Marine Wire

Discussion in 'Electrical Systems' started by Mark Emaus, Oct 8, 2009.

  1. Mark Emaus
    Joined: Jan 2009
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    Mark Emaus Junior Member

    One other question Pa.

    Do you need a battery switch along with the ACR?
     
  2. pamarine
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    pamarine Marine Electrician

    no (to the size), they used to have a 60 amp ACR, Blue sea discontinued it for the one you are looking at (99.95 i think) so...

    As for the switch, get that switch, it keeps the starting battery and house seperate unless you select the combine position (unlike 1-2-both switches) but here's the trick, by the ACR and Switch seperately from west, it's cheaper than buying the combo pack.
     
  3. Mark Emaus
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    Mark Emaus Junior Member

    Pa,

    You have been a great help!

    Thank you,

    Mark

    I might have some more question tomorrow after I think about this for a while.

    Thanks again

    Mark
     
  4. pamarine
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    pamarine Marine Electrician

    no problem, it's what I do all day. My wife hates it when i jump out of bed at 3AM and draw up a shematic for something at work, lol.

    If ya need anything more specific you can always shoot me a pm or e-mail via the forums.
     
  5. Mark Emaus
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    Mark Emaus Junior Member

    Ok PA,

    Here is another question for you. Would the ignition/starter switch work in place of the bat switch? If not where do you place the bat switch in the wiring diagram?

    As I see how I may draw this up with 2 seperate bat systems. I would run a 12 ga wire from the helm starter/ignition switch to the starter, then a 2ga from the starter to the alt., then a 2 ga wire from the starter to the engine battery, then a 4 ga from the engine bat to the ACR, then a 4 ga from the ACR to the house Battery, then a 10 ga wire from the house Battery to the main fuse box/Accessory pannel. The accessory panel would then feed the lights, trolling motor, etc. Other than the wires attaching both batteries to the acr, I don't see how the 2 bats would interfer with each other. The acr (I think) is suppose to protect against surges to the accessories.?

    Mark

    Mark
     
  6. pamarine
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    pamarine Marine Electrician

    Ok Mark, I'll give you a complete diagram but I need to know a few things first:

    What engine (I assume it's an OB since it'll be on a pontoon)? What other Electrical devices are you going to run? Be a specific as possible Make and model#'s would be great.
     
  7. Mark Emaus
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    Mark Emaus Junior Member

    Thanks Pa.

    We are running a vw air cooled engine with an alt that has an internal regulator. The engine is attached to a Alpha 1 gen 2 stern drive that is using an electric acuator. We want to have 2 batteries, one will run the starter on the engine, the actuator for the stern drive, 3 engine gauges, and the nav lights. The other battery will run 3 flood lights, trolling motor, 3 recpts. fuel gauge, gps and fish finder. From the engine to the batteries is about 6 feet, from the batteries to the helm is about 10 feet and from the engine to the helm is about 8 feet. They all form a triangle. That is about it. Not a very complicated system other than a novice trying to figure ot out. lol

    Thanks PA.

    Mark
     
  8. pamarine
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    pamarine Marine Electrician

    Do you have the Model# or any other ID for the alternator

    Are the Nav Lights Incadescent or LED?

    What model GPS and Fishfinder?

    What Model Floodlights?

    Dimensions of the Pontoon Deck and Location of helm on the deck (Top down layout type thing)?

    KISS is a great thing btw:D
     
  9. TollyWally
    Joined: Mar 2005
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    TollyWally Senior Member

    "KISS is a great thing btw"

    Truer words were never spoken!
     
  10. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    Air cooled engines such as the beetle are infact oil cooled, say 40/60 leaning to the oil side.

    Although they cool by air the air needs to be moving across it.

    Running the engine for flood lights is a waste of fuel.

    I would suggest a small gen, you then have all the power you want.
     
  11. Mark Emaus
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    Mark Emaus Junior Member

    The pontoon dimensions are 8x 20 the helm will sit onthe right side 5 feet from the front of the boat.

    The batteries will be on the left side aft of centerline. About 12 feet in wiring as it 90s when it runs straight towards the front of the boat and then 90s over to the helm.

    The engine will sit 5 feet from the back of the boat with the stern drive about 1 foot from the very back.

    The trolling motor is in the front and so about 6 to 7 feet of wire needed to the fuse box which is on the helm.

    Nav lights are incadescent one on each side in the front, (about a foot back) and the white nav light on the aft left side.

    The fuel tank is in the extreme back left with the wire for the gauge running along side the nav light and turning 90 degrees towards the helm 5 feet from the front.

    The gps, (mounted on the helm) is a garmin 496. The fish finder will also be mounted on the helm but I have not picked one out yet.

    Flood lights will have 3. 2 are mounted 5 feet from the front one on each side about 1 to 2 feet from the edges of the boat. The other will be mounted on the aft right side 5 feet from the back for use on engine compartment. I have not bought the floods either as I have not found anything I liked yet. Sugestions? They need to be very bright as we are going through stumps and heavy weeds so we can miss the big stuff. lol

    There are also 3 recpts.,(like cigirate lighter) 2 up front near the flood lights and on in the back by the other flood light.

    I want to put the ACR next to the batteries in the Batter Box.

    I do not have the model number on the Alt. as the engine is being tricked up and is not here with me right now. I ask the other day about it and was told the reg was internal and that the Alt was a later model vw alt 1975 ish.

    Thanks PA

    Mark
     
  12. Mark Emaus
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    Mark Emaus Junior Member

    I appreciate your expertice, but we really don't care about fuel. This engine doen't burn enough to warrant another gen to run flood lights.
     
  13. Mark Emaus
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    Mark Emaus Junior Member

    Sorry PA,

    I forgot the gauges! The wires will run almost straight up the canter of the boat and then 90 to the helm, (about 12 feet). I want an oil preasure gauge, rpm gauge, cht gauge and amp meter gauge.

    Mark
     
  14. pamarine
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    pamarine Marine Electrician

    Okie doke, I'll see what I can come with for you over the weekend. Won't be anything fancy but at least you'll have something to work from.
     

  15. Mark Emaus
    Joined: Jan 2009
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    Mark Emaus Junior Member

    You sure don't need anything fancy....I am not a fancy person. This is way above what I was expecting for help on the forum..

    Thank You PA

    Mark
     
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