Best way to wire? Bus bar

[nashwinter123]

Hi, Im looking to wire this project neatly. Heres what i want to do. I want just one big positive and negative wire to go into the battery instead of each device having to have its switch wire ran all the way back to the battery. I want 2 panels under the dash. One the big negative goes to and one for the big maine positive. From there i want all my devices switch wires to run out of there. Is this what a bus bar is for? If there isnt a product out there i am going to make my own homemade device. Essentialy a bolt going through wood, then the would is screwed to the boat so the threaded part of the bolt is still open but the head is hidden inbetween the boat and the wood. I would but either gaskect sealer or a rubber gasket in next on the tread. Then a washer. I would put a circule terminal on the postive maine wire and put it on first, then put circule terminals on all my devices wires and then put the nut on and tighten them so they are all toutching. This would be repeated for the postive. SO my question is, is there any device out there like my home made idea?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Best way to wire? Bus bar

I want 2 panels under the dash.

Ayuh,.... You want a fuse block to run yer Positive off from/ to, 'n a Buss bar to run yer Grounds from/ too......

 

[Don S]

Re: Best way to wire? Bus bar

How about one fuse panel that does both?
http://www.iboats.com/Blue-Sea-Scre...61503485--session_id.145394447--view_id.38108

Specs and wiring diagram here http://bluesea.com/category/81/21/productdocs/5026

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Best way to wire? Bus bar

Don't do what you are planning. It is a bad scheme. Doning it that way still leaves you with a bunch of in-line fuse holders that are problematic when they are new. The panel Don shows is great. Here is one that you can see a little better how the two busses work. While it looks different, it works the same way.

And here is how its is wired showing just one simple circuit.

 

[belleview3]

Re: Best way to wire? Bus bar

Definately need to use a fuse block and bus block. A couple of things to consider.
How much load are you planning?
What is the length from the battery to the blocks?
Wire run and load are required to size your wire and not create an overloaded situation. Say your wire run is 20' and you plan a total of 10 devices for a 100 amp total load (per fuse sizes). Then you need #6 awg copper wires. If its a 50 amp load then you can drop to #10.
Don't do the whole run everything onto a screw terminal home made thing. Too many opportunities for failure and damage to your boat.