Cooker Cable fronm Battery to Switch Panel

[davidpbo]

I am contemplating replacing the cable from my battery to the main switch panel.

Current draw is low, cable currently used is 2.5mm twin fused at 15A used for Nav and cabin lights, VHF, GPS and occasional Laptop and phone charging.

I have never blown the fuse.

I want less current drop so the laptop runs plugged into the lighter socket on the panel. It is probably about 3metres battery to board.

I am contemplating using 6mm domestic cooker cable which is stranded. Am I being foolish? Cable can be fixed thorughout its length.

Boat is 24ft lightly sailed cruiser.

Can I put fusing for feed cable and isolator switch on vented battery box under companionway steps or should they be in separate enclosure?

 

[nigelmercier]

Nasty. Why not use the proper stuff?

 

[Heckler]

I am contemplating replacing the cable from my battery to the main switch panel.

Current draw is low, cable currently used is 2.5mm twin fused at 15A used for Nav and cabin lights, VHF, GPS and occasional Laptop and phone charging.

I have never blown the fuse.

I want less current drop so the laptop runs plugged into the lighter socket on the panel. It is probably about 3metres battery to board.

I am contemplating using 6mm domestic cooker cable which is stranded. Am I being foolish? Cable can be fixed thorughout its length.

Boat is 24ft lightly sailed cruiser.

Can I put fusing for feed cable and isolator switch on vented battery box under companionway steps or should they be in separate enclosure?

I agree with Nige, nasty, for the sake of a few mtrs of proper tinned cable? The prob with household cable is that it is stiff and vibration can cause it to break, plus it looks like a bodge!
Stu

 

[VicS]

Agree with Nigel... Use proper flexible cable ...... you dont want an earth either liike cooker cable.

You dont say what the maximum current will be .

For 15amps, AWG 6 (which is slightly smaller than 15mm²) should give you the low volts drop you are looking for over the distance you mention or proportionally smaller cross-sections for lower currents.

I am allowing half of the normally accepted 3% max total voltage drop in the battery to panel connection.

 

[Aurai]

Also:

Using AC cable for DC work is potentially confusing conductor sleeve colour wise, that is. Brown/Blue best kept for AC circuits.

Cheers