Sourcing 12v components

[Montana Cruiser]

I am planning a simple 12v system for my newly acquired GX470 and am looking for suggestions on where to buy and what to look for? I have very little electrical knowledge, so when I am looking at 10 gauge wire, I don't know good stuff from bad stuff. I will eventually be going either a dual battery system, or something like the National Luna Power Pack, but until then, the plan is a simple Blue Seas fuse box close to the battery, 10 gauge back to the rear of the GX, a quality (what do I look for here?) 12v receptacle and thats about it for now, just want to run my fridge at this point. I see posts referencing the Blue Seas fuse boxes as good quality, but where do I get good wire without getting soaked? Amazon? Ebay? How about the 12v receptacle?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[CaliMobber]

You can find good wire at most radio shops. in person you can tell quality by how flexible the wire is. Power travels on the outside of the wire so the more wires in the cable the more power can flow and it will show by how flexible it is. seems like the higher quality plugs are the marine ones that lock.

 

[Chazz Layne]

I'm partial to the Powerwerx zip cord these days. It costs a little more, but is well worth it in convenience (run "one" wire, then split positive and negative apart at each end). They are strong with sturdy automotive grade insulation (no conduit needed), and about as flexible as can be for any given size.

http://www.powerwerx.com/wire-cable/red-black-zip-cord.html

Decent 12V outlet: http://www.powerwerx.com/oem-connectors/marine-grade-panel-mount-cigarette-socket.html
USB, if you need it: http://www.powerwerx.com/oem-connectors/panel-mount-dual-usb-socket-device-charger.html
Blue Sea fuse box: http://www.powerwerx.com/fuses-circ...ea-5025-6-circuit-blade-fuse-block-cover.html


Or, if you want to get really fancy and have a super clean install they also sell Anderson Powerpole sets. Again, a little more expensive, but for about the same effort you get true plug-and-play simplicity:



The only catch on the distribution blocks is they are not weatherproof, so you'd have to run a wire to the inside and distribute power from there. Circuit breakers work well for battery-side protection in that case.

http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson-powerpoles/powerpole-sets/
http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-power-distribution/
http://www.powerwerx.com/fuses-circuit-protection/resettable-circuit-breaker-cooper-bussmann.html

 

[Montana Cruiser]

Thanks Chazz! I appreciate the input, I like the idea of the paired wire. I think I'll stick with a Blue Seas fuse block under the hood, but that powerpole stuff looks really slick!

 

[Montana Cruiser]

Thanks CaliMobber, I didn't even think about radio shops, good call!