Second battery not hooked up to alternator, adding 12v plugs

[atcdude067]

I have a couple questions regarding adding a 12v plug to a battery on a boat and also hooking up a VHF radio.
I am very familiar with electrical circuits, wiring, etc, but not with boat electrical systems. Anyways, I want to hook up a 12v plug to the battery to power a spotlight, and also hardwire in the VHF radio.

My problem is this, should I just use an inline fuse for the spotlight plug, instead of wiring something into the existing system? I don't really feel like messing with that as I need this ready in a few days.
Since the VHF radio came with a built in in-line fuse, can I just plug that right up to the battery? Should I be worried about the battery going dead with a spotlight and VHF radio hooked up to it, and after 10 hours of use? Please help, thanks.

 

[reddogg]

Re: Second battery not hooked up to alternator, adding 12v plugs

IMO the only thing that should ever be wired to the batt direct is the float switch for an auto bildge pump, everything else should be run through the boats main fuse block (personal preferance). If this is a temporairy set up sure you can wire it up using inline fuses, but if your gonna run a spot for 10 hours, I'd bring an extra batt to run it off of. 12v circuts are 12v circuts no matter if they in a boat or not, if you can install a car stero, you can wire a boat. I say do it right and spend a few hours and run the stuff through the fuse block.

Red

 

[Boatist]

Re: Second battery not hooked up to alternator, adding 12v plugs

You should have a fuse or breaker near the battery.
If something should cut the wires and short them together better to blow a fuse or breaker than fight an electrical fire.

Most will put a breaker or fuse very near the battery then run a heavy enough wire to the helm station to support all the loads you intend to install.
At the helm station then install a fuse panel or if you like just a postive and negitive bus bar.
Then you can hook up your inline fuses for each circuit to the positive buss bar.

Make sure you always fully recharge your batteries at the end of the day if you want your batteries to last. Leave them discharged and they will not last long.