Switch panel wiring

[All_at_Sea]

I am just about to start wiring this panel but how??? There appear to be red and black for the power in and out (presumably from the battery) and also a single black wire, how do l go about attaching instruments here?

 

[johnphilip]

Knotty wiring

It looks similar to one on our boat ( but not quite)
The positive comes in and is looped to each switch and breaker, with the live out from each switch ready for you to take to each instrument. The negative is looped to each switch but only to allow the illumination of the switches. The negative from each instrument should be taken to a separate busbar. Best I can do without seeing it better.

 

[davidej]

It looks similar to one on our boat ( but not quite)
The positive comes in and is looped to each switch and breaker, with the live out from each switch ready for you to take to each instrument. The negative is looped to each switch but only to allow the illumination of the switches. The negative from each instrument should be taken to a separate busbar. Best I can do without seeing it better.

What you say makes perfect sense. But I can't see the separate reds! Only separate blacks. I wouldn't have expecter these- only the black joining the lamps all together which I would expect to go to a negative busbar.

 

[Heckler]

It looks similar to one on our boat ( but not quite)
The positive comes in and is looped to each switch and breaker, with the live out from each switch ready for you to take to each instrument. The negative is looped to each switch but only to allow the illumination of the switches. The negative from each instrument should be taken to a separate busbar. Best I can do without seeing it better.

+1
You need a separate negative bus, Ive found that the lights are very bright and am going to disconnect the negative to the panel to stop them lighting.
Stu

 

[Heckler]

What you say makes perfect sense. But I can't see the separate reds! Only separate blacks. I wouldn't have expecter these- only the black joining the lamps all together which I would expect to go to a negative busbar.

Put the positive to the positive and then lead a positive from each switch to the relevant equipment, the negative goes to a bus which then feeds the relative equipment permanently as well as putting a feed to the panel for the lights negative.
Stu

 

[bonny]

Assuming you have a negative earth system (most likely).
It looks as though you've got a common red (+ve) coming in (from battery) linked across to each fuse.
There are also individual red wires from each fuse to the associated switch (these are also +ve).
From each switch, you have a black wire (strange that it's black) which exits to power each appliance (this is the switched +ve supply).
Finally you have a single black wire linked to all the switches (this is the negative connection, purely to illuminate the switch when on).

Connect the Common Red wire to your battery supply (through a master switch).
Connect the common black wire to the battery negative (for switch lights only)
Connect the +ve of each appliance to the corresponding black wire for each switch.
Connect the -ve of each appliance to the battery negative (not via the panel).

 

[pappaecho]

Bobby is absolutely right. the gash negative wire allows the switch lights to function

 

[Heckler]

Bobby is absolutely right. the gash negative wire allows the switch lights to function

Thats what I said
Stu

 

[markdj]

Assuming you have a negative earth system (most likely).
It looks as though you've got a common red (+ve) coming in (from battery) linked across to each fuse.
There are also individual red wires from each fuse to the associated switch (these are also +ve).
From each switch, you have a black wire (strange that it's black) which exits to power each appliance (this is the switched +ve supply).
Finally you have a single black wire linked to all the switches (this is the negative connection, purely to illuminate the switch when on).

Connect the Common Red wire to your battery supply (through a master switch).
Connect the common black wire to the battery negative (for switch lights only)
Connect the +ve of each appliance to the corresponding black wire for each switch.
Connect the -ve of each appliance to the battery negative (not via the panel).

This is correct.

All the black wires which are coming from the switched side of the switches are positive.

The single black at the bottom, joined right along is a negative for the illumination.

 

[All_at_Sea]

Thanks everyone, all makes perfect sense now!