Fish house Wiring

[dukhntr]

Hello all! I have a question for the wiring gurus. I am in the process of wiring my new shell fish house. I am using a grounding block for the negative runs. Can I also use a grounding block (without the ground) for multiple positive runs. It would really clean up the wiring. My WYFCO unit only has 5 dedicated 12 volt fused circuits. 

 

Thanks for any help!

 

dukhntr

[carpshooterdeluxe]

You can certainly parallel multiple loads to one fused circuit, just take some time to calculate your load so that you know the fuse will protect the circuit and that the wire size from the tap to the fuse is correctly sized as well.

[dukhntr]

Thanks Carpshooter! I did some more research and found that they sell a power distribution lug for this same purpose. (taking power to 2 or more appliances like lights). I guess what I was trying to ask is can I use a ground block for a power distribution point? I want to take power from one of 5 "hot" wires from the WFCO, and run it to a grounding block, and then run my hot to the appliance, such as a light. (properly grounded of course) This would give me a lot of future flexibility.  I can get the ground block locally and would need to order the power distribution lug. I will heed your advise and watch the fused circuits limitations.

 

Thanks again.

 

Edit: Looks like I will need some type of insulation behind the ground block, since the entire block will be hot. 

Edited December 15, 2016 by dukhntr

[aczr2k]

I'm just finishing up my house, only circuit I'm using on the converter is for the furnace, all 12v is being ran thru a blue sea fuse box with a built in ground block.  Much simpler wiring and since it's located close to the switch bank the wire runs are much shorter.  I'm feeding the fuse panel directly off the battery.

[rl_sd]

9 hours ago, aczr2k said:

I'm just finishing up my house, only circuit I'm using on the converter is for the furnace, all 12v is being ran thru a blue sea fuse box with a built in ground block.  Much simpler wiring and since it's located close to the switch bank the wire runs are much shorter.  I'm feeding the fuse panel directly off the battery.

The only issue with doing it this way is that it is constantly going to be pulling power off of you battery, even when hooked to a generator. If you use the circuits out of the WFCO box, it will provide you clean converted DC power when hooked to shoreline or generator and only pull power from your battery when you are not..... just my two cents

[aczr2k]

This is true but I didn't feel the need to convert AC back to DC when DC was already there.  In my house it cleaned up the wiring & simplified it so it was the thing to do.  The converter is going to charge the battery regardless when the generator is running.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

you can use grounding bars, but insulated terminal strips don't cost that much more, and offer you more flexibility.  Just a little extra work to install jumpers from terminal to terminal to energize multiple terminals from the same source.

[dukhntr]

Thanks Carpshooter. Where do I get the insulated terminal strips? Thanks to all for the replies!

 

dukhntr

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Any electrical wholesale house, or online vendors like Grainger, Kele, Automation Direct, etc. 

[dukhntr]

Thanks!

[aczr2k]

Del City has some real nice ones made by blue sea.  They even have the jumper terminals.  I had just ordered some items from there this morning and seen them.