I'm looking to install LED spreader lights on my 2002 3100 Open that I've mounted on the radar arch and already have run wires from the radar arch to behind the helm. However, now that I have the wires behind the helm, I can't figure out where to connect to get power. Is there a block behind the helm that I can connect to or do I have to run a line all the way directly to the batteries? Ideally, I'd like the spreader lights to run off the same source as the rest of my cabin-batteries equipment.
Where behind the helm is the best place to connect to power for new equipment or is it just best to try and run directly off the battery?
Pull 12v from the breaker panel at the base of the helm. Tiara usually leaves an "aux" or unused breaker for such a purpose. If not it's usually ok to share a breaker as long as the total load doesn't exceed the breaker capacity. Make sure you pull from the breaker side and not the hot side (hot usually has a common red feed wire across multiple breakers). There should be a ground bus bar back there as well.
If you need to pull a circuit from the battery bank make sure it is fused and pull it from the house disconnect switch, not directly from the battery bank.
Good luck
The following 2 users Like jclark003's post:2 users Like jclark003's post dsendre (12-21-2017), trit21 (12-21-2017)
(12-20-2017, 09:53 PM)jclark003 Wrote: Pull 12v from the breaker panel at the base of the helm. Tiara usually leaves an "aux" or unused breaker for such a purpose. If not it's usually ok to share a breaker as long as the total load doesn't exceed the breaker capacity. Make sure you pull from the breaker side and not the hot side (hot usually has a common red feed wire across multiple breakers). There should be a ground bus bar back there as well.
If you need to pull a circuit from the battery bank make sure it is fused and pull it from the house disconnect switch, not directly from the battery bank.
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