I am installing 150 west marine combiner and directions say 6' 6 ga. between combiner and positive terminal. Are they saying 6' each side or total 6' with 3' each side battery to battery.
- Status
Use some common sense.
The only problem with longer wires will be voltage drop when starting the engine. First you have to get the wires to where they are going right.. so, it doesn't matter if its 3 ft. or 6 ft. Heck, you may need 8 ft. My point is it doesn't matter because you have to make the wires reach. If the engine does not crank good enough, you have to get a larger wire gauge. Like the pirate code, it's more like a guideline than a code. Individual circumstances may vary.
The only problem with longer wires will be voltage drop when starting the engine. First you have to get the wires to where they are going right.. so, it doesn't matter if its 3 ft. or 6 ft. Heck, you may need 8 ft. My point is it doesn't matter because you have to make the wires reach. If the engine does not crank good enough, you have to get a larger wire gauge. Like the pirate code, it's more like a guideline than a code. Individual circumstances may vary.
First
figure out the length of wire that you need to complete the installation. Then pick the appropriate guage depending on that length and the amount of current it must carry. Look here for a way to figure it out: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/MarineWire.htm
figure out the length of wire that you need to complete the installation. Then pick the appropriate guage depending on that length and the amount of current it must carry. Look here for a way to figure it out: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/MarineWire.htm
I'd Say
I'd read that as six feet of physical distance between the combiner & battery. Ten miles of freeway isn't twenty miles of freeway, just because traffic moves both ways. It's ten miles.
I'd read that as six feet of physical distance between the combiner & battery. Ten miles of freeway isn't twenty miles of freeway, just because traffic moves both ways. It's ten miles.
Heat Sink
I believe the wires are being used as a heat sink. On the 50 amp unit there is a warning not to shorten the preattached wires, I did some digging and found out that the were intended to act as a heat sink.
I believe the wires are being used as a heat sink. On the 50 amp unit there is a warning not to shorten the preattached wires, I did some digging and found out that the were intended to act as a heat sink.
Heat Sink (Without Typo)
I believe the wires are being used as a heat sink. On the 50 amp unit there is a warning not to shorten the preattached wires, I did some digging and found out that they were intended to act as a heat sink.
I believe the wires are being used as a heat sink. On the 50 amp unit there is a warning not to shorten the preattached wires, I did some digging and found out that they were intended to act as a heat sink.
Combiner
Guys, this is a combiner. It senses which battery bank is being charged and connects the house bank and start banks together when a charging source is present. It does not carry house battery bank or starting battery bank loads. The charging source is not important but could be the engine alternator (most likely) or solar, wind, etc. What the 6 feet of #6 wire does is limit the current flowing through the combiner (between battery banks) to a level that does not damage the combiner. Yes, the combiner DEPENDS on the voltage drop and slight resistance of the #6 wire to protect itself from destruction. Here is the scenario (assuming the charging source is connected to the house bank): 1) Engine is started. Combiner is "open" meaning the house and start banks are separate. 2) Engine starts and runs - the combiner senses the charge voltage and closes, once the house bank is recharged, connecting the the house bank and start banks together, charging both. 3) When the combiner closes, there is a momentary inrush of current from the house bank through the combiner to the start bank. 4) The 6' length of #6 wire protects the combiner from excessive current. 5) Finally, house current and starting current does not flow through the combiner, only charge current from the charging source. Thus the #6 wire is more than adequate. It never carries anything but charge current between the banks. 6) When the engine is shut off, the combiner senses the absence of charge voltage, and opens, separating the house and start banks thereby preventing start bank from being discharged. 7) When I installed one of these on my boat, I used 2 6' lengths of #6 wire - one from the house bank, and one to the start bank. Works like a charm and is pretty idiot proof
Hope that helps, Rodney S/V Sashay SF Bay
Guys, this is a combiner. It senses which battery bank is being charged and connects the house bank and start banks together when a charging source is present. It does not carry house battery bank or starting battery bank loads. The charging source is not important but could be the engine alternator (most likely) or solar, wind, etc. What the 6 feet of #6 wire does is limit the current flowing through the combiner (between battery banks) to a level that does not damage the combiner. Yes, the combiner DEPENDS on the voltage drop and slight resistance of the #6 wire to protect itself from destruction. Here is the scenario (assuming the charging source is connected to the house bank): 1) Engine is started. Combiner is "open" meaning the house and start banks are separate. 2) Engine starts and runs - the combiner senses the charge voltage and closes, once the house bank is recharged, connecting the the house bank and start banks together, charging both. 3) When the combiner closes, there is a momentary inrush of current from the house bank through the combiner to the start bank. 4) The 6' length of #6 wire protects the combiner from excessive current. 5) Finally, house current and starting current does not flow through the combiner, only charge current from the charging source. Thus the #6 wire is more than adequate. It never carries anything but charge current between the banks. 6) When the engine is shut off, the combiner senses the absence of charge voltage, and opens, separating the house and start banks thereby preventing start bank from being discharged. 7) When I installed one of these on my boat, I used 2 6' lengths of #6 wire - one from the house bank, and one to the start bank. Works like a charm and is pretty idiot proof
Hope that helps, Rodney S/V Sashay SF Bay
Ten miles of freeway isn't twenty miles of freeway
Ten miles of freeway isn't twenty miles of freeway, just because traffic moves both ways. It's ten miles. Except in electricity it IS because you HAVE to measure the total length of the circuit. It doesn't apply to the combiner, Rodney's right, but it does to all other electrical work on a boat in sizing wiring.
Ten miles of freeway isn't twenty miles of freeway, just because traffic moves both ways. It's ten miles. Except in electricity it IS because you HAVE to measure the total length of the circuit. It doesn't apply to the combiner, Rodney's right, but it does to all other electrical work on a boat in sizing wiring.
Stu - 10 miles of freeway is 20 miles.
If it's a round trip! And yes, electrons always buy a round trip ticket. My bad on my previous post because I thought H-36 was installing a switch. I sometimes call them a combiner because they have positions 1,2 and both - thus combining batteries. If H36 mentioned an ACR I might have gotten it right. In any case I agree with Rodney because the length of the wire will do just as he suggests. I would use the 6 ft from each battery.
If it's a round trip!
And yes, electrons always buy a round trip ticket. My bad on my previous post because I thought H-36 was installing a switch. I sometimes call them a combiner because they have positions 1,2 and both - thus combining batteries. If H36 mentioned an ACR I might have gotten it right. In any case I agree with Rodney because the length of the wire will do just as he suggests. I would use the 6 ft from each battery.- Status