wire size

[skillet]

Am redoing an aluminum bass boat that I got this Fall. The wire going up to the TM switch is #12. Could someone tell me what the largest TM this wire could carry a load for. At the point I'm at now, would be the easiest time to trade it out if need be. THANKS !!!

skillet

[Wayne P.]

"The wire going up to the TM switch" originates from where, how far, and what is the switch for?

[wasabi_VA]

Nothing much over 20 lbs. of thrust. Put in 8 gauge and be done with it.

[nick76]

There are a lot of factors here.  You will need the lenght of the run from the battery, the max draw from the motor, and a chart to determine the size wire for that draw.  8 or 10 gauge will do most of the runs in your boat.  When I had mine installed the placed an inline fuse (35amp) on the negative side.  I found after 2 seasons that this fuse would get warm over long periods of use and actually blew a few.  I read my manual and the max draw was around 45-50 amps, so I replaced with an in-line circuit breaker made for marine use.  It has an auto reset feature.  Costs more than an in-line fuse, but worth the money and trouble.

[skillet]

My boat is 14' with a 43 amp. TM. A member sent me a chart (you can teach an old dog new tricks, sometimes!) According to the chart a 6 guage would be the best. Even if I get rich and famous (at my age I need to hurry:D) and can upgrade, I should be OK. Another thing, when figuring the distance, count there and back.

nick76 where did you get the in-line circuit breaker and where did you mount it? THANKS my friends!!!

skillet

[nick76]

With a 14 foot boat are you mounting this TM on the bow or on the transom?  If you are mounting on the bow you could always move the deep cycle battery to the bow so you have shorter runs.  This will allow you to use 10 gauge wire for the runs.  You will place the circuit breaker on the negative wire, I placed mine about a foot from the battery terminal.  Make sure you get some of the heat shrink wrap for the wire connections and seal it up good.  Water is not a good thing.  I also found that after upgrading my wire and changing out the fuse for a circuit breaker my battery lasted a lot longer.

BTW, you have a PM.

[Wayne P.]

nick76, I have never heard of or observed any installation of a circuit breaker being recommended or installed on the negative (-) black wire of a DC powered system.

All recommendations and installations I have read about and observed have the circuit breaker on positive (+) red wire of a DC powered system.

What source gave you that recommendation?

Skillet, here is a source for the breaker:

http://www.iboats.com/Rig_Rite_12_Volt_Marine_Circuit_Breaker_with_Automatic_Reset/dm/cart_id.203764315--list_time.1230433008--session_id.345915525--view_id.47142

edited: My statement concerns the past 50 or so years as earlier there were positive chassis grounded vehicles.

[nick76]

Sorry about that, Wayne P. you are correct.  Installed on the positive side of the battery.  I was in the middle of a conversation with the wife.

[Wayne P.]

nick76, in that case you were concentrating on the most important communication at the time ;D