Wiring Help

[wellRED]

I have started installing all of my electronics and need a little help.

All of my holes are cut and wires are run.

I just need to make sure what I want to do under the console is correct.

I want to power the following off of an empty toggle switch on switch panel:
- CD Stereo Reciever w/ 4 speakers
- GPS / Fishfinder
- VHF Radio (25 Watt)

I have two empty switches. If i get a BUS bar powered from one of the switches I shouldnt have to make any other connection power wise correct? The rest should just be hooking up to units themselves from the BUS.

What about grounding???

This is my first signiffigant boat install so any feedback would be great! *006*

I have a little car radio experience but that is about it.....

[workinprogress]

I am curious as to why you want to power your components through a switch. Your components have their own switches, and it is probably more standard to supply power to your positive bus bar direct from the battery. Of course, it will work how you describe doing it, and maybe you have your reasons for doing it that way.


I have two empty switches. If i get a BUS bar powered from one of the switches I shouldnt have to make any other connection power wise correct? The rest should just be hooking up to units themselves from the BUS.
Correct



What about grounding???
You can wire in a negative bus bar. Run a direct line from the battery's neg terminal to the neg bus bar, and then tie all of your negative wires from your individual components there.

I think I may have a few bus bars laying around I can send you if you are interested. They would be this style.
http://bluesea.com/category/9/35/products/2304

[redfish74]

I am with WIP. Why use toggles? The less wire cuts you have the less corrsion problems. I used a buss bar that had a ground lug. Ran both ground and power to lugs on bar. that will also give you a place to trouble shoot.

[wellRED]

I generally like to be able to cut everything off in one click vs. having to turn everything off seperately. I tend to always forget to turn something off otherwise. Gotten home several times with dad's boat and found the fish finder to still be on... :eek: One click, and i know i'm not sucking juice anymore...

I think there may already be a negative bus under my console. I have the main switch panel, and then what looks like a bus bar with all the wires being hooked into one side of it vs. both. Thats the only thing i think it could possibly be? Any ideas?

[workinprogress]

I think there may already be a negative bus under my console. I have the main switch panel, and then what looks like a bus bar with all the wires being hooked into one side of it vs. both. Thats the only thing i think it could possibly be? Any ideas?

Something like this maybe?
http://bluesea.com/category/9/35/productline/185
On this style, one side is pos and other side is neg. It would make sense to have more connections made on the negative side, because the positives could all connect and the switches, with just one positive connection providing power throughout the entire main switch panel via a daisy chain. I'm just speculating.

[wellRED]

That looks pretty darn close. All of the connections are on the negative side with 0 on the positive though. Thats what made me think it was the ground for the switch panel.

Also, why would a switch that does not power anything currently, have three wires coming out of the back of it? Just wondering....

[Ed&Brenda]

So what did you end up powering the VHF and Stereo on. We too have the delux console with empty switches and doing the same thing you just done. Any pointers?

[wellRED]

I had a dual sided bus bar from blue sea. (if you lay on your back looking up at the undersid of the console, its just to the right of the steering wheel) I ran ground to one side and power to the other via the power already going to the switch. I put a 15 AMP in line fuse which should be plenty. It gave me 5 spots to add acc. Then you just use blade connectors and screw them in. EASY EASY. A budy of mine that has a car stereo place actually did the hook up for me for like $45. Small price to pay to know you did it right...