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4 gauge big enough??


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I am adding a second battery with a perko switch. Currently I have 2 red wires coming out of the floor and ultimately connected to the battery, 1 goes directly to the battery and 1 goes to a fuse that is mounted to the side wall (everything is behind the observer seat) and then to the battery. My question is do I connect both of those to the same middle post on the perko switch and then run the appropriate wires to the batteries? And is 4 gauge wire large enough from the perko switch to the batteries, I believe the wire is rated for 70 amps, if that makes sense. Any guidance suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks.

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4 is not big enough. Should be at least the size of the cables running to the engine now. If I remember right malibu use size 00 to the engine and size 0 to the acc fuse.

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4 is not big enough. Should be at least the size of the cables running to the engine now. If I remember right malibu use size 00 to the engine and size 0 to the acc fuse.

So from the perko to the batteries, I need to use 0 gauge wire? Seems like that would be too big for coming out of the bottom slot on the perko.

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I all ready have plenty of tin marine 4 gauge wire, that's why I was hoping it would work. I appreciate the info and opinions. Can someone tell me (truthfully) that they've used 4 gauge in a similar setup?

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I all ready have plenty of tin marine 4 gauge wire, that's why I was hoping it would work. I appreciate the info and opinions. Can someone tell me (truthfully) that they've used 4 gauge in a similar setup?

If you have it and you aren't trying to win any install competitions you can double up that 4 awg and use it. If the batteries will literally be sitting right next to eachother you could use the 4 awg no problem. I used 2 awg for my additional batteries in the boat. No issues here. 00 wire is straight up overkill unless you're going from the alternator to the perko.

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Seriously, what does 2' of 2 AWG cost??? Less than $10 would be my guess... make it right Thumbup.gif

Times are tough man, it's all about Ramen Noodles and cheap wiring, jj. No I all ready have the cables and they are made to length with ends and everything. They're definately more than $10 a piece and I need 6 sets for what I'm doing. A packaged 18" 4 guage setup at NAPA is $14.99 and that's not even close to what you say I need.

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  • 2 weeks later...

you dont have to buy pre-made cables. you can get battery cable by the foot @napa, copper connectors, and heat shrink... it will look much nicer running cables that are custom made to length.

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you dont have to buy pre-made cables. you can get battery cable by the foot @napa, copper connectors, and heat shrink... it will look much nicer running cables that are custom made to length.

This is the route I would go. A little propane, solder, heatshrink and you will have some well built, nice looking cables.

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What's the worst that could happen ?

Maybe the wire overheats causing a fire onboard in the middle of the lake, when no one else is around, and the water is cold enough for hypothermia to set in immediately. :unsure:

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What's the worst that could happen ?

Maybe the wire overheats causing a fire onboard in the middle of the lake, when no one else is around, and the water is cold enough for hypothermia to set in immediately. :unsure:

No worries, I carry a fire extinguisher!

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What's the worst that could happen ?

Maybe the wire overheats causing a fire onboard in the middle of the lake, when no one else is around, and the water is cold enough for hypothermia to set in immediately. :unsure:

No worries, I carry a fire extinguisher!

Do you have it serviced annually like mandated by State Fire Marshall's ?

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  • 2 weeks later...
What's the worst that could happen ?

Maybe the wire overheats causing a fire onboard in the middle of the lake, when no one else is around, and the water is cold enough for hypothermia to set in immediately. :unsure:

No worries, I carry a fire extinguisher!

Do you have it serviced annually like mandated by State Fire Marshall's ?

uh... yeah I do, of course! Who doesn't?

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