Location of Fuse Block

[Sport Lido]

I have a 1958 Glasspar Sport Lido and a 1968 Evinrude 40hp Big Twin motor I am restoring. Motor has + and - cables directly to the battery and then a 7wire harness from the motor to the ignition switch in the dash. I have figured out the connections from the wire harness to the back of the ignition switch, but I see no fuse block anywhere and wish to add one to protect the wiring. Looking for some help on adding a fuse block somewhere. With a wire harness configeration, where is the best place for a fuse block?....Can I put a fuse block in between the ignition switch and accessories and run the wiring for accessories from the fuse block? Accessories will be a horn, spot light, green and red nav light and a white anchor light. Should there be be some type of fuse in this motor already or do I need like a 20 amp breaker in the + battery cable prior to going into the motor? Any help from the experts here would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Location of Fuse Block

Do not connect a fuse panel to the ignition switch. The ignition switch is not intended to power accessories other than the gauges. The "A" (accessory) terminal on the switch feeds the +12V connection on the gauges so they are active only when the key is on.

Boats have a separate harness, usually red and black 8 or 10 gauge wire (+12 and ground) that runs from the battery to the fuse panel. A single fuse or circuit breaker (20 amps) is provided at the battery to protect the run from the battery to the panel. Individual fuses in the panel protect the individual circuits. You can add a MASTER on/off switch before the panel to shut everything down if you are foregetful. There is a generic boat wiring diagram at the top of this forum. Most recreational boats are wired this way.

 

[Sport Lido]

Re: Location of Fuse Block

Silvertip,

Thanks for the reply and info. That might explain the comment from the previous owner that it wasn't grounded properly. There is presently no fuse block and no separate circuit to the battery for the accessories. Everything, including spot light, nav lights and horn, were all wired from the ignition switch. I will put in a separate circuit to the battery for these accessories now...plus the fuse block. Thanks again!!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Location of Fuse Block

You said separate circuit back to the battery for the accessories plus the fuse block. NO! You have one circuit from the battery to the fuse block. The accessories get fed from the fuse block.

 

[Sport Lido]

Re: Location of Fuse Block

Silvertip,

I guess "separate circuit" is the wrong term and should really be a called a separate harness. If I understand you correctly, I will have a + and - from the battery to the motor and then the motor wiring harness to the ignition switch. Then another + from the battery to the fuse block and a - from the fuse block back to the battery. Then all lights, horn, etc. wired directly to the individual circuits on the fuse block. Correct??

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Location of Fuse Block

Go for it. Check the "generic boat wiring diagram" at the very top of this forum. It is the way most recreational boats are wired.