[C320-list] Install 'cigarette lighter' chargerat ignitionswitch housing

[Jeff Hare]

Hi All,

If you use the Delux Marinco 12v marine outlet, it's suitable for reasonable
draw up to a max of around 10A I think (but very few 12v devices would draw
anything close to that with the exception of an inverter).   Use a
mini-breaker at or below 10a and you're good to go.  In fact, you could even
share the Blower Motor circuit breaker already on the engine pod (if it's a
10a or less breaker).  Just move the power wire to the blower to be on the
Input side of the ignition switch and share that supply.  I don't know many
people that use their blower motor enough to have this be a problem.

  Note that the Power Wire to the engine Pod ignition switch is at least
12awg (or possibly even 10awg) wire capable of supplying far more current to
a 12v DC plug than you'd want to allow.  It runs the blower motor! Given the
size of the wire and the relatively low draw, there wouldn't be any voltage
drop of consequence.

BILL:  You won't blow the hot side of the ignition switch because you'd add
a BREAKER inline between the ignition switch and the 12V outlet.  So, if you
were to try to jumpstart your neighbor's boat from your 12v plug, you'd just
pop that breaker and it would have no effect on your ignition.

Cheers!
-Jeff

PS:   Bob's pretty much right:  

      14Watts / 13.8Volts = 1.01Amps max current draw.    
      (Power in Watts = Current  x  Voltage)   or  P=IE

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Heyman
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 7:32 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Install 'cigarette lighter' chargerat
ignitionswitch housing

Specifications for Garmin, GPSMAP 492/498:
Source: 10-33 V DC
Usage: 14 watts max. at 13.8 vDC
Fuse: AGC/3 AG-3 Amp

Bruce
Somerset 671 SoCal

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Robert
Seastream
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 3:46 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Install 'cigarette lighter' chargerat
ignitionswitch housing

GPS units probably draw less than one amp.

Bob

On Jun 6, 2008, at 6:12 PM, Irving Grunes wrote:

> Bill,
> The starter circuit doesn't draw any load except when starting the  
> engine
> and it is only the starting solenoid load.
> #851
>
> On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 6:05 PM, Jon Vez <jonvez at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Bill,
>>
>> Just as an FYI, I've run my GPS off the hot side of the starter  
>> with no
>> problems. I have it fused with at a very low amp--
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Jon Vez
>> Solstice #582
>> Boston, MA
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Bill  
>> Sloane
>> Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 3:14 PM
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Install 'cigarette lighter' chargerat  
>> ignition
>> switch housing
>>
>> I plan to run my GPS off this outlet. I think this is a low draw.  
>> The only
>> other thing I could see my self plugging into this outlet would be  
>> a hand
>> held search light ( as I arrive late at an unknown marina as I have  
>> been
>> known to do). This might draw more current than I want. I could use  
>> the
>> charger outlet in the galley.  To me it makes sense to use the hot  
>> side of
>> the nav instrument power because my GPS is a nav instrument. I can  
>> still
>> function pretty well with no nav instruments, but I am not in such  
>> good
>> shape if I blow a fuse on the hot side of my ignition switch and  
>> can not
>> start the motor.
>>
>> Bill.
>> Olympia Washington
>> No. 554 'Endless Summer'
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 4, 2008 at 7:11 AM, <crashley at gte.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Bruce,
>>>
>>> While I agree that adding a low rating fuse to the additional  
>>> power port
>>> will protect the instruments from a "brown out", I wouldn't think  
>>> that
>>> anything plugged into the engine pod should be drawing a lot of  
>>> current.
>> The
>>> problem with fuses is you need to carry spares in case one blows,  
>>> which
>> is
>>> why I would go with the breaker alone.
>>>
>>> CRA
>>> Rosebud #882
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: <bruceheyman at cox.net>
>>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 4:40 AM
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Install 'cigarette lighter' chargerat  
>>> ignition
>>> switch housing
>>>
>>>
>>> While the circuit breaker will protect the line fro catastrophic  
>>> failure
>>>> (fire) it will not insure that the instruments are seeing 12  
>>>> volts.  It
>> is
>>>> quite possible to place a additional current load at the helm  
>>>> that will
>> not
>>>> trip the breaker but will cause a significant voltage drop across  
>>>> the
>> line.
>>>> The result is your instruments could reset or go off line till the
>> voltage
>>>> is restored.
>>>> The best but not the easiest solution is a separate circuit with  
>>>> the
>>>> proper gauge line.  Failing that a the addition of a fused socket  
>>>> that
>>>> insures only low current items are plugged in should keep the
>> instruments
>>>> running reliably.
>>>> Bruce
>>>> Somerset 671 SoCal
>>>> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: <crashley at gte.net>
>>>>
>>>> Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:16:53
>>>> To:<C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Install 'cigarette lighter' charger
>>>> at ignition switch housing
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> That's what circuit breakers are for....
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "warren updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com
>>>
>>>> To: <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 2:56 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Install 'cigarette lighter' charger at  
>>>> ignition
>>>> switch housing
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Bill, if you do use the nav power source, you should fuse the  
>>>> connector
>>>>> with
>>>>> a 2 or 5A fuse and never use the connector for anything with a  
>>>>> high
>> draw:
>>>>> fan, air pump, etc.  Having a high draw on the nav circuit will  
>>>>> cause
>> the
>>>>> auto pilot and or instruments to reset.  The best approach is to  
>>>>> tap
>> the
>>>>> hot
>>>>> side of the key switch and install a breaker in the engine  
>>>>> dash.  That,
>>>>> you
>>>>> can use for nearly any application.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Warren & Pattie Updke
>>>>> Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
>>>>> Middle River, Chesapeake Bay
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> Thanks for all the advice Paul and others. It sound better to  
>>>>> connect
>> to
>>>>> the
>>>>> nav instruments power supply than the ignition switch. Where do  
>>>>> I put
>> the
>>>>> in-line fuse? Inside the housing of my ignition switch?
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill Sloane
>>>>> C-320 No. 554 'Endless  Summer'
>>>>> Olympia, Washington
>>>>> On Sun, Jun 1, 2008 at 6:03 AM, <Vpweikel at aol.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Bill,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I did this several years ago for the same reason.  Not hard or
>>>>>> complicated.
>>>>>> I used a small volt meter to find the battery side of the 12   
>>>>>> volt
>>>>>> supply to the nav instruments.  I can check where I made the  
>>>>>> actual
>>>>>> connections next time I'm at the boat and let you know.  My GPS  
>>>>>> hooked
>>>>>> up  direct without having to use a "cigarette" style plug, but  
>>>>>> yours
>>>>>> would be  basically identical.
>>>>>> Make sure you put an in-line fuse in the  wiring.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Paul Weikel
>>>>>> Second Chance
>>>>>> #361
>>>>>> Georgetown, MD
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>