wire gauge question??

[boatingfool]

I read the owners manual for my depth finder and it said to wire the unit directly to the battery using 14 gauge wire.<br />That is how I was originaly going to wire it but I couldnt find 14 gauge wire anywhere.<br />Not at lows, home depot , radio shack.<br /><br />If I use 12 gauge wire will it cause problems??

 

[JB]

Re: wire gauge question??

No problem, BF. 12ga. is bigger, therefore better, than 14.

 

[boatingfool]

Re: wire gauge question??

Thank You much JB! <br /><br />I went to go buy 12gauge wire at Lowes(because they said when I called they had no 14 gauge.As a matter of fact he told me I would need to go to an electrical warehouse to find some.)<br /><br />I got to the electrical department and they had an entire wall of 14 gauge!!<br /><br />Great Customer service!! <br /><br />Anyway I got my 14 gauge wire so the first post is mute.

 

[Kesh]

Re: wire gauge question??

Hi guys,<br />Hey Boatingfool, I was just wondering if you are using marine grade wire. Don't use nothing but marine grade wire. It is more expensive but will last more. The general type copper wire is very prone to corrode internally once a drop of water touches an exposed terminal/connection.

 

[wazzu98]

Re: wire gauge question??

Installing a new fish finder myself. Question I has is what is the advantages of wiring directly to the battery versus wiring into the cradle already on the boat?

 

[DJ]

Re: wire gauge question??

wazzu98,<br /><br />The general conscensus is that wiring directly to the battery eliminates "noise" sometimes generated in ignition circuits.

 

[JB]

Re: wire gauge question??

Kesh makes an excellent point.<br /><br />If you plan to use her in salt water environs, you should use marine grade wire. <br /><br />In regular automotive grade wires the individual strands are bare copper.<br /><br />In marine grade wire there are more strands of finer wire and they are each tinned to prevent corrosion.

 

[boatingfool]

Re: wire gauge question??

Wazzu98,<br />Here is alink to my problem that lead me to this thread.