Hello,
Been fixing up a C-22 over the past couple years and one of my final tasks is the electrical. Old system is unsafe and needs to be replaced. To preface, I have been reading(and learning) very much about marine electrical work but am very new and inexperienced.
I have already purchased a 12v deep cycle battery that has 114 amp hour rating as well as a new mast harness, interior wiring, and circuit board.
I will be running 3 led interior lights, depth sounder, led anchor light, halogen steaming/deck light combo, bow light, stern light.
Here's the question...
Circuit board says that it has a 35 amp max with 7 amp singles. What gauge primary wire do I need to get to connect to the battery which is 2 ft away? Too small and I understand that it would overheat, but is there a disadvantage of using an larger than necessary gauge for these primary wires that run from battery to board? I've seen tables that have you figure out 3% or 10% voltage drops and find cable length and total amps. Can someone explain why they are 3% and 10%? Is cable length a sum of all of the wire lengths in your circuit (ie. Switchboard through mast up to anchor light and back + switchboard to cabin light and back + etc.) or from board to battery (2ft.)? Is amp total the amp usage of each of the lights I am running combined or the circuit board max(35 amp)?
Probably dumb questions but I'd rather ask and learn
thanks in advance
adam
Been fixing up a C-22 over the past couple years and one of my final tasks is the electrical. Old system is unsafe and needs to be replaced. To preface, I have been reading(and learning) very much about marine electrical work but am very new and inexperienced.
I have already purchased a 12v deep cycle battery that has 114 amp hour rating as well as a new mast harness, interior wiring, and circuit board.
I will be running 3 led interior lights, depth sounder, led anchor light, halogen steaming/deck light combo, bow light, stern light.
Here's the question...
Circuit board says that it has a 35 amp max with 7 amp singles. What gauge primary wire do I need to get to connect to the battery which is 2 ft away? Too small and I understand that it would overheat, but is there a disadvantage of using an larger than necessary gauge for these primary wires that run from battery to board? I've seen tables that have you figure out 3% or 10% voltage drops and find cable length and total amps. Can someone explain why they are 3% and 10%? Is cable length a sum of all of the wire lengths in your circuit (ie. Switchboard through mast up to anchor light and back + switchboard to cabin light and back + etc.) or from board to battery (2ft.)? Is amp total the amp usage of each of the lights I am running combined or the circuit board max(35 amp)?
Probably dumb questions but I'd rather ask and learn
thanks in advance
adam