Installing Fish Finder

[uinthas7]

Hello,

Trying to wire up my fish finder on my fuse panel, but I not sure where the ground goes, thought it went off the nut with the yellow wire leading to it but it does not work there, I have included a picture if you could offer some help. Boat is a 17'6" 2003 Sea Ray open bow

 

[GA_Boater]

I don't see a yellow wire in your pic. I think the ground bus is the mess of lugs in the left rear corner. It looks ground bussy to me.

I take it that circuit 8 is the power for the fish finder. Is 15 amps the right size rating fuse for your unit? Seems high.

 

[uinthas7]

Sorry, I should have said the yellow connector on the wire. I have not hooked in the wire for the finder yet so no #8 is not. Ill try the left corner as suggested.

 

[bruceb58]

Doesn't look like the left corner has a big ground wire connected to it but it is kinda hidden from the wire in front of it.

There may be another ground bus being used elsewhere. Look for something that has a big group of black wires connected to it.

 

[alldodge]

The upper left does appear that it could be used as the Ground Buss, and also agree it does not appear to have a wire on the ground lug. To use the GND Buss it will need a wire going back to ground and/or negative side of battery. Also recommend it is a ground buss. Do this with circuits on and check with a multimeter to a good ground

Your fish finder being a new install, I would use any of the other open slots (5, 7, 9, 10) and install new fuse of the size for the fish finder

 

[Alumarine]

I think the wire with yellow connector is your main 12v positive feed to the panel.
That's just a guess. My meter leads aren't long enough to test it.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... As AllDodge notes, there is No ground wire on the ground terminal of the ground buss bar,....

 

[GA_Boater]

If you have any instruments, see where they are grounded and attach the FF ground to that.

 

[NYBo]

The upper left does appear that it could be used as the Ground Buss, and also agree it does not appear to have a wire on the ground lug. To use the GND Buss it will need a wire going back to ground and/or negative side of battery. Also recommend it is a ground buss. Do this with circuits on and check with a multimeter to a good ground

Your fish finder being a new install, I would use any of the other open slots (5, 7, 9, 10) and install new fuse of the size for the fish finder

^This. That's why that group of lugs is there. Where are the other grounds (actually, battery negative) connected? Your wiring will be neated if you use that negative bus.

 

[gm280]

I have to concur. You don't have any ground wire connection presently on this setup. The ground should go to the area pointed out in the above pictures (the open terminals gathered together). And the yellow crimped connector RED wire is the positive supply coming to this breakout unit. So pick an unused terminal (one of the accessory terminal), and that will be your positive wire for the locator. Then either add the ground wire from the battery to the left terminal lug area and use that for your ground(s) and it will work. One other issue, fuse your new circuit for just a little over what the fish locator states it uses. For example, if your fish finder stated it uses 4 amps, install a 5 amp blade fuse. Then you protect the locator and it will also protect the wiring. JMHO!

 

[bruceb58]

It is not unusual that a separate ground bus bar would be present. The OP just has to find it. Probably close by.

 

[GA_Boater]

That's why I said follow the instrument ground wires. The fuse panel in the first post may be original or a replacement/add on. Who knows?