Inline Fuse Between Battery & Fuse Block???

[Todd in NY]

I bought two new Blue Seas grounded fuse blocks and the wiring instructions call for a fuse between the battery and the fuse block, up to 125 amps!

 

 

Does anyone actually do this? If so, I think 60 amps would be enough for my system, running 2 fish finder/GPS units, a Sub Troll and a VHF marine radio. I use manual riggers and I have no FM radio for music.

 

I've never seen it on any of the boats I've owned or been on. My two batteries are wired to the Perko battery switch, then to the fuse blocks. This is the rear fuse block in the pic. The other fuse block is the same one, but it's at the helm.

 

[shawn393]

yes. always fuse between.even a 60 amp is overkill for what you are running. 

[L&M]

As Shawn said that is the correct way of doing it , anything coming off the battery should be fused at the battery, amperage depending on load. In your case 40a should be more than sufficient. 

[Todd in NY]

Thanks Shawn! I wonder if those bigger fuses are for the 24v and 36v systems, or much bigger boats with AC/DC systems. Mine is strictly 12v DC.

 

Should I run one 60 amp inline fuse between my battery and battery switch and call it good enough? I have 2 fuse blocks and a 6 circuit rocker switch panel.

[Todd in NY]

1 minute ago, L&M said:

As Shawn said that is the correct way of doing it , anything coming off the battery should be fused at the battery, amperage depending on load. In your case 40a should be more than sufficient. 

 

Thanks!

[L&M]

9 minutes ago, Todd in NY said:

Should I run one 60 amp inline fuse between my battery and battery switch and call it good enough? I have 2 fuse blocks and a 6 circuit rocker switch panel.

 

If your running your power to the fuse block thu your battery switch to kill it when you shut the switch down you would want to pick up your 12v power at the "on" side of the battery switch and fuse it there. 

[Todd in NY]

6 hours ago, L&M said:

 

If your running your power to the fuse block thu your battery switch to kill it when you shut the switch down you would want to pick up your 12v power at the "on" side of the battery switch and fuse it there. 

 

Ok, thanks for the clarification on that!

 

I don't slip my boat, so I like to use the Perko switch to turn everything off when it's on the trailer.

Edited April 7, 2018 by Todd in NY

[Todd in NY]

15 minutes ago, L&M said:

As Shawn said that is the correct way of doing it , anything coming off the battery should be fused at the battery, amperage depending on load. In your case 40a should be more than sufficient. 

 

What gauge wire should I run from the inline fuse to the helm fuse block?

[L&M]

I would guess your only running about 15' in that size boat 10 gauge would be more than enough & have room to add more toys down the line if you wanted. 

[Todd in NY]

Thanks again! 10ga is good, since I bought a spool of red and black. I was hoping I wouldn't anything bigger.

[TrophySeeker]

Hank does this for a living, but I personally would use 8awg for 40A, and 10awg for 30A.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[L&M]

That would be all well & good Jim if he was running equipment that would require a 40a run, but as you can see above what he is using this run for barley maxes out at a 15 amp draw & that's including the max draw of the vhs if it were transmitting on high power, hence the 10 gauge for that short of a distance and draw. I should of included a 20 amp fuse to clarify it. 

[Todd in NY]

Trophy Seeker & Hank, thanks for the additional information! Its another fine example of what makes LOU a great community of outdoors enthusiasts 

Edited April 7, 2018 by Todd in NY