fuse size reccomendations?

[bowfisher8967]

Do I need a fuse on my bow light? If so, what amperage? I threw away the box it was in so I dont even know what model it is. It's made by attwood and its chrome and 12v. Also, my trolling motor came with an add-on fuse holder and I'm not sure what amp fuse to put in it....

Judging that my 500 gph bilge pump takes a 2.5 amp fuse I dont think the bow light would be more than half an amp, but thats just a guess.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: fuse size reccomendations?

Fuses protect wire not devices. You should use a fuse that is the correct amperage for the wire gage and smaller for the device if you want.

in runs or 25 feet or less
20 ga 2.5 amps
18 ga 5 amps
16 ga 10 amps
14 ga 15 amps
12 ga 20 amps
10 ga 30 amps
8 ga 50 amps
6 ga 75 amps
4 ga 100 amps
2 ga 200 amps

 

[Silvertip]

Re: fuse size reccomendations?

The fuse goes in the 12 volt power line going INTO the switch that controls not only the bow light, but the stern light as well. Chances are the lights are wired with 16 gauge wire so anything up to a 10 amp fuse is fine. 3 or 5 amp is just fine.

 

[bowfisher8967]

Re: fuse size reccomendations?

gotcha thank you. So are you saying it goes in between the switch and the battery? Is it preferable to put it closer to the battery or the switch?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: fuse size reccomendations?

I have no idea what boat you have or how it's wired but from your question I assume you don't have a fuse panel and that all of the electrical items use in-line fuses. If that's the case, is all of this stuff wired directly to the battery or do you have a positive and negative buss somewhere? If you have a fuse panel, the switch goes after the panel and fuse goes -- well -- in the panel. If you are using a positive and negative buss then the in-line fuses go close to the positive buss. If everything is wired back to the battery using in-line fuses, then the fuses need to be close to the battery. The whole idea of using a fuse panel is to eliminate the long rus of wire from the front of the boat to the back. One pair of heavy gauge wire feeds power to the fuse panel and power then splits to each device from there.