What gauge wire?

[kyfishman]

Running a dedicated wire from the 12 volt battery at the back of my boat to the bow to hook up a new depth finder. What gauge wire do you fellas recommend? Thanks

[kingbee13]

Each finder draws a different amount of current, but having said that none of them draw a large current, wire as small as 18 gauge should power a finder for about 25 feet without issue. I'd probably go with 16 or 14, anything larger than 14 guage is massive overkill for a single finder. In my opinion it's just as improtant to get a good qualty wire with an insulator that will last the rigors of marine usage without rotting and peeling off.

[Barnacle Bill]

Since you are installing new wire run 18 gauge twisted pair (red/black). This will help stop EMF. http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fishi...erference.html

[kyfishman]

Thanks for the info, guys. Is 18 gauge twisted pair available in most hardware stores.....or should I look in marine wiring? I'm all for cutting down interference. I've really had a problem with that trying to run a Minn Kota Terrova and a Humminbird unit.

[Barnacle Bill]

If you can't find any make your own. At least that is what I do. Take a spool of red and black and unspool them side by side. Tie them together at each end. Loop one end over something to hold it. Make a hook out of a piece of coat hanger and put it in a drill (I use a cordless). Now hook the wire to the hook you made and while pulling the wire tight turn the drill on and let it twist. The more twists you put in it the better. Just be sure to start with plenty of wire because the more you twist the shorter it will get.

[wilbur]

If your going front to back , I just replaced mine cause of voltage drop. I used a 2 wire 14ga. extension cord. I dont think its overkill at all.

[feelay]

Whatever ya got lying around will do. I had a good length of insulated 7 strand I ran. Individual wires are size of speaker wire. It's real stiff which aids in pushing it through without a snake. Then ya peel back and use two of the wires. This way you have several additional wires for any future accessories you may want to add.

[Corker]

I used a 2 wire 14ga. extension cord. I dont think its overkill at all.

I agree. Bigger wire is always better. Bigger, more powerful finders draw more power than the one you're replacing, and the higher current draw means more voltage drop. Electronics are sensitive to inadequate voltage & may shut down or behave strangely.

I replaced an old B&W 2D finder with an HB-1197. At the time, I was powering the old finder with a 12v ups battery that held 7ah. It ran all day (10 - 14 hrs on water) with battery to spare. When the 1197 killed my UPS battery in 2 - 3 hrs (the 1197 shuts down when the voltage drops below 10v DC), I had to run wires from the front of the boat to my starter battery all the way in the back. Having just ripped a wiring harness out of my trailer, I reused that wire to hook up the finder. Not knowing what gauge it was, I used double strands in each direction. Even with the double thickness wire, my old weak-kneed starter battery wouldn't power the 1197 all day. By late afternoon, the 1197 reported voltage below 10v & shut itself down--even though a voltage meter showed 12v+ at the battery posts!