farwellbooth
Member
Hello,
I'm adding some additional LED xmas lights to the boat this year for parades etc. You can see in the signature below I have two long runs of LED lights that draw about 10 amps total. These have been fine for long runs including idles for extended periods; 6 hours. I want to add more, about double, 20-25 amps total and wondering if the alternator will put out this much at idle and cover the rest of the electrical needs? All lights are LED (the holiday add ons). The heater on high draws 8 amps. I also plug these lights into the two accessory plugs that have 10 amp fuses each.
My boat has a stock two battery system with the 1, 2, both, off switch. One of the batteries is a deep cycle. I start it and run it on both. At anchor switch to one of them.
Would it be ok to draw about 25 amps through the two accessory plugs? Is it a huge no no to put a 15 amp fuse in the accessory plug where there is a 10 amp now? I certainly don't want to heat up/melt/start a fire etc. but I would assume the wiring is over built for the current 10 amps.
It's a small boat, 22 ft. and not really any room for a generator.
If this is all a bad idea maybe I could but an xmas light only battery in the storage compartment. This wouldn't be connected to the alternator and only charge while docked. Drawing 25 amps, would this only last a couple hours or much longer? And is deep cycle best since I would deplete it significantly?
Appreciate the help. I need to be safe and also not deplete the batteries with passengers in bad wintertime evening weather.
I'm adding some additional LED xmas lights to the boat this year for parades etc. You can see in the signature below I have two long runs of LED lights that draw about 10 amps total. These have been fine for long runs including idles for extended periods; 6 hours. I want to add more, about double, 20-25 amps total and wondering if the alternator will put out this much at idle and cover the rest of the electrical needs? All lights are LED (the holiday add ons). The heater on high draws 8 amps. I also plug these lights into the two accessory plugs that have 10 amp fuses each.
My boat has a stock two battery system with the 1, 2, both, off switch. One of the batteries is a deep cycle. I start it and run it on both. At anchor switch to one of them.
Would it be ok to draw about 25 amps through the two accessory plugs? Is it a huge no no to put a 15 amp fuse in the accessory plug where there is a 10 amp now? I certainly don't want to heat up/melt/start a fire etc. but I would assume the wiring is over built for the current 10 amps.
It's a small boat, 22 ft. and not really any room for a generator.
If this is all a bad idea maybe I could but an xmas light only battery in the storage compartment. This wouldn't be connected to the alternator and only charge while docked. Drawing 25 amps, would this only last a couple hours or much longer? And is deep cycle best since I would deplete it significantly?
Appreciate the help. I need to be safe and also not deplete the batteries with passengers in bad wintertime evening weather.