I'm re-wiring and updating some electronics, trying to bring things up to ABYC standards. I have a couple of Blue Sea battery terminal fuse blocks, one for each battery. I also have a 50 amp main breaker in the starboard lazarette. What size fuse should I be using? I was thinking 50?
The main 50a breaker is 6.5' from the switch. The 2 group 27 batteries are centered under the splashwell, the Perko 3 way switch and the 50a breaker are in the starboard lazarette, a 6.5' run), cable is 6 gauge.
The feeds to the panel are 10 gauge.
I know you fuse for the wire, not the load. Also, I've been reading that some of you upgraded the House feeds to 6ga, I may do that in the future. But in figuring that I don't know what the Honda 90 trim motor and Bennett trim tabs pull... anybody know that offhand? If I want a 3% drop then it looks like I should run 4gauge to the panel, figuring a 30' round trip? Is that right?
My max house load now is only 15.5amps not counting the Honda trim or trim tabs. And add 5a if the bilge is running continuously so that's 20.5a. (I'm usually running at probably more like 9 or 10... no radar or autopilot at this point.) So if I add some loads later let's say I'll have maybe 30a, so I guess that calls for 4 ga.
Sorry, I do tend to overthink things... and overbuild!
Seems I never had the time to do either of those things before, so now I'm thoroughly enjoying that luxury!
Thanks!
The main 50a breaker is 6.5' from the switch. The 2 group 27 batteries are centered under the splashwell, the Perko 3 way switch and the 50a breaker are in the starboard lazarette, a 6.5' run), cable is 6 gauge.
The feeds to the panel are 10 gauge.
I know you fuse for the wire, not the load. Also, I've been reading that some of you upgraded the House feeds to 6ga, I may do that in the future. But in figuring that I don't know what the Honda 90 trim motor and Bennett trim tabs pull... anybody know that offhand? If I want a 3% drop then it looks like I should run 4gauge to the panel, figuring a 30' round trip? Is that right?
My max house load now is only 15.5amps not counting the Honda trim or trim tabs. And add 5a if the bilge is running continuously so that's 20.5a. (I'm usually running at probably more like 9 or 10... no radar or autopilot at this point.) So if I add some loads later let's say I'll have maybe 30a, so I guess that calls for 4 ga.
Sorry, I do tend to overthink things... and overbuild!
Seems I never had the time to do either of those things before, so now I'm thoroughly enjoying that luxury! Thanks!