All you Electricians Outlets for Electic Reels etc.

[captmatch]

Next season I would like to outfit my boat with some electric reels for kite fising and trolling. I noticed that when ordering the electrics, you can chooses either alligator clips or get prongs. I would prefer the outlets on each side of the boat mounted under the gunwale but am unsure if there is any special way these need to be wired? Any/allsuggestions are welcomed. Thanks

[Elusive]

Take a look at the plugs & receptacles used for electric trolling motors

[Clam_Alert]

Elusive's got it right. I have a couple of these in the bow and stern. They're waterproof, positive locking, and handle big guage wire for long wire runs and relatively large amp draws (like for electric reels). They accept three conductor wire, although I just use them for two conductor (12V pos and neg). I also have added male plugs to various equipment like a spotlight and a hydroglow light and have made an adapter to use 12V cigarette lighter type accessories as well.

http://www.delcity.net/delcity/servl...=789159&page=1

[captmatch]

Thanks fellas. Can you run these right off the battery i.e. put terminals on the battery and then run them to the outlet(s) or does there need to be something in bewtween?

[Elusive]

Try to keep connections on the batt to a minimum. Connect to either the batt switch or a busbar/distribution panel (don't know the electrical setup on your boat)

Make sure the circuit is protected by a fuse or circuit breaker

[captmatch]

Sounding a little more complex than I thought. Would like to do myslef as my electronics guy is $$ but I don't want to eff anything up!

[Jim Z]

It's easier than is may sound. Most guys usea 30A twist-lock plug/receptacle combination. Mount the receptacle in a PVC box w/ weatherproof gasketed cover in an out of the way location, connect to the battery switchand you should be fine. Everything can be purchased at your major marine retailer (Boat US, West Marine, Boaters World, etc.) Make sure you size the wirefor the largest loadyou could possible put on the receptaclein combination with thelength of the run. This link should help you find the correct gauge wire.

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/cable.htm

[captmatch]

Thanks Jim, what about fuse(s)?

[Buck Wild]

Its very much a DIY project. We got the plugs from the same guy we bought the elect reels from...big ol plugs and work great. We put a resetable breaker off the battery and then ran our cable to the plugs. You will want to make sure to get a large breaker and a heavy guage wire if your making a long run to the bow. The reels have a fuse but keep in mind that fuse is to protect the reel, you need the breaker on the other end to protect the wire. We also "flip" the breaker off when not using the reels...another nice feature. Good luck!

[Jim Z]

I agree on the breaker over a fuse. Breakers are so easy to reset if tripped and like Buck wrote you can switch the receptacles off individually. A friend with a center console mounted two up front for kites and two at the stern for downriggers or kites and has all his plugs/receptacles wired the same so they're interchangeable.

One other piece of advise, coat the back of the receptacle with something like CorrosionX before you close everything up. Also coat the inside of the receptacle as well as the plug inside and out. Since these things are typically mounted low they get washed down with both fresh and salt water and they'll need all the protection they can get.