Multiple connections to battery

[apb]

I disconnect my positive side every time I am done using my boat. I have about 6 or 7 wires going to that post can anyone suggest a easier neater way to do this. Thank you...

[Don Supon]

Couldn't you simply attach all of the leads to one side of a switch and connect the other side to the pos post of the battery? Then flip the switch to OFF.

[smallboat]

APB,

 

Not sure how you boat is wire but that is a lot of wires on one post (too many IMHO). I don't like more than two wires on any battery post.

 

Best way to wire to a hot post is to run all wires to a buss bar or fuse block, then a single wire (make sure it is the correct gauge for the load) to a battery switch then to the hot post.  Turn the switch off at the end of the day.

[G-Daddy]

I've used these before:

http://www.wholesalemarine.com/marinco-battery-direct-connect.html?gclid=CPe7k97v67oCFS4aOgodQGsA6w

[Big Water]

I just added a horizontal 12v disconnect to my boat.  Similar to this but with a horizontal blade.

 

 

I also added a short piece of heavy wire cable with  2 battery terminal ends to both battery terminals so that I had a single attachments at the battery and the multiple connectors to the other end of the cable. Similar to this, but with the flat connector on both ends.

 

 

I'd include a picture, but I have the boat covered right now.  Works very well.

Edited November 17, 2013 by Big Water

[smallboat]

Here are a  few more comments I would like to suggest.

 

The Marinco battery connects work OK but you need to watch for vibration loosening the blade connectors.  Screw type connections are more secure and less likely to come loose.

 

You need to be careful with a knife type switch.  If your boat is an I/O or inboard and this switch is in the engine compartment, remember you have a real potential for gas vapors and these switches are not vapor proof.  Sparks can cause real damage real fast.  I have seen this first hand.  If it is in the engine compartment, all switches and ignition parts need to be vapor or explosion proof.

[Xxx]

Here are a  few more comments I would like to suggest.

 

The Marinco battery connects work OK but you need to watch for vibration loosening the blade connectors.  Screw type connections are more secure and less likely to come loose.

 

You need to be careful with a knife type switch.  If your boat is an I/O or inboard and this switch is in the engine compartment, remember you have a real potential for gas vapors and these switches are not vapor proof.  Sparks can cause real damage real fast.  I have seen this first hand.  If it is in the engine compartment, all switches and ignition parts need to be vapor or explosion proof.

I found at a going out of business hardware store battery connecter with 2 studs and I put 2 wires on each stud and used a nylon locking nut instead of the wing nut and put a battery disconnect(Perko) in between the battery and the instruments, so I have Instrument 1 on or both or all off works for me. When taking the batteries out for the winter I loosen the connecter and leave the wires in tack and the neg. terminal and out comes the batteries.

[thefrenchman]

Hey there

i use a perko switch on two power bar

i've got 10 slot on my power bar

one for negative and one for positive

only three wire on the batterie on each terminal

i've got one wire for the power bar and one for the automatic builge pump

and one for the instrumental panel

 

the frenchman

[Tim Bromund]

Same here. I have buss bars mounted on the inside of the transom on each side and all of the elecronics are wired to those, with just a single set of wires going from the bar to the batteries in each corner.

Tim

[apb]

Thanks guys. I will have to figure that out after deer season!

[ERABBIT]

apb if after you make the changes and you have depthfinder problems , the fix most times for that is to be wired direct to battery.........good luck out in the woods

[jimski2]

I believe bilge pumps need to be direct wired to the battery as it is needed when the boat is unattended.

[paige386]

You could consider something like this connected to a buss bar with fuses.

http://www.bluesea.com/products/9001e

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[rolmops]

All this connecting to the battery reminded me of my fishawk.

Whenever I hook it up it causes a spark because it instantly turns on although it has been turned off. It may be my display specific unit. Or does this  happen to other ones as well?

Edited November 24, 2013 by rolmops

[mudflat]

My X4 also turns itself on automatically when I turn on my main power switch.  It only does this when the power supply is turned off first then turned back on.

[jimski2]

Turning your battery switch off while the engine is running will blow the diodes on your charging system unless your switch has an alternator disconnect switch in it. There are different battery switches to choose.

[apb]

I have found buss bars with only 2 bigger posts. one for the main cable going to the battery but my question is I have a kicker terminal, a main motor terminal and my minn Kota terminal to go to that other post. Should I stack them on 1 post on the buss bar or should I find a buss bar with multiple large posts on the inward side?

[ERABBIT]

I believe bilge pumps need to be direct wired to the battery as it is needed when the boat is unattended.

Only the auto- float switch........