Wiring gauges

[iceman121]

Hey guys here is a question for you,I am wiring my gauges and I was wondering should I run the Purple power wire to the switch panel positive as my main power source( so I can have power when the key is on ) or should I run that wire to my tach to power only the gauges and run a separate power and ground wire to the switch panel to power the rest of my accesories( Bilge, livewell, running lights etc. Any advice will help

 

[turbinedoctor]

Re: Wiring gauges

I doubt that the purple wire is sized large enough to carry enough current to run the other equipment. I suggest you run a seperate feed, both positive and negitave, that is sized for the expected amount of load, from the battery to the panel.

 

[iceman121]

Re: Wiring gauges

So what gauge wire do you recomend to run to the switch panel/fuse panel?

 

[dehydrated]

Re: Wiring gauges

10 gauge wire

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring gauges

The "A" (accessory) terminal on the ignition switch is intended to power the gauges and not much else. It is the red/black #10 gauge wires that run from the battery to the fuse panel that powers everything else. If the switch panel you mention has fuses built into it, then the red/black goes to the switch panel.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring gauges

It is not safe to start a circuit with 12 gauge wire and then switch along the way to 14 gauge. 12 gauge = 20A max capacity. 14 gauge = 15A max capacity. If the circuit is fused 15A or less that would be acceptable but not if it's fused for 20A.