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  1. #1
    Member Lwabirds's Avatar
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    Question What gauge wire?

    I need to run wiring from my bow to my battery for a HDS live unit. What gauge wire is recommended for this?

  2. young angler 188Musky's Avatar
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    #2
    10 gauge minimum.

    8, if powering a distribution bus.

    Be sure to use wire for direct current, preferably marine rated wire.

  3. Member
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    #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Lwabirds View Post
    I need to run wiring from my bow to my battery for a HDS live unit. What gauge wire is recommended for this?
    Impossible to answer with the information provided. But if you read this, you can answer it yourself: https://teamcolibri.blogspot.com/202...r-my-unit.html

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    #4
    I'm running 2 Carbon 9's, AT, and a Rite-Hite up front. I had developed low voltage issues with my original installation. I recently ran 10ga "SO cord" from my 100ah Lithium to the bow and it worked 100%.

  5. Member lpugh's Avatar
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    #5
    Here is a guide
    MFDSYSTEM.jpg
    Thank You Leon Pugh

  6. Member lpugh's Avatar
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    #6
    Here is a guide, do not exceed the wire sizes recomended
    MFDSYSTEM.jpg
    Thank You Leon Pugh

  7. Member
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    #7
    Quote Originally Posted by lpugh View Post
    do not exceed the wire sizes recomended
    That is just plain wrong....

  8. Member lpugh's Avatar
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    #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Team Colibri View Post
    That is just plain wrong....
    How's that? Elaborate on specifics.
    Most on these forums have gone way overboard on wire size, to the point of protentional negative effects. You gain nothing by going to larger wire than what I recommended.
    For bass boats done as suggested there will be less than a three percent voltage drop tops with high quality wire and no runs longer than 30 ft round trip
    Last edited by lpugh; 05-31-2023 at 06:43 PM.
    Thank You Leon Pugh

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    #9
    Quote Originally Posted by lpugh View Post
    How's that? Elaborate on specifics.
    Most on these forums have gone way overboard on wire size, to the point of protentional negative effects. You gain nothing by going to larger wire than what I recommended.
    For bass boats done as suggested there will be less than a three percent voltage drop tops with high quality wire and no runs longer than 30 ft round trip
    As your sheet has no information on maximum draw from the units used, or maximum length of the wiring used, it is quite limited although the idea is good.

  10. Member lpugh's Avatar
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    #10
    Will support 22 amps of current draw, with that design on any bass boat at 3% voltage drop properly layed out to avoid excessive wire length. Fuse box should nbe located very near or in consol area center of boat
    4 hds 16 plus active target. With 5 % drop somewhat more which is still quite acceptable.
    Last edited by lpugh; 06-01-2023 at 10:19 AM.
    Thank You Leon Pugh

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    #11
    Good information from both of you experts. Thanks for sharing!

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    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by lpugh View Post
    Here is a guide, do not exceed the wire sizes recomended
    MFDSYSTEM.jpg
    Leon, can you supply a contact to purchase that terminal junction fuse block.? Looks like a nice item for cleaning up the wiring in a boat.!

  13. Member lpugh's Avatar
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    #13
    Blue Sea Systems 5033 ST Blade Fuse block, amazon has them
    Dont buy the cheap ones, Bussman or Blue seas (both the same units)
    They do have others that have more than 6 fuses if needed
    Thank You Leon Pugh

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    #14
    Also recommend Blue Seas. I’ve installed them in a couple boats. Very robust. Get the right size heat shrink ring terminals.

    NoCAL
    2004TR-21X/2015 250 ProXS
    2B112175

  15. Member lpugh's Avatar
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    #15
    ^^^^^^^absolutely
    Thank You Leon Pugh

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    #16
    Quote Originally Posted by NoCAL View Post
    Also recommend Blue Seas. I’ve installed them in a couple boats. Very robust. Get the right size heat shrink ring terminals.

    NoCAL
    +1 Have three of them in my present boat, also used them in my two previous boats. Not cheap, but then the best seldom is....

  17. Member 78Staff's Avatar
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    #17
    another Blue Sea rec, have one at bow and one at console, fed by 8ga direct from battery. Fuses easy to access (no inline fuses bured under panels) and wiring clean and easy to manage.

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    #18
    Just did 6 gauge to a blue seas with 12 gauge to 4 units, mega 360, and active target. Reading 12.8 at every unit all day

  19. Member
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    #19
    Quote Originally Posted by lpugh View Post
    Blue Sea Systems 5033 ST Blade Fuse block, amazon has them
    Dont buy the cheap ones, Bussman or Blue seas (both the same units)
    They do have others that have more than 6 fuses if needed
    Thank you sir.!! Looks like the one I’ll be getting.! And thanks everyone for the straight up recommendation.! Sorry op, didn’t mean to steal you thread.!

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    #20
    Blue Sea for me... Second time installing one plus wiring for me. Have a 25A Blue Sea breaker installed on the main power supply. My boat has a nice surface under the console where I mounted it. All Kimbluth wire from Amazon. NEMA and Front graph power supply wired directly to the left side, right side is power supply to front.

    Picture was taken a little off center, trust me... the fuse block is centered!


    2018 LEGEND 211R | 250 MERC PROXS

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