I am going to run 10 gauge to my bow for my Helix 10 and the ulterra heading sensor from my starting battery at the back of the boat. The power wire for these 2 devices is very small like 18 or 22 gauge. How do people prefer to connect to this thicker wire. I’m thinking of putting a small 4 block fuse panel at the bow as well. That way I don’t have to make some awful solder joint or crimped butt joint.
What does everybody think?
I am interested in this topic as well. Hopefully some boat rigging guru’s can share their knowledge.
Especially in an aluminum boat, the fuse should be as close to the battery as practical. Un-fused wire between the battery and the fuse can wear from vibration and short to the boat, causing a fire. You don’t want a fire in your boat. Especially a gasoline-fueled boat. 
You’re on the right track with 10-ga wire to the bow. I then shorten the Bird wires to just a couple of feet, stagger-strip them a couple of inches and fold the strips back a couple of times to get more bulk to match the 10-ga. size better, slip shrink tubing on, then solder and shrink the tubing.
Hi Ron,
Ya, for sure you want a fuse at both ends. My 10 Gauge wire from the bow will actually be run to my additional fuse panel that my other graphs and items are connect to as well which has 8 gauge running from the battery to the panel.
This fuse panel will have a shut off switch and fuse between the panel and the battery.
I may have to do the strip,fold & solder method. I would prefer to find a 4 plug fuse panel for the front. Joining such different size wires is always a weak point, unless you tape and heat shrink the hell out it.
I use spade or round ( depends what I have on hand ) crimp connectors but after crimping I cut the plastic off and solder using heat shrink, when connect the two wires I use dielectric grease in the connection.
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