In Line Fuse or Breaker?

[Ks]

I am about to order and need to know if I should go with a 150 amp breaker for the main power line or a fuse holder with a 150 amp fuse?

Both are water proof?

is the amperage okay or 2 high?

need quick answer

[philwsailz]

What is the load on the other side of the fuse or breaker? What are you trying to protect?

[Ks]

I am re wiring my system.

4 gwa running from the battery to the amps ( 4 in total)

I just wanted to be safe... what is correct?

[Jason B]

if it helps, with a breaker you just flip the switch back over...no parts or spare fuses to mess with

personally, I am going that route

[philwsailz]

I am re wiring my system.

4 gwa running from the battery to the amps ( 4 in total)

I just wanted to be safe... what is correct?

KS-

We need to know the total current draw for the four amplifiers you intend to run off of that power wiring.

Without knowing the total current draw, we cannot size the over-current protection device.

Add up the fuses for all four amps and tell us how many amps you are going to draw; we can recommend an appropriate size from that.

BTW, unless the four amps are all real small, it is probable that #4 AWG is way too small for your needs...

[chpthril]

KS-

BTW, unless the four amps are all real small, it is probable that #4 AWG is way too small for your needs...

I was wondering the same thing, KS, are you looking to run (4) 4ga wires of a breaker?

[Ks]

thanks for all the help.

Here is what I have.

four Alpine PDX amps.

2x 4.100 for the cabin speakers (6 XS650's) this will leave me with 2 spare channel's

1x 4.150 for the tower set up ( Wetsound double up)

1 x 1000.1 for two Wet Sound XS12 subs. ( I might just hook up one sub for now though)

Alpine recommends 4 gwa for power wires so that is what I ordered..( ? )

I am planning to run the wire up the side and then split it off via a distribution block into 8 gwa and then into the amps.

I have the dual battery system and might add a 3rd to it. I don't really play the music without the boat running, and even though this system can pound hard I typically don't play the music that loud for very long.

I wanted to have a fuse or breaker close to the battery for safety reasons.

any help would be great.

[chpthril]

thanks for all the help.

Here is what I have.

four Alpine PDX amps.

2x 4.100 for the cabin speakers (6 XS650's) this will leave me with 2 spare channel's

1x 4.150 for the tower set up ( Wetsound double up)

1 x 1000.1 for two Wet Sound XS12 subs. ( I might just hook up one sub for now though)

Alpine recommends 4 gwa for power wires so that is what I ordered..( ? )

I am planning to run the wire up the side and then split it off via a distribution block into 8 gwa and then into the amps.

I have the dual battery system and might add a 3rd to it. I don't really play the music without the boat running, and even though this system can pound hard I typically don't play the music that loud for very long.

I wanted to have a fuse or breaker close to the battery for safety reasons.

any help would be great.

So, you are running 1 4ga Pos (+) and 1 4ga Neg (-) from the battery to the amps area, and then split off to 4 8ga wires to each amp?

I'll bet the 4ga recommendation is for 1 amp only. I think you will need to go with 2/0ga or 1 4ga for each amp!!!

[Ks]

So, you are running 1 4ga Pos (+) and 1 4ga Neg (-) from the battery to the amps area, and then split off to 4 8ga wires to each amp?
!

Yes that is what I have planned.

Can we figure out the amperage or load? o I can get the right fuse or breaker?

I can order some 0 AWG and run that if that is what I need to do.

Anyone want to buy 50ft of 4 awg?

[chpthril]

KS-

We need to know the total current draw for the four amplifiers you intend to run off of that power wiring.

Without knowing the total current draw, we cannot size the over-current protection device.

Add up the fuses for all four amps and tell us how many amps you are going to draw; we can recommend an appropriate size from that.

BTW, unless the four amps are all real small, it is probable that #4 AWG is way too small for your needs...

Yes that is what I have planned.

Can we figure out the amperage or load? o I can get the right fuse or breaker?

I can order some 0 AWG and run that if that is what I need to do.

Anyone want to buy 50ft of 4 awg?

Using Phil's suggestion, add the fusses so we know the total current draw, and then we can recommend a breaker. Then tell us how long the run will be from the battery to the amps, then we can come up with the correct size wire to carry that load.

P.S. 2/0 gauge is sometimes listed as 00ga or -2ga, it is larger then 0ga, so dont buy any more wire yet.

[Ks]

Thanks for the help 1st of all

PDX 1000.1 HAS 20X4 FUSES
PDX 150.4 HAS 30X2 FUSES
PDX 100.4 HAS 30X2 FUSES AS WELL

And I have (2) PDX 100.4's but will only be using 2 of the 4 chan's to make a total of 6 chan's @ 100RMS each for my XS650's ( 6 in total)

[Ks]

Thanks for the help 1st of all

PDX 1000.1 HAS 20X4 FUSES
PDX 150.4 HAS 30X2 FUSES
PDX 100.4 HAS 30X2 FUSES AS WELL

And I have (2) PDX 100.4's but will only be using 2 of the 4 chan's to make a total of 6 chan's @ 100RMS each for my XS650's ( 6 in total)

O and the batt's are in the Port rear locker and the amps will be in the port storage under the glove box. 12 feet? maybe

[Ks]

I managed to call the place where I ordered from and got the wire changed to 0 awg, Stinger is the brand of all the wires I went with.

So now I am O awg to my fused dist block ( 100 amp fuses x4) and then 4 awg to the amps.

I also went ahead and ordered a inline fuse holder and a 300 amp fuse which was recommended for 0 awg.

Hope I did okay with this move...

[chpthril]

Thanks for the help 1st of all

PDX 1000.1 HAS 20X4 FUSES
PDX 150.4 HAS 30X2 FUSES
PDX 100.4 HAS 30X2 FUSES AS WELL

And I have (2) PDX 100.4's but will only be using 2 of the 4 chan's to make a total of 6 chan's @ 100RMS each for my XS650's ( 6 in total)

O and the batt's are in the Port rear locker and the amps will be in the port storage under the glove box. 12 feet? maybe

Ok, that's a potential for a 200A draw.

Based on my wire size chart: a 12V sys with a 190-250A load and a 10'-15' run = 2/0ga

Sorry for the late response.

[philwsailz]

I managed to call the place where I ordered from and got the wire changed to 0 awg, Stinger is the brand of all the wires I went with.

So now I am O awg to my fused dist block ( 100 amp fuses x4) and then 4 awg to the amps.

I also went ahead and ordered a inline fuse holder and a 300 amp fuse which was recommended for 0 awg.

Hope I did okay with this move...

That is right on the fringe edge.... The main wire is a little small still, and that is almost too large a fuse for the main power circuit. The 300A fuse is 1.5 times the peak load of 200 amps, which is legal for new boat construction, but I would seriously consider trying to find a 250 amp fuse for the main in-line fuse. Put it as close to the battery as possible, ideally within 7 inches of the battery terminal, (again, the legal requirement for new boat construction).

The distribution block fuses are probably redundant, as it sounds like the amps are fused as well, but they are sized right, and you have them, so use them.