I would like to know the best way to build a grounding block for my wiring? all the guages are wired, i just need to bring the wire to a ground!
You can buy them, or for a ground bus just take a brass strip or block and drill and tap holes in it for the screws jim.
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=494&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=10 The post by rajboatdude, near the bottom of the page, (Edd) shows a terminal block that he uses for making his connections. Most boat dealers sell them. I am sure you can find them at electrcial supply places as well. I have seen two different kinds. One kind is like in the picture shown by Edd, the block has multiple (I've seen 4-16) strips (running vertically in the pic) with two screws for each strip. This type is mainly for connecting two wires. The other kind has two strips running the long way. This is more of a buss bar type of situation. I bought a couple of the buss bar style from my boat dealer, and ordered a few of the terminal block style from Skycraft (thanks Jim).
Do all of the grounds have to come seperatly off of each guage to grounding block? or can you link all of the grounds together then take the single wire to ground?
Either way will work if all the connections are good. Most riggers do the latter. If you look ar a really high quality boat like a trawler, they use a ground bus. It is a cleaner installation, and easier to troubleshoot. jim
I thought i knew what i was doing , :smash: but in stead of having my Dyne burn up i am going to hire a professional to wire my boat. $$ :cry: $$ is there a step by step book with pics to wiring guage lights? any help on this subject will be appreciated :lol: If at all possibile i would like to attempt it again. to wire it correctly
Each gauge has a ground stud on it which is connected to the gauge housing or case if the case is metal. If the case is plastic the socket for the light bulb is grounded. The negative terminal on the battery is black and is the ground for the electrical system. Any black wire you see in the boat should be a ground if it is wired properly. The engine harness has a black wire that is ground and it goes to the front of the boat and is connected to something (probably the ignition switch). That black wire is your ground source for the instrument panel. You can tie all the instrument grounds together with jumpers or create or buy a piece of metal for a ground bus. The bus would be connected to the above mention black wire (with black wire). It would then be the ground bus. The instruments and anything else that need a ground would be connected to that. Each electrical device or group of devices should be protected with a fuse to prevent above mentioned smoke. For instance one fuse could be used for all the instrument lights. By the way, I don't run at night and I don't need instrument lights. The are just an unwanted power robber for me. I have never turned my nav lights on since I first tested them. My boat is used only for skiing. When I was into "running with the guys" I had a boat that would run 80 at half throttle (in addition to the Dyne). It might be helpful to read some material about basic dc electrical. It is very simple and easy to understand. I hope this is helpful. jim
thanks for all the advice this web site is the best Now news relative to this new post: i ordered a switch panel,all i have to do new is order wires any company out there anyone would recommend? how do i figure feet of wire and color needed? fuse panel in not to scale in pic :mrgreen:
Hey Jim did you post a link for common wire codes for marine use somewhere here? I looked but couldn't find it. Thanks Edd
