Wiring advice

[Pj_Marsh]

I'm ready to start wiring up the sleeping compartment in my 4x4 but want to pick some intelligent brains about the best way to go about it. Im putting in a small led light to start with, then a solar charger and 12v water pump. Should my wiring diagram look like this:

Battery's--->fuse box--->accessories

fuse box:


So a positive wire to the power, and the fuse box earthed to the chassis.

Also, ive got x2 12v batteries for starting and powering the vehicle. Is the solar trickle charger a viable idea with a device to monitor charge and prevent over charge. Also what gauge wire should I be using.

Cheers!

[MihiT]

Should my wiring diagram look like
this:
Battery's--->fuse box--->accessories
fuse box:
So a positive wire to the power, and the fuse box earthed to the
chassis.

>> The fuse box does not need to be earthed, it protects only the hot side. It can be a good idea to have a common ground (a bolt/wire from the chassis to near your fuse box) that you then wire all your accessories to. This saves you scratching out screws/bolts near where you mount the accessories, but doubles the amount of wire to be run.

Also, ive got x2 12v batteries for starting and powering the
vehicle. Is the solar trickle charger a viable idea with a device to
monitor charge and prevent over charge.

>> You can get discharge protectors, and/or "dual battery isolator kits" from Supercheap, Jaycar etc. I consider these mandatory if running acc from your start battery.
A solar trickle charger shouldn't put out enough to over charge your batteries.

Also what gauge wire
should I be using.

>> http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/amps- ... d_730.html

[Pj_Marsh]

Awesome thanks for that.