View Full Version : Running wires to battery
I am having the same problems as were mentioned on another post about interference between my trolling motor and locator. I want to run wires from the locator to the main battery and I have those small corrugated plastic tubes the other wires in the boat are in. What is the best way to run new wires in the plastic tubes to get to the main battery? Would a fish tape to pull the wires through like an electrician uses work. What have others done?
Brian_MN
04-30-2004, 12:42 PM
A fish tape will usually work pretty well. If you just can't get a tape through, disconnect one of the existing wires that goes through there and attach a strong string. Then pull the wire and string back through the other way, attach your new wire to the exiting wire and string, and pull the string and 2 wires back through from the other end. As long as the conduit isn't really full already it should be pretty easy.
Since a lot of folks don't have a fish tape, a very good substitute is a pan fish fiberglass fishing pole.
If you don't have one, you can go buy one, and then have one, when needed for pan fishing
You can get a 20 foot fiberglass pole for less than $20.
Its tip is flexible enough to get through most wiring tubes.
Take care
REW
p.s.
this is the sort of pole that I have used in the past to push or pull wires through a boat:
http://www.basspro-shops.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=32267&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults
Take care
REW
perchjerker
04-30-2004, 01:38 PM
All good ideas.
What I have used in the past was a metal measuring tape as a fish tape.
You can get some aluminum wiring for electric fencing at a local farm and fleet. I bought a 500' roll for about $10-using it for science classes(no not shock treatment for students--hum?) Works great-cheap-other uses around the garage etc. Just feed it thru and that's it.
Hawk,
What a great idea.
Aluminum wire is stiff enough - but not too stiff - to be used as a great fish tape.
Thanks for the idea.
Take care
REW