Fuse Protection Help

[kbelky]

I am completely rewiring my boat, and would like some opinions on a very basic point (which I can't seem to find through searching). I have a fuse panel with a single 14 gauge wire coming off of it to the front of the boat. There is a cigarette lighter/acc. power connector at the front of the boat, along with a courtesy light. I would really prefer not to have to run two power wires; however, the cigarette lighter is capable of pulling 15 amps, whereas the courtesy light would never pull over one amp. There is 14 gauge wire running to the cig. lighter, and a 16 gauge wire tapping off of that going to the light.

I know you are supposed to select fuse size based on the wire gauge; but, since the max amp draw is such a big difference, would that still apply.

Am I limited to putting a 10 amp fuse at the fuse panel, and a 7 amp fuse where the 16 gauge wire taps off? I hate having a fuse behind a panel where I can't see it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

I know you are supposed to select fuse size based on the wire gauge; but, since the max amp draw is such a big difference, would that still apply.

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,.... Yes, fuses are to protect the Wirin', not the appliance....

Personally, I'd ditch what you got, 'n run a heavier wire forward to a fuse box, at the dash...

 

[Splat]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

That's the proper way to do it. The fuse protects the wire. The light may never inttheory pull more than a amp, but the wire feeding it could become damaged, or shorted and pull much more. The fuse helps prevent melting of that wire and subsequent fire.

On a side note 14 gauge wire is smaller than I'd like to see for a 15 amp capable circuit. Especially over a long run to the front of the boat. It may be fine for a small load such as a phone charger, butwill begin to heat uup, and voltage drop if you use a moderate load such as a spotlight

Bill

 

[Splat]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

Bond o types faster than I....

 

[Don S]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

Typically people run a 10ga positive and negative wire from the battery (in the back of the boat) up to the fuse panel (front of the boat) with a negative buss on it. It has a 30A fuse or circuit very close to the batteries positive terminal.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

Based on what you described . . . I would put an inline fuse on the 16 ga wire and be done with it. Then use a fuse between let's say 2-7 amps, whatever you like.

 

[kbelky]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

I do have an 8 gauge wire running from the battery to a distribution block at the dash. My issue is not wanting to run multiple hot wires from the dash to the front.

Thank you for the advice! It has been helpful!

 

[Don S]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

I misunderstood your question, just run 14 ga. to the light, then you won't need more fuses for smaller wiring. The short 16 ga pigtails on the lights will not be an issue.

 

[kbelky]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

Thanks! I like that answer!!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

Also, 16 gauge wire can easily handle 15A until the fuse blows without failing.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Fuse Protection Help

Or you may want to consider a up dated fuse block like this one, I used this one in my rewire last year and so far I have only used 5 circuits off of it