Switch panel

Spiralers

Cadet
Joined
Jul 6, 2018
Messages
29
i got my boat wiring straightened out.thanks to silver tip.(battery to 5025 st common fuse box.next I am going to wire up 4way switch panel from the fuse box,which is about 7ft away .not sure how to do it.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
That depends on which switch panel you use. If the switch panel is pre-wired on the LINE (input) side, there is a single pigtail wire that gets +12 volts and feeds it to all of the switches. The LOAD (output) side of each switch then feeds each accessory through a fuse. However, if the fuse panel you have is a "bussed" type, meaning all the LINE side fuses are fed by a single input that won't work with a wired switch panel unless you break all of the common line side connections on the fuse panel. Another option would be to use the fuse panel as it is and then disconnect the LINE side connections on the switch panel. One fuse on the fuse panel then feeds the line side of each switch. If the switch panel is not pre-wired, then you simply run one fused circuit to each switch. See how all of this electrical stuff requires that you develop a plan rather than just buying parts and hoping you can make them work.
 

alldodge

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
42,587
Example below shows 12Ga wire feeding switches, but may need larger wire if current requirements of what the switches control will exceed 20 amps

Gen wiring Diag 2.jpg
 

alldodge

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
42,587
Look at what the switches will be powering, then add up all those requirements (what size fuses). This will dictate what size wire is used.
 
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