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TURIZZIANI
USA
44 Posts |
 Posted - 06/18/2009 : 11:33:37 AM
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Hi guy's I am going to replace my battery switches with new Perko 1 2 b switches and realized I do not know what gauge wire should be used It looks like the grounds to the batteries from engines are heavy and the hots running from the solinods to the switches are about half the size of the grounds any help with sizing this would be helpful
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Rockmeister
USA
307 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2009 : 7:37:52 PM
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Usually the battery wires are at least 4 guage.
If you do not get pre-terminated cables, you will also need a 4 guage crimper.
I made one out of a 12" set of bolt cutters, it works awesome!
(Cost about $15 compared to $100 plus for the squeeze type crimpers.)
There is also a hammer type crimper for 4 Guage, but haven't seen them do very well.
Might also suggest a Blue Sea Battery switch, they are much tougher and much higher quality.
They also fit in the same hole as a Perko switch.
Like this one:
http://bluesea.com/category/1/products/5511e
Hope this helps! 
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
Western Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
Edited by - Rockmeister on 06/18/2009 7:41:09 PM |
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Jimbo Song
237 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2009 : 7:49:14 PM
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I used 4 ga wire for main battery to switch and switch to fuse. Then either 10 or 12 ga, depending on load for all other major wires. If you install a windlass or some other high demand accessory you might consider 8 ga for that but certainly no smaller than 10.
1987 Carver Voyager 28
Jimbo Song |
Edited by - Jimbo Song on 06/18/2009 7:50:48 PM |
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monterey74
USA
51 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2009 : 9:38:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by rockmeister
...
Might also suggest a Blue Sea Battery switch, they are much tougher and much higher quality.
They also fit in the same hole as a Perko switch.
Like this one:
http://bluesea.com/category/1/products/5511e
Hope this helps!
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
Western Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands
I second the Blue Sea recommendation. They make great products. Note that the switch in the link posted by Rock is their "Dual Circuit Plus". It gets wired differently than the traditional "Off | A | Both | B" switches that were originally used by Carver. Blue Sea calls the traditional style a "Selector 4 Position" switch. The document here shows the different switch configurations offered by Blue Sea: http://bluesea.com/viewresource/483
1974 2885 Monterey
1978 2896 Mariner (Stripped down to the gunwale and ready to cut) |
Edited by - monterey74 on 06/18/2009 9:46:17 PM |
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Rockmeister
USA
307 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2009 : 08:58:11 AM
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74monterey is right on. 
The switch I gave the link for is a DPST switch that keeps the battery banks separated unless set to combine.
This keeps the start battery isolated so that you can always start your engine even if you run the house battery dead.
If you add a ACR(Automatic Charge Relay) the system becomes very foolproof.
(Blue Sea and West Marine sell the Switch and ACR together in a kit form.)
Link to Kit:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/270541/377%20710/0/adding%20a%20second%20battery/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=adding%20a%20second%20battery&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=adding%20a%20second%20battery&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5002&subdeptNum=9&classNum=12106
With the normal Perko Switches this is the regular operating procedure you follow:
1) Get to the boat, turn switch to 1 or 2.
2) Try to remember which bank you used last week, as you want to alternate bank usage...
(I used whether the day was even or odd, that helped.)
3) When getting underway, set switches to BOTH to charge all batteries.
(If you forget to set to BOTH, not all batteries charge.)
4) When you get to your destination, set switch back to bank desired.
(If you forget, you risk running down ALL batteries and not being able to start engine(s).)
5) When prepping to get underway, remember to set switch(s) to BOTH again.
6) Arrive back at port, remember to set switch to desired bank.
7) When leaving the boat set switch(s) to OFF.
With the switch and the ACR together the set-up becomes as simple as:
1) Get to the boat, turn switch to ON.
2) Use boat all weekend.
3) Leave boat, turn switch to OFF.
(It doesn't matter if the boat is running or not, it takes care of itself for you, nothing for you to remember.)
Used one of my old Perko A/B switches to select Port or Starboard engine in case of an emergency, this switch is left on BOTH position under normal conditions.
(The Blue Sea switch isolates the battery when leaving the boat for the week.)
More info on the ACR & Blue Sea switch combo:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/BatteryCombinersRelays.htm
(Prefer the CL Series ACR myself, have both CL & SI series.)
Hope this helps!
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
Western Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
Edited by - Rockmeister on 06/19/2009 09:00:08 AM |
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TURIZZIANI
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2009 : 5:40:20 PM
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ROCKMEISTER how did you make the crimper? I can save plenty making my own cables and get the lengths I want
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Rockmeister
USA
307 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2009 : 1:42:55 PM
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Understand, that is how I made my cables.
They are even high quality OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) audio power wire.
It is very low resistance wire with less voltage drop and less heat.
(VERY flexible also, makes it MUCH easier to run the wire.)
You can get the wire and Gold plated terminals at an Audio store.
Took a set of 12" Bolt Cutters from Harbor Freight(About $15) and ground the jaws to make the crimp.
It makes a perfect solid crimp everytime.
If you can wait until this weekend, will get a pic of the crimper and some specs for ya.
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
Western Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
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Topic |
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REPLACING BATTERY SWITCHES AND CABLES
