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 Light Bar Wiring 
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Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2013 5:55 am
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Post Light Bar Wiring
I'm trying to wire a light 22 inch light bar to my trolling motor battery at the front of the boat and run wiring to the switch at the back of the boat for easy access while running. The light bar pulls 180 watts. The distance from the light bar to the battery will be less than 2 feet, but the distance to the switch is around 15 feet. I know absolutely nothing about anything electrical, so if you could break it down barney style for me, I would really appreciate it. Btw, I searched for a while and couldn't find an answer simple enough to understand, so I apologize if I'm beating a dead horse here.


Tue May 29, 2018 10:37 pm
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Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:25 am
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Location: SWGA
Post Re: Light Bar Wiring
Run 14 ga. from bow to switch, positive and negative. From switch to battery, include an inline fuse on positive wire, I used a 30A on mine, and use 12 ga. to the battery. When your running the wires, you may want to include an extra set of positive and negative wires Incase you want to add running lights, or any additional accessories to your switch panel. You could probably get away with 16 ga., but bigger is better. I used a pigtail connector at the front of my boat to take the lightbar off when not in use, I usually end up throwing a decoy bag over it though. Mine is only 7.5” but lights it up sufficiently to navigate at night.


Wed May 30, 2018 4:43 am
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Post Re: Light Bar Wiring

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Wed May 30, 2018 5:54 am
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Post Re: Light Bar Wiring
Should have clarified that the inline fuse holder is rated for 30A that has 12 ga. leads that I used. It’s got a 15A blade fuse in it.


Wed May 30, 2018 6:08 am
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Post Re: Light Bar Wiring

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Wed May 30, 2018 6:12 am
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Post Re: Light Bar Wiring


Wed May 30, 2018 11:15 am
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Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2013 5:55 am
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Post Light Bar Wiring
Quick question, how am I tying the wire coming from the switch to the battery into the wire going from the battery to the light?


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Wed May 30, 2018 2:53 pm
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Location: West Monroe, LA
Post Re: Light Bar Wiring
You should have battery to switch, switch to light.

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Wed May 30, 2018 3:22 pm
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Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:10 pm
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Location: Rowlett, TX
Post Re: Light Bar Wiring
I'd use a relay up front and run tiny wire to the back to the switch.


Fri Jun 01, 2018 9:26 am
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Post Re: Light Bar Wiring
You can also get a remote switch that you can hide anywhere in the boat. Then you have what looks like a key fob that will remotely turn it on and off. I got one of those off of amazon for about $15 dollars. I love it. As long as I have my keys I can control it from about 50 yards away.


Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:31 pm
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Post Re: Light Bar Wiring
Ronbow says stranded 10 AWG !!!!!

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Fri Jun 01, 2018 6:31 pm
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Location: Minnesota
Post Re: Light Bar Wiring

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Sat Jun 02, 2018 12:10 pm
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Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:08 pm
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Location: Venice, La
Post Re: Light Bar Wiring
CB is right a relay is the best bet in this situation, Easydoesit stated that the light bar is only a couple feet from the battery and 15 feet to the switch. Which will be 30ft on a round trip.. With a relay that 30ft will only be in miiiamps.


Sat Jun 02, 2018 9:16 pm
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Post Re: Light Bar Wiring
I hook the positive up to the red and negative to the black and hold the wires on the battery terminal with small vise grips

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Sun Jun 03, 2018 9:52 pm
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Post Re: Light Bar Wiring


Mon Jun 04, 2018 5:24 pm
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