just find a pos and a neg wire running an inline fuse for all you want just dont run too much from 1 spot

See if you can find anything of use on this web site.

Cheers
Dale

http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/articles/index.htm

yer not to hard to do

Can I run my GPS from the same pos & neg as the sounder - as it already has an in line fuse?

Always use tinned wire (marine applications) and I always use heat shrink and solder. easy but.

Matt T... ...if you connect the GPS & the Sounder to the same fuse, it will blow.. dont replace with a higher amp fuse, cause if you ever get a short circuit, you will blow the electronics in the gps and sounder before the fuse blows......

If you want to protect your equipment, use individual fuses... An inline fuse will cost <$2 and save you hundreds

Chookc... Sounds like your going to be drawing a bit of current if your running a cooler box and spot light, so I recommend that you use 15-20 amp Circuit Breaker.

Then connect a red power cable (13 to 15 AWG) directly from the 12V Batt +ve terminal to the CB... then run abother cable from the other side of the CB to the +ve terminals of cigarette plugs... Then wire a black power cable from the 12V Batt -ve terminal to the cigarrette sockets -ve terminals directly...

Make sure you use a soldering iron and heat shrink the connections on the back of the cigarrette sockets... and goop it up with silicone, or they will corrode in a week...and let the silicone dry before you power it up... :)

All cigarette lighter adapter cables have inbuilt fuses in the plugs.... so you can wire both sockets to the same CB...

Or to make like easy, go get a small switch board and wire an array of fuses to one side, and connect all you individual electronics to the other.

After years of playing with connecting boat wires i don't always now agree in solder and heat shrink. I actually like the new crimp terminals that come with the sleeve that melts down completely water proofing. I 100% use these in wet areas like bilges and have had virtually no trouble, as apposed to solder and heat shrink normally will still corrode after about 8 months.

I really think you have to use the glue-lined heatshrink for marine applications.

this heatshrink is known as "rackhem"

Its Raychem, not rackhem.

Most of the marine dealer can source stainless cigarette lighter sockets.Mild steel/plated ones won't last more that 6 months

because its lookin' I need one.

Thanks for the advice mate - I might need to take it to someone to help with the GPS. I did the sounder myself but I had and old sounder that was there and I could just copy the wiring.

Mate - what would you charge to do the wiring - no installation just the sparky bit?

you will need to run a heavy cable from your batteries up to your dash circuit breaker panel as per johns drawing, the biggest problem is volt drop because of the cables resistance, bigger cable less resistance, especially if your having a VHF radio , sounder gps and lights etc running at the same time, VHF draw huges amounts of power on transmission so you dont want your sounder /GPS dropping out each time, install alrge cable and fuse at batteries acording to the total current draw( amps ) shown on equipment details but fuse all items seperately

I recommend 2 core 5.0mm2 power cable from the batt to the switch panel...

Then 1.5 to 2.5mm2 to the lighter sockets.

All other equipment should have its own power cable supplied.

thanks for all the info guys.  Have ended up getting an auto sparky to come and give us a guide. on the weekend..   had to get him for other matters see how it goes...