Electrical work

[jkuhnel]

I am basically building my boat from scratch. New floor, new engine, new seats. I am stuck on the wiring part. The bill was getting way to big when the machanics dropped in the motor that the electrical is not finished. I now have to figure it out myself. If I can. I made my own console and bought all the gauges. My questions are as follows:

There are alot of power cables come off the gauges. one to power the gauge and one for the lamp, so thats two power wires per guage. Of course I am taking all this into a Fuse box that I purchase. This fuse box has 12 slots.

1. Do I have to go a slot in the fuse box for each guage and lamps, or can I combine all the lamps for just one slot? Then combine all the guages to have one slot in the fuse box.

2. If I were to combine all the cables for the lamps that are pulling a .015 amps does that mean I have to have a fuse that is 20 amps? Or would I just have a 5 amp fuse?

Thanks,

John

 

[109jb]

Re: Electrical work

the lights should all be on the same switch as the navigation light so that they come on with the navigation light. They can all be tied together. The power for the gauges should come off of the ignition switch. otherwise they will be on all the time and drain the battery eventually. They can all be tied together too.

 

[78ImperialT]

Re: Electrical work

i do all of my own electrical work. like 109 said...as far as the lights go, put them all together. mine are not with the nav lights but they are all together. for the gauges...mine are all separate. if you blow a fuse and ALL your gauges drop that could be bad. i can make it without a speedo and tach but i like to be able to see my temp and whatnot.

heres what i did:

20amp breaker for all dash and accesory lights(including radio switched)

20amp breaker for nav lights

20amp breaker for radio operation

5-15amp breaker for each guage

20amp breaker for air horn compressor

20amp breaker for bilge pump

all grounds on 10ga ground bus