Some basic electrical questions

[bmg5]

Hi, going to try to wire my little guy this weekend and I need some advice. First here is the setup

1) Charger/Converter
2) 27 Deep Cycle battery
3) Blue seas' 12 port fuse/ground box
4) fantastic fan
5) 4 cabin lights
6) Fluoro bar light
7) Stereo 12v
8) 8# wire from the power sources to the fusebox
9) 12# from the box to the accessories

Questions
1) I want to put a master fuse inline between the battery and the box (likely the charger and the battery as well). Could someone post a link to the kind of fuse I should be using? A picture would really help

2) When I make a run of the hot wire from the fuse box to a light and I want to put a second light on the same run, do I just cut the wire, solder the split to the first light, the split to the second light and the main wire together? are there fastners or splitters that are made to do just this?

Thanks for taking the time
regards
bg

[PaulC]

http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm
http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volta.htm

All you need to know

Cheers
Paul

[Sonetpro]

I use the ones made for a subwoofer install.

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/ ... 16&tp=2188

[toypusher]

I used on of these:

[sdtripper2]

bmg5

Question 1: master fuse in-line between the battery and the box
Here are some links for you to look through if you wish.

Question 2: Put a second light on the same run, do I just
cut the wire, solder the split to the first light, the split to the second light and
the main wire together? are there fasteners or splitters that are made to do
just this?
Here is a thread on connectors that may help ~
Soldering wire may not be the best solution especially in hard to reach
places. Movement of a trailer may cause a stiff solder jointed wire to break in time.

[TD4FREEW/CTD]

just be sure that your fuse ratings are adequate for the ampacity rating of the wire.

also keep in mind that different types of wires of the same gauge have different ampacity ratings. it is usually based on the composition of the insulation. for instance, a 8 awg 90*C THHN wire is rated at 55 amps. a 8 awg 70*C THHW is rated at 50 amps. there should be identification marks on the insulation.

i dont have much DC experience but i would reccomend a breaker instead of a fuse for your main power feed. that is, if they are readily available. the reason i suggest a main breaker is because if you have a short somewhere it could blow the circuit fuse and the main fuse at the same time. now you are replacing 2 fuses instead of one. im not sure, but i would guess a 50 amp main fuse costs a bit more than a 20amp branch fuse.

[asianflava]

Go to the car stereo section of your local Best Buy or Circuit City. They sell high capacity fuse holders and fuses. Some people can argue about fuse type but they all do the same thing. Just make sure you don't get one that is too big.

[madjack]

...just goto your local auto parts house and ask for an inline 30A fuse holder...glass or blade type really doesn't matter...howwever, since your tow vehicle probably uses blade type, you may wanna stick with those.....................................
madjack

[Gerdo]

I'm using a 30 amp fuse like MadJack is talking about. Remember that you arn't going to use everything that you have wired at one time. Sure if you add all of your circuits up you may 40, 60, or even 80 amps.