evinrude fuze panel

smjx2az

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Jan 31, 2018
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We are restoring a 1996 Evinrude 115 SPL, we have purchased an OEM ignition switch, and installing an accessory fuse panel. My question is how to wire the fuse panel to the ignition, so the Accessories only turn on with the switch on.
 

Silvertip

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Sep 22, 2003
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Don't do that! All of the current required by the items fed by the fuse panel would need to come up the engine to helm harness and then through the ignition switch. Neither are designed to handle that current. Only the instruments are intended to be powered by the ignition switch. Yes -- some small load devices could be handled, but not an entire fuse panel worth of electrics. You run a separate #8 or #10 pair of wires from the battery to the fuse panel at the helm. If you want a MASTER switch, use one of the switches on the helm, or add one. That switch switches +12 volts from the battery to the fuse panel. You also need a 20A fuse or breaker in the red wire within one foot of the battery. But -- if you insist on doing the ignition switch route, you run a #8 or #10 wire from the "I" terminal on the switch to the +12V buss on the fuse panel. The ground buss on the fuse panel (if it has a ground bus) connects to the large ground wire in the engine harness (if it has one). Otherwise there needs to be a separate #8 or #10 ground wire running back to the battery. A ground bus can be added if the fuse panel doesn't have one.
 

smjx2az

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Jan 31, 2018
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I am only interested in isolating the gauges, stereo nav lights on the fuse panel to turn on with the switch. Is that still too much?
 

GA_Boater

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May 24, 2011
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I am only interested in isolating the gauges, stereo nav lights on the fuse panel to turn on with the switch. Is that still too much?

Isolating the gauges - OK

Stereo - Not really, some stereos draw more than the ignition switch is meant to handle.

Nav lights - No. Nav lights need be separate from the ignition switch. You don't want to turn on the switch to anchor at night, which will be powering the motor ignition and could drain the battery.

Silvertip has the way rewire feeding from the battery to a positive and ground buss.
 
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