook the windless battery to the smart charger or should I leave it on it own and recharge occasionally with my auto-portable charger.We will only use the windless just a few times during the season since my other half doesn't like to anchor. I did tell her the windless for her since I didn't want her to have to lift the anchor, since she is the "crew" on the boat.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Wire Size

Mickey,I think if you look again, you will find that the wire size is '2/0' not '2'. There is a BIG difference here; 2/0 is 3 sizes larger and can carry well over 100A for the length that you need. My H40.5 came from the factory pre-wired with 2/0 from the bow to the engine compartment. I extended this wiring to my house batteries in my aft cockpit locker. The cost of 2/0 is typically about $7-8 per foot, but the best buy is at Jamestown Distributors in RI (www.jamestowndistributors.com). A 25' spool is $77 and longer lengths at comparable prices. (They also have better prices on all types of wire and fastners - really a great vendor with super fast delivery)Opinions I've read recommend NOT using a separate battery in the bow for a couple of reasons. Additional weight, difficulty of secure mounting, and the need to run hefty wires from the engine or charger in the stern just to recharge it.You might check to see if your boat was wired at the factory. You might luck out.With regard to your original question, I would wire the battery to be recharged by the engine alternator. Just realize that when you use the windlass, the engine will be running and the alternator output will added to the current available from the battery. You could easily pull 30-60 A from the alternator, thus the need for hefty wires to the bow anyway.Good luck. A windlass is a great piece of gear, and as a gift to your wife it scores points all around!Rich

 

[ted]

shop around

i installed a windlass on my 35.5, went to west marine, they told me the same thing at about the same prices, you can save yourself a lot of head ache and $ by going to a electrical hardware store.i found one in anchorage that specialized in artic marine applications, i ended up getting the wire for $67.00 for a hundrerd ft spool, 100a circuit breaker for $30. after talking to one of there engeeniers i ended up using size 4 wire instead of 2/0. every thing checked out perfict. you have to take things they tell you at west marine with a grain of salt, i dont think the sales staff thier are as knowlegable as they think they are.

 

[ES]

Buy Wire at Home Depot

I installed a windlass on my boat last weekend. Bought the wire at Home Depot. They were closing out their big marine wire at very low prices. I needed 100 ft of 1/0 wire (bigger than #1) and paid $120 for it. West Marine wanted $579. This was for Anchor Marine brand, tinned ,marine grade wire. I live in Miami and bought it at the Sheridan Street HD in Hollywood, FL. The smaller sizes are not on sale.

 

[Eric Lorgus]

Make sure it's tinned

There is a BIG difference between tinned marine grade wire and automotive wire. Tinned wire is more corrosion resistant, and has a silver color even though it's copper. From all the prices bandied about here, some of this wire sounds like it may not be tinned. My company sells tinned battery cable from 6 AWG through 4/0 AWG. Our price for a 25' spool of 2/0 is $4.24/FT. BTW, the reason some wire gauges have the /0 designation is because it's shorthand for 0's. After 2 AWG, next size up is 0, which is referred to as 1/0 (one aught, i.e., one zero). Next size up is 00, or, 2/0 (two aught), & so forth. Anyone interested in checking our prices and availability, my company is Great Valley Industries (GVI) in Exton PA. Tell them Eric sent you, and to give you "column 3" pricing.

 

[Eric Lorgus]

Forgot to give my phone number

The phone number for Great Valley Industries (GVI) is 1-800-722-8100.Fax is 1-800-722-8295.