On Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:20:48 -0700 (PDT), RJM2 penned the following
well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats.electronics:

|Hi Folks,
|
|Another question about a marine radio install. I'm replacing the
|stereo in my boat and the 12V+ wire coming from the battery is of
|gauge 10AWG and the negative ground (connected directly to the
|negative terminal of the battery is 8AWG. The wires coming off the
|stereo's wiring harness are much thinner (not 100% sure what gauge but
|much smaller).
|
|Is it OK to splice these two different gauges of wires together?

Personally, I'd say no.... but that is my preference. Here's what I
mean.... are the wires coming from the battery fused in any way? That
is a concern.... they should be..... close to the battery.

Personally, I like to use a terminal block or fuse block to terminate
the "large wire" at the radio location. This assumes and makes easier
future connections which will inevitably result.... amplifier, depth
finder, VHS radio...... etc.
http://tinyurl.com/6c96a7

Use waterproof crimp ring terminals and a quality crimper.
http://tinyurl.com/6kujfo

|If
|so, what is the best method of doing so? Solder & Heat shrink?
|Crimping?

Never solder any connections that could be subjected to vibration.

|
|Running new wiring of a smaller gauge back to the batteries would be a
|pretty big job.
|
|Thanks,
|Rob

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

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