Batteries, Grounds, Electronics

[Bob]

Hello to all and thank you in advance for any responses.

I have a 16ft lund and am beginning to rig it. I have a 25hp merc electric start, a 55hp Minn Kota Maxxum (transom mt), fish finder, GPS, and bilge. I have 2 batteries, a starting battery and a deep cycle.

Other than hooking the starting battery to the motor and the trolling motor to the deep cylce I'm a bit uncertain what to do next. Which battery should I hook the electronics and bilge too? Do I need to create a ground (I assume so). And how do I create an effective, safe ground.

Again, thank you all in advance for any help.

Bob

[perchjerker]

Run everything but your trolling motor off the main battery. Make sure you fuse it at the positive battery terminal. I would run a seperate ground for everything, you could put a buss bar under the dash and run your ground lead to it, then attach all your grounds from your loads to it. Make sure you provide for anti chafing for the wiring. Another thing I do, buy some of those rubber battery terminal covers in case you drop a tool on a terminal.

Lots of other things you can do, this is a start, Im sure you will get lots of tips. Take your time,have fun, pre plan the routing, leave your leads plenty long at first.