Dennis Pogson wrote:
Don Mahony wrote:
I am installing a Lewmar Horizon 600/900 horizontal windlass on a 27
foot power boat. The users manual says to use #4 AWG marine grade wire
from the battery to the solenoid to the breaker to the windlass and
back to the battery. The wire leads on the windlass are #10 AWG.

I know the concern here is with voltage drop to the motor but the cost
of the #4 wire is huge. Rather than following the general guidlines in
the manual does anyone have a better way of calculating exactly what
gauge wire would be needed for this installation?

The total run from the battery to the windlass and return is 72 feet.

Don

We got round this by using the engine starter battery and positioning it so
that it was as close to the windlass as possible (up forward) but still had
enough power to operate the starter. Easy on a 50-footer, but I don't know
about your 27-footer (storage space for the battery).



As a variation on Dennis' approach, some
folks will place a relatively small,
dedicated battery near the windlass. A
battery that will supply 50 A for a
minute or two need not be very large.

Voltage drop is all but eliminated. This
battery can be connected to your regular
(starter or preferably, house) battery
using wire as small as number 16, since
it will generally carry only small
currents needed to restore energy lost
by use of the windlass. Routing is
certainly easier.

May not make sense in a particular
installation, but can be less expensive
in others.

Good luck.

Chuck

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