I will be instaling a Lewmar Pro Series 1000 very soon. I ran a string from the batteries to the Vee berth (30 feet) where I will mount the selenoid and then it's about 3 feet to the windlass. It is 30 feet each way from batteries to selenoid. According to the Installation guide I fall in the 60 to 80 feet cable length and recommends AWG 2 for the cable size. Does this seem small or should I spend serious extra money and go with a larger cable? It is a 12 volt install not 24 volt.
I'd go with what they recommend. Even if you think that for some reason they would under-specify, you are at the shorter end of the range. This wire is very heavy. Bigger isn't necessarily better.
Hi saildog1
I can't find the Pro Series 1000 on Lewmar's site. If it's 1000 watts which the model number suggests divided by 12 volts = about 84 amps. Using this calculation AWG by wire length/amps calculator
that is 2awg for a 60 foot run but with 10% loss. With a 3% loss it goes up to 3/0 wire. I'd go larger even though it will be expensive, probably something in between such as 1/0 which gives a 5% loss over that distance. In this case I think bigger is better.
Brian
Go bigger. AWG2 is way too small for a 60' plus run and 80+ amp draw.
1/0 is probably a good compromise, as suggested. Someday, you may need to operate the windlass without the engine running, so a smaller voltage drop is way better.
Be sure to do the terminations correctly (lugs, adhesive heat shrink, etc.). If you don't have a proper crimper for 1/0 (not the beat-with-a-hammer kind), borrow one or use a Nicopress tool. A bit of dielectric grease will help, too.
Take your time and do it right, and you won't have to touch it again for many years.
Better yet, pay GENUINEDEALZ $1 per crimp, and you don't have to worry about making good connections on that big wire! Measure carefully, and don't forget to buy the adhesive shrink tube so they can do the complete job. I had them make up 4 heavy cables for me last summer - cost me $8, and they did a great job!
I have the 185 dollar crimpers, they look like large bolt cutters, not the kind you beat with a hammer. I also have a drawer full of the adhesive sleeves. They work great for lots of stuff even over halyard splices. Genuinedealz seem to have the best prices by far and Defender was the cheapest for the windlass.
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