Wiring

[kbert1171]

I am re-wiring my bass boat this winter. What size wire would y'all suggest? I was thinking 14 or 12 gage. Most things call for 16ga, but I want to go a bit bigger for less voltage drop.

 

[alldodge]

Mains 10awg, otherwise it depends on the load for the circuit. If your going to led then the load decreases. The pic is for additional wiring, not the motor wiring. Use what the manufacture or the motor recommends

 

[dingbat]

I am re-wiring my bass boat this winter. What size wire would y'all suggest? I was thinking 14 or 12 gage. Most things call for 16ga, but I want to go a bit bigger for less voltage drop.

You only get a voltage drop if the current draw exceeds the wire capabilities.

A 16 gauge wire is good to 10 amps at 50 feet at 3%. Changing out a 16 gauge wire for 14 gauge buys you nothing in a 8 amp circuit

14 gauge wire is harder to work with than 16 gauge and 12 gauge is harder yet.
I wouldn't upside the wiring unless you have a problem your trying to solve.

 

[kbert1171]

Not rewiring the motor. Its the ONLY thing thats never been messed with. Everything else has been mucked up and the original wiring is super weak and breaks with a touch or bump. And all the wiring was wrapped up into a ball and zip tied to the wall of the battery compartment. No fuses, no breakers, except for the trolling motor and those CBs were the original and I dont even know if they were functional. I will replace them with a new breaker as well.
Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it.

 

[gm280]

Time to remove all that old cracking wire and install proper fuses or circuit breakers as you rewire back. I like circuit breakers if they are quality types. But lots of boaters like fuses. It is a personal opinion. Plan your wiring so it takes the correct layout and not so much wasted wiring. The boat will work worry free for a long long time once it is done.

The wire gauge or gauges you will use depends on the current draw of each circuit. An example, the bilge pump states the current it needs. Let's say 5 amps, use wire that supports that 5 amp amount and a little over that amount. I like to use wire that can handle twice that amount to take care of inrush currents when motors start up. So I would install 10 amp capable wire and marine grade as well. And each circuit needs it's own fuse or breaker and marine grade wire. Then the main wire has to be able to handle all those individual circuits added together. And that main wire need to be fused or breakers and marine grade as well for that total amount of current. That's how it is done and done safely. JMHO

 

[jhande]

Figure out what will be connected to each wire run and add up the amp draw. To convert watts to amps = https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/Watt_to_Amp_Calculator.html
Then use something like https://www.wirebarn.com/Wire-Calculator-_ep_41.html to calculate the wire size (gauge) to safely use.
Install the proper rated fuse or circuit breaker for each run.
Marine grade wire is tinned copper.
Marine grade connections are heat shrink.