Help with Switch Panel

[ezrollin]

I have a good used switch panel but I'm a little confused about the wiring,all the switches have the postive [red] and negative [black] wires looping from one switch to another. I can understand the negative because it's a common grd but wouldn't looping the red defeat the purpose of individual fuses ? I've already install a fuse block[which is fed hot] and grd bar. Here's pic of the back of the switch panel,the red wire is easy to see the black a little harder.

[curtiscapk]

what does the front look like????? Does it have breakers on the switches?

[ezrollin]

what does the front look like????? Does it have breakers on the switches?

Your answer just flipped a switch in my brain,duh. These round white things I thought were indicator lights are re-settable breakers,right ? All this stuff came in a box of goodies I picked up with another fuse block,grd bar etc. Here's a pic of the front.

[curtiscapk]

BREAKERS! All you need is a hot and Ground from your battery and they all go live...

[curtiscapk]

If this is for your weekender, you should be posting all these together so you have a history of your build???? Transom, engine, switches, battery etc...

[ezrollin]

Boy I hate to post and then realize I've made myself look like a moron. As for the fuse block, I'm sure it was for un-switched acess. like the overhead cabin leds I installed that have switches on them. Thanks again !

[ezrollin]

If this is for your weekender, you should be posting all these together so you have a history of your build???? Transom, engine, switches, battery etc...

What,so everyone can see my screw ups ? lol Like the temporary fed to my 10w led floods mount on/under the rails for night fishing.I had already installed the rail fencing before I decided on the floods,later I think I can use the rails as a raceway by fishing a two conductor cable through it. Seriously, I have taken some pictures of the build and may post them later all together,it may be of interest to some on the forum.

[ezrollin]

If this is for your weekender, you should be posting all these together so you have a history of your build???? Transom, engine, switches, battery etc...

What,so everyone can see my screw ups ? lol Like the temporary fed to my 10w led floods mount on/under the rails for night fishing.I had already installed the rail fencing before I decided on the floods,later I think I can use the rails as a raceway by fishing a two conductor cable through it. Seriously, I have taken some pictures of the build and may post them later all together,it may be of interest to some on the forum.

[curtiscapk]

Screw ups!!!???? what are you talking about

[tuned]

Took a close look at your panel. Not bad.
Not sure of your wiring experience, but here's a few observations.

It appears as if the heavy red main feed to this panel will hook into the lower left breaker (in the photo viewed from the rear). It will hook into the tab showing just to the left of the heavy red wire. Don't use wire any lighter than that heavy gauge. On a longer run, you will need even heavier wire than the heavy red shown in the picture. If unsure, I or someone else here can advise on these numbers. I don't see what appears to be a master breaker or large fuse, so you should put one in the feed to this panel near the battery. Often times the main boat harness has a large feed forward from the motor which is breaker protected.

Not sure what the two round buttons are...possibly momentary switches (horn?), (bilge?). They also have breaker protection, so you end up with ten protected circuits-which is good.

The black wire is lighter gauge and likely only heavy enough to run the indicator lights on the switches. Don't use any of these black wires for grounding of circuits. Use a separate ground buss with heavy feed to it. Really anal marine wire pullers will put a breaker or fuse on the negative main feed as well, but I don't.

If you know all these things, then sorry for the overkill. If not, feel free to ask questions. There are others here with good wiring knowledge. We like to see people stay safe and there is often a lot of confusion in this very important area.

Cheers,
Todd

[curtiscapk]

Come on Todd! those are cig lighters!

[tuned]

Come on Todd! those are cig lighters!

OK ya got me. Weren't we just discussing making mistakes in public?
I couldn't see the depth of the sockets from the photo. You are certainly correct tho. Plus I don't smoke ummm...
Now what else did I screw up around here? Let me count the ways...

[pond tuuunes]

circuit breakers dont need a common. the reason there is a common is the switched have small lights in them when activated. JT

[tuned]

circuit breakers dont need a common. the reason there is a common is the switched have small lights in them when activated. JT

I didn't screw that one up. I just stated it in a different way. We are in agreement. Yep, for once two people on this ship agree on something. What's with that?

[pond tuuunes]

circuit breakers dont need a common. the reason there is a common is the switched have small lights in them when activated. JT

I didn't screw that one up. I just stated it in a different way. We are in agreement. Yep, for once two people on this ship agree on something. What's with that?

We also agree on big block pontoons, and that those switches could be used for differant stages of nitrous on the mith maker!