Leisure Battery Wiring Mess.

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

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maxstu
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Leisure Battery Wiring Mess.

Post by maxstu »

12 volt wiring is not my strongpoint. But even this mess is worrying me. Can l use the busbar thingy instead. It's rated to 100 amps so should be strong enough.
Is it a case of running a decent wire from battery to main terminal on busbar. Then putting each wire to a separate correctly fused terminals?
I'm surprised the main power terminal is not enclosed, though.
On the leisure battery is.
Solar panel input. I guess that stays directly on battery.
Fuse Panel 20 amps
Propex 5 amps
3x 12v sockets and LED lighting 20 amps
Sat nav and dash fan 3 amps (?) might upgrade that one.

Regards
Stuart

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MaxStu
1987 DG1.9 LPG Auto Autosleeper. Soon to be 2.1
"Blissfully happy in your presence".

Hinesy
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Re: Leisure Battery Wiring Mess.

Post by Hinesy »

I would use a fuse box like below.

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Run a 16mm cable (16mm probably over kill but will give you jextra for any future additions) from the battery to the 12v and earth terminals and then wire everything to the new box, including the solar.

Will be safe and tidy it right up.

Just remember your 12v sockets are usually rated 20 amps each (obviously dependant on what you plug into them). So I'd fuse them seperatly.
1987 Uncut Panel Van, 1.9 DG, 4 speed.

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maxstu
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Joined: 07 Feb 2008, 01:05
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Location: Margate

Re: Leisure Battery Wiring Mess.

Post by maxstu »

Okay and thanks for recommending this set up.
At present the three 12v outlets are all connected to the same fuse instead of independently. So that's another concern. The dash one (old cigar lighter outlet) is now on leisure circuit. So may revert back to ignition circuit.
If l add solar (a pathetic 30W with an eight amp manager) l need a larger box anyway.
MaxStu
1987 DG1.9 LPG Auto Autosleeper. Soon to be 2.1
"Blissfully happy in your presence".

Hinesy
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Joined: 25 Dec 2019, 14:36
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Re: Leisure Battery Wiring Mess.

Post by Hinesy »

I'd check your cable sizes as well. Can't say for sure from the picture but some of your wiring looks like 1mm cable with 20amp fuses in, 1mm cable is generally rated at 16.5amps, if you have an issue the cable will melt before the fuse blows.

12v sockets should be on 2mm cable with a 20amp fuse in each. If your only plugging phone chargers etc in it will be OK but I'd drop the fuse size down to 10amps.
1987 Uncut Panel Van, 1.9 DG, 4 speed.

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