switch question

[mii11x]

Hey guys,

wiring a fuse/switch panel into my old mans boat so he can run nav lights, stern light, sounder and bilge (all of which i am fitting for him).

now ive read the posts and they all say to run black (negative) from my devices directly to the battery. The wiring sheet i got with the panel tells me to wire to the negative post on the panel.

here are some photo's

now im confused?? any help will be greatly appreciated

thanks

mick

[imgoin]

Hi mick run the negative straight to negative on the battery. You dont want any negatives going to the hull if the boat is alloy

[mii11x]

Hi mick run the negative straight to negative on the battery. You dont want any negatives going to the hull if the boat is alloy

yes boat is aluminium. ok to the battery it is, however is it possible to run the two nav lights to a common negative wire then to the battery (to save a length of wire). the stern light is close to the battery, so too the bilge pump. ill have to check the loom on the sounder.

any idea why the documentation would say ".....must be connected to a common negative ground on the instrument panel......"?????

thanks for the quick reply

mick

[imgoin]

Do u have a negative terminal block on the boat some where. If so all the negative can got to that. What harness are you trying to tape into?do you have a photo of the electrics on the boat if there are any cheers anthony

Edited December 22, 2012 by gaffing

[mii11x]

Do u have a negative terminal block on the boat some where. If so all the negative can got to that. What harness are you trying to tape into?do you have a photo of the electrics on the boat if there are any cheers anthony

no he bought the boat with no electrics. i have a new sounder, bilge, red/green navs and white light which im installing. the battery only has the outboard connected to it. ie main red and black from the outboard and controlled from the throttle/key/trim bit where you sit up front and steer. not trying to tap into any harness, i wont attempt to touch the sounder harness by splicing something into it

[rockfisherman]

I remember being confused about this when I rewired my mates switch panel, the misconception in my head was the switch had something to do with supplying the load, I'm still a bit fuzzy about it, but I think you connect a negative to that point on the switch panel so the switch can light up when you switch it on. You could use a separate link if you wanted to, probably a better idea than twisting all the negatives together (nothing wrong with that either).

Cheers, Fishingphase.

[imgoin]

fishingphase is correct the negitive controls the switch lights.You can run one negative cable from battery and link all the negatives to it. I have a positive and a negative terminal blocks installed on my boat and find it easy if i need to add anything else u can pick them up for about $10 bucks each just make sure they have a plastic backing if you decide to use them good luck

[mii11x]

fishingphase is correct the negitive controls the switch lights.You can run one negative cable from battery and link all the negatives to it. I have a positive and a negative terminal blocks installed on my boat and find it easy if i need to add anything else u can pick them up for about $10 bucks each just make sure they have a plastic backing if you decide to use them good luck

yeah my boat has a block on the battery terminal, ill just have to get dad to buy one tomorrow. thanks guys for all your help with my vague questions lol.