Wiring VHF

[actions]

I have searched the site and found a couple of bits but still need a bit of help is possible.

My rib currently has a fish finder and GPS. Both are directly wired to the battery. Positive with in line fuses to the isolater switch which is wired to the positive terminal and negative to the neg terminal on the battery.

I've just ordered a fixed VHF which should arrive soon, so can i just wire this in the same.
As in, positive to isolater and negative to negative battery terminal or do i need to it another way?

Want to get it right hence asking

Also Garmin who have been very helpful have sent this wiring diagram to me so i can wire the GPS 60 to the VHF and to the fish finder. Does it look right to you guys. Just thought the input and outputs might be wrong as surely there should be one of each on the nmea boxes or am i being a little thick. Maybe i shouldnt ask that........

[Erin]

Your wiring method sounds fine to me. Just make sure you put a fuse in and that the cable to the main switch from the battery is of sufficient size for the maximum power draw you will have. As for NMEA, the garmin can provide NMEA data to upto 3 devices from one of it's output ports. There will only be data passing from the Garmin to the devices so you only need to connect 'data-out' and ground on the Garmin onto 'data-in' and ground on the f/f and vhf.

[actions]

Thanks Erin,

When you say ground, what do i ground it to, negative battery terminal i assume?

Am i better to sort out some sort of busbar that i have seen mentioned elsewhere, or are three in line fuses ok. I dont plan on addding anything else to the boat.

[Polwart]

Are you likely to be adding any more electrics in the forseable future? e.g. bilge pump, nav lights, etc? The approach you have is fine for one or two components but its starts to get a bit of a spagetti mess (fuses all in slightly different places so hard to find when an issue) when you have lots of stuff. The preferred option would be to bring the connections to a couple of "bus bars" - basically a big connector block with one (large) common wire back to the battery and/or isolator - some of the better switch "panels" basically have a bus bar and fuses built in.

Do you need an NMEA link between fishfinder and gps? I'm not sure what data the fishfinder is going to use? With more sophisticated gps/radio combos there may be a need for data flowing the other way - e.g. so a DSC distress message (or friend position polling request) received on the radio is plotted on the gps but I don't think you'll have that luxury.

[actions]

Hi Polwart.

For the time being i'm not planning on adding anything else to the set up. I will simply have the GPS, VHF and Fish Finder. The only reason i thought i'd connect the GPS to the fishfinder was that the GPS has a display for depth but having read the manual i think i can change that so it can display other information therefore negating the need to connect the fish finder.

Your right on the plotting front too. I dont have that luxury.

Ok, so i could have two bus bars if i feel its getting a little untidy then, one for positive connections and one for negative ones and just one fuse to cover all three items? Am i on the right lines.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by actions

Ok, so i could have two bus bars if i feel its getting a little untidy then, one for positive connections and one for negative ones and just one fuse to cover all three items? Am i on the right lines.

You could probably get away with one master fuse for the whole lot, but I'd be inclined to individually fuse items if being as organised as this (I have not fused everything myself!) but especially for anything than won't have an on/off switch - if it develops a fault a fuse gives you an easy way to "kill" an device.

[actions]

Thanks very much,

Once it arrives i shall have a look at how all the wiring is holding up and if its getting too untidy then i shall go down the bus bar route.

[maxhar]

If you do go down the bus bar route can I recommend Aquafax?

Home

The service I have received has been fantastic.

[Erin]

When I say ground I mean boat/battery negative. I would keep everything separately fused. A bus bar would make it neater but is not essential.

[actions]

Thanks All

Will let you know how i get on.