depth finder/ trolling motor?

[blackmamba]

Im installing a new depthfinder in the front of my boat today.. I read somewhere that i should not run the power straight from the battery and instead tie in somewhere else.. Is this true and why?.. I already have a depthfinder and gps running to the battery.

[southern151]

I don't see why this would be an issue to run it straight in. Just as a precaution, you may want to install a fusable link just in case of the nearly impossible surge.

I'm no electrical guru but, I've never had any real issues on 12 volt systems.

[SaltyShaw]

Post some pics and details I'm interested in doing the same thing!

[Ray]

Most boating associations that dictate boat building specifications do not like to see anything hooked to the battery, except the engine cables and a set of wires that lead to a fuse block or breaker panel. It is cleaner and easier to troubleshoot.
Plus, you don't have to worry about having corrosion issues that you will have when you have several connectors stacked on top of each other.
There is nothing wrong with it, except it doesn't look good and you can have corrosion issues with more than one connector on each battery terminal.
The depth finder will work the same either way. All it wants is 12 vdc. There is nothing different about the power from the battery than there is from the fuse/breaker.

[blackmamba]

Corey I think i will run it straight in..Im going to send you some pics of the oxidation in a bit.

Ray, this boat is an older boat so i dont think i have a breaker panel..??

Sure thing SS, i just got finished changing the carpet on the front deck so i will try to tackle the depthfinder right now..

[Ray]

There is usually a strip of fuses or push to reset breakers on the dash.
If not, you can run it straight to the battery, but be sure to fuse it.

[speck-chaser]

Put in an inline fuse and spray your connections to your battery posts with fluid film.

[blackmamba]

Just got finished, been working on it all day and night...j/k


It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. fishing the wires to the back was the hardest part...i put a 3amp fuse on it and used liquid electric tape on all connections. Thanks fellas

[SaltyShaw]

how you mount the transducer on the trolling motor?

[Ray]

Big stainless steel hose clamp.
It needs to be 100% stainless steel. No steel or iron screw.

[blackmamba]

I bought an Eagle Cuda df and the compatible trolling motor mount. I also bought 25 ft of 14ga traler wire to run from the df to the battery in the back. The whole set up cost around 100.00

[Jordan]

nice job man !!! check ya PM