What size Battery Cable

[sheffism]

What size battery cable for 30a breaker/switch? Ran 6awg from 30a breaker in bilge to fuse block in center rod box, 10awg from fuse block to terminal block, terminal block to 18awg Live 12 power cable. What size battery cable from battery to 30a breaker? Thanks all I'm almost there with dedicated power for my graphs.

[CatFan]

How much current are you expecting to see? Should be a very short run, so I’d just get a pre-made battery cable that reaches.

[86 inches]

How far from your battery did you put your breaker. ABYC says 7". If so, same 6 awg

[sheffism]

Breaker is going on same wall house (factory) breaker is mounted to...maybe a foot. As stated, I have 6awg coming out of breaker, any reason not to run 6awg from battery to breaker?

[Stroker3.2XS]

Nope, 6 gauge is more than big enough for a 30amp breaker

[sheffism]

Nope, 6 gauge is more than big enough for a 30amp breaker

Thanks

[KandKKustomz]

6

[86 inches]

12" to your breaker? I think you're fine with 6 gauge. Much longer and I would either add a protective sheath or a terminal fuse block like a Blue Sea 5191or reconsider my breaker location.

If you don't mind some constructive criticism, I would question why you added the terminal block and the 10 to 18 connection. Did you fuse your 18? I'm guessing not. I bet you fused the 10/18 at your bow fuse box and you probably chose a fuse size appropriate for the 18 and your device.

The problem I see with that (especially if your terminal block is remote and out of sight) is someone later might come along and replace that fuse with a larger one rated for the ampacity of the 10 wire leaving the 18 unprotected. Does that make sense? Your fuse box is already in the bow, why not connect your devices directly to it.

[sheffism]

12" to your breaker? I think you're fine with 6 gauge. Much longer and I would either add a protective sheath or a terminal fuse block like a Blue Sea 5191or reconsider my breaker location.

If you don't mind some constructive criticism, I would question why you added the terminal block and the 10 to 18 connection. Did you fuse your 18? I'm guessing not. I bet you fused the 10/18 at your bow fuse box and you probably chose a fuse size appropriate for the 18 and your device.


The problem I see with that (especially if your terminal block is remote and out of sight) is someone later might come along and replace that fuse with a larger one rated for the ampacity of the 10 wire leaving the 18 unprotected. Does that make sense? Your fuse box is already in the bow, why not connect your devices directly to it.

No fuse block in the bow, my mistake. Ran 6awg from 30a breaker to fuse block (in center rod box), 10awg from fuse block to terminal block, terminal block to 18awg Live 12 power cable.

[sheffism]

6awg from battery to Blue Sea 7181 (30a breaker/switch) - 6awg from breaker to Blue Sea 5025 (6 circuit fuse block) in center rod box (3a fuse) - 10awg from fuse block to Blue Sea 2504 (4 circuit terminal block), 1 in console, 1 in bow - 18awg lowrance power cable to terminal blocks FS 7 @ bow, Live 12 @ console.