Anderson Plug Wiring

Submitted: Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 07:38

ThreadID: 71706 Views:6139 Replies:5 FollowUps:13

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Sir Kev & Darkie

I am going to wire in an Anderson Plug connection for the Trak Shak today in Darkie.

I have 8mm twin sheath cable that will be run from the 2nd battery to the rear. My question is, Do I need to fuse the earth line or just fuse each end of the positive cable??
I already have 2 x 50amp fuses, just wondering if I need to get 2 more for the earth.

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
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Reply By: Boobook2 - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 07:43

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 07:43

Just Positive, Don't fuse earth. It may even cause problems in some rare circumstances.

AnswerID: 379997

Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 08:00

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 08:00

That's what I thought but just wanted to check :)

Cheers Kev

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Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Thoughtfully- Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 08:25

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 08:25

Kev, theres no need to fuse the earth cable, and I wouldn't even worry about two fuses in the positive cable (thats the RED one), one is enough for me. Personally I try and keep the breaks and joins in cables to a minimum, that removes potential faults.

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Follow Up By: Members Paul and Melissa (VIC) - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 09:04

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 09:04

I agree, us eone at the battery end, i find resetable circuit breakers the best invention,better than a fuse and less of a chance of a high resitance joint with some movement and moisture.

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Reply By: Ray - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 09:14

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 09:14

If you have batteries in your camper I would fuse either end of the cable otherwise one fuse will be sufficient. Do not fuse the return.

AnswerID: 380005

Reply By: Trevor R (QLD) - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 10:18

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 10:18

In my opinion put a fuse as close as practical to the second battery positive feed wire in the car and if it hasn't got one another fuse as close as practical to the camper's battery positive wire as well. This way if you are not connected to the car and something happens to the positive wire coming from your camper's battery to the anderson plug connection the camper won't (shouldn't) go up in smoke.

I always fuse as close as practical any positive wire coming from any battery so long as it is not two batteries permanently mounted together where one fuse would suffice. If the two batteries can be used independantly or disconnected from each other (as in the anderson plug situation) then two fuses apply as far as I am concerned.

Hope that makes sense and remember, I am not an auto spark.
Cheers, Trevor.

AnswerID: 380017

Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 11:40

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 11:40

Kev,
I agree 100% with Trevor,

In your situation Kev you have a cable with a supply (battery) at each end. If that cable rubs through on the chassis somewhere in the middle you'll want to instantly disconnect both batteries from the cable.

That's where the two fuses or circuit breakers come into the picture. Personally in this situation I wouldn't use auto reset circuit breakers, far too much current and energy able to be released by a battery to allow auto resetting.

No need in this application to fuse the negative.

Geoff

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Reply By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 16:46

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 16:46

Sir Kev
You have 50A Anderson Plugs and the largest cable for them is 6GGE why wouldnt you put 6GGe in and maximise your efficiency as the cost difference is not that much more.

You may in the future want to upgrade the alternator and if you do you may need to upgrade the cable.

Tell me the length of cable run and the alternator size and Ill give you the voltage drop figures to prove my point.
Ian

AnswerID: 380051

Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 16:51

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 16:51

Ian,

Max 6m length of run and the standard Toyota alternator (not 100% sure as to what size they are, but think it is 100amp??).

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
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Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 17:22

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 17:22

Sir kev
Assuming your alternator at 100A its continuous rated capacity would be 60A ;less what your car uses so we could say that it has 40A to spare which you may not get due to reg cut back when the cranker ios topped up from starting.

Lets assume 20A needed at the Anderson plug.

6M of 8MM or 8B&S would give you 0.519V drop at 20A
6M of 6 B&S would give you 0.325V drop at 20A

The industry standard for 12V voltage drop is 0.36V so now we have to add on how much further is the battery you may want to charge.OOPs more voltage drop.

How far do you want to drive to charge your battery and dont say St George as you dont drive there every time you want a charge.

Give yourself a chance of efficiency use the 6B&S or 6GGe
The core diameer of the copper is about 5.2MM thick.

Ian

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Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 17:27

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 17:27

Kev BTW
If you could extract all spare 40amps from your alternator with your 8MM auto the voltage drop at 56m would be 1.033 V and bloody useless for charging.
Ian

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Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 17:31

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 17:31

Another go not 56M but 6M.
Ian

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Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 17:46

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 17:46

Thanks Ian,

I haven't installed it yet, so will upgrade the cable first.

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
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Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 18:21

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 18:21

Kev
If you have trouble sourcing the cable at the right price yell out as I am definately sending another box of TorniK so that every vehcils can get one so I can include the some twin 6 guage at the right price for someone that puts out so much for others.
Ian

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Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 18:23

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 18:23

I'll give you a yell before Lunchtime on Monday if I need some. Thanks for the offer.

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
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Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 19:04

Saturday, Aug 22, 2009 at 19:04

No Problems
The Tornik's will leave at lunchtime Tuesday by Startrack.
Cable could be added to the delivery.
Ian

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Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 11:21

Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 11:21

Sir Kev
TK left lunchtime by Reg Post it was cheaper and if you are not home no extra charges for 2nd deliv.
Startrack now want a second del charge even if you pick up yourself from the depot after them finding you not at home on the first attempt.
They said they had to pay staff to stop doing what they was doing and find the item and I dont want to have to wake them up or stop reading a good mag.
Ian

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