Hey all - Quick question on wiring. I found some very foul wiring aboard my C-27. After clearing most of it up, I ended up adding a couple of devices (radio and fish-finder) to my "cabin" circuit, which handles my cabin lighting fixtures (4). My quesion has to do with how to properly connect the positive and negative wires of multiple devices into a single circuit. My current configuration for the "cabin" circuit involves a single red wire that runs to the fuse/switch panel (positive)and a black wire that runs to the engine block. I took new red and black wires (12 guage) and stripped a small section of insulation off of them and attached the appropriate neg and pos leads from the radio and fishfinder to the "cabin" power leads. I insulated them with liquid electical tape and later standard electical tape as a temporary measure. This has worked fine for the past two months, but I want a cleaner, more permanent fix. What is the best method for putting three devices (in parallel) on one circuit? And yes, I did up the fuse amperage appropriately to accomodate for the increased load. Thanks for your anticipated responses! Rob
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Bob Pfarr
careful!
To answer your question, I always use crimp connectors to install lugs on the ends of wires or to butt solice multiple wires together. Some even suggest soldering the wire after crimping, but I ussuall only do this if I have more than one wire in a crimp, or if it's a critical electronic circuit. A bigger risk is in up sizing the fuse that you mentioned. The fuse should NEVER be larger than the capacity of the SMALLEST wire that you have connected to the circuit. The fuse has to protect the wire. If your fuse can't handle the current of all of the device you have on the circuit, you need a separate fuse system, possibly in line fuses on some of them from the hot side of the fuse, or you need to increase the wiring size to all the devices and install appropriate size fuses at the radio etc.
To answer your question, I always use crimp connectors to install lugs on the ends of wires or to butt solice multiple wires together. Some even suggest soldering the wire after crimping, but I ussuall only do this if I have more than one wire in a crimp, or if it's a critical electronic circuit. A bigger risk is in up sizing the fuse that you mentioned. The fuse should NEVER be larger than the capacity of the SMALLEST wire that you have connected to the circuit. The fuse has to protect the wire. If your fuse can't handle the current of all of the device you have on the circuit, you need a separate fuse system, possibly in line fuses on some of them from the hot side of the fuse, or you need to increase the wiring size to all the devices and install appropriate size fuses at the radio etc.
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Colin
Crimp your wires
Mechanical crimping has been found to be the best method of terminating wires. Avoid putting more than one wire into a crimp as if you need todisconnect later for any purpose it becomes a problem. If you are concerned about corosion add a dab of silicon where the wire exits the crimp.
Mechanical crimping has been found to be the best method of terminating wires. Avoid putting more than one wire into a crimp as if you need todisconnect later for any purpose it becomes a problem. If you are concerned about corosion add a dab of silicon where the wire exits the crimp.
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R.W.Landau
seperate circuit breakers
If you want to clean them up, Put each item on a circuit breaker. If you do not want to use individual breakers, make individually crimped connections on on a terminal block. DON'T UP the size of the fuse! Each of those devises have thier own max amperage. If you use one fuse for all devises, make sure that each devise has it's own down line fuse at it's rating. merry Christmas r.w.landau
If you want to clean them up, Put each item on a circuit breaker. If you do not want to use individual breakers, make individually crimped connections on on a terminal block. DON'T UP the size of the fuse! Each of those devises have thier own max amperage. If you use one fuse for all devises, make sure that each devise has it's own down line fuse at it's rating. merry Christmas r.w.landau
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Phil Teter
pennie under the fuse
Your PS is cause for concern. The wiring is sized to the load and the fuse is sized to protect the smallest wire in the circuit. IS YOUR WIRING STILL PROTECTED WITH THE LARGER FUSE? Do you put pennies under the house fuses? Is your boat insurance paid up. The best way to add additional loads if all the circuits are loaded is to add an additional distribution panel or replace the existing panel with a larger one. I recommend solder connections for twelve volt systems. Conductor corrosion can cause a high resistance connection if the conductors are twisted. Good luck
Your PS is cause for concern. The wiring is sized to the load and the fuse is sized to protect the smallest wire in the circuit. IS YOUR WIRING STILL PROTECTED WITH THE LARGER FUSE? Do you put pennies under the house fuses? Is your boat insurance paid up. The best way to add additional loads if all the circuits are loaded is to add an additional distribution panel or replace the existing panel with a larger one. I recommend solder connections for twelve volt systems. Conductor corrosion can cause a high resistance connection if the conductors are twisted. Good luck
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Rob Rich
Correction and Neat Find
Hey Guys - Sorry, I do have manutfacturer's inline fuses installed on both the fishfinder and the radio. I upped the amperage on the fuse because the original wiring was only 18 guage, and I went to 12. However, since you mentioned it, there is obviously still 18 guage wiring traveling to and from the lights themselves, so I put the old fuse back into place - it worked fine. Regarding parallel connection, I found a neat Y shaped crimp at West Marine, which allows you to crimp two wires onto a single lead neatly and cleanly with insulated connectors - just in case anyone is interested. And Phil - No, I don't put pennies in fuse boxes... at least not any more than I look for sarcasm on this website. Rob.
Hey Guys - Sorry, I do have manutfacturer's inline fuses installed on both the fishfinder and the radio. I upped the amperage on the fuse because the original wiring was only 18 guage, and I went to 12. However, since you mentioned it, there is obviously still 18 guage wiring traveling to and from the lights themselves, so I put the old fuse back into place - it worked fine. Regarding parallel connection, I found a neat Y shaped crimp at West Marine, which allows you to crimp two wires onto a single lead neatly and cleanly with insulated connectors - just in case anyone is interested. And Phil - No, I don't put pennies in fuse boxes... at least not any more than I look for sarcasm on this website. Rob.
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R.W.Landau
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