www.iFourWinns.com

Anyone out there run a larger wire from breaker panel to the refrigerator. Is so, what route did you take? Thanks.

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"One Moor Time" 2006 288 Vista
"Kalin II" 1995 258 Vista
"Kalin" 1985 Four Winns 215 Santara

On my 328, the original run went from the panel on the Starboard side to the fridge on the Port side, running down the gunwale to the engine room, and around.. That is the route I took with my rewire.. Lot of wire, but it's clean, and wasn't difficult to get done at all..

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2004 Four Winns 328 Vista
1997 Larson Cabrio 290 - sold
1988 Rinker Fiesta Vee 248 - sold

I took the shorter route on my 278 and ran to the main ships power breaker at the back of the boat.

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The Dance II
2007 278 Vista
6.2L Mercruiser

Thanks for both of your replies. What size wire did you use? I am trying to keep the run short to minimize the voltage drop. Thanks again.

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"One Moor Time" 2006 288 Vista
"Kalin II" 1995 258 Vista
"Kalin" 1985 Four Winns 215 Santara

10 gauge marine wire.
I got mine on ebay from a company in Georgia.
Also if you wire into the main breaker at back you need a 10 gauge Fuze holder.

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The Dance II
2007 278 Vista
6.2L Mercruiser

Are you referring to the main breaker panel in the cabin? My understanding from a FW tech that I need to run the wire from frig switch in the main breaker panel How did you connect into the frig pigtail with 10 gauge wire? I believe the frig pigtail is 14 gauge. Do they make a connector for 10 gauge wire? Thanks for your help.

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"One Moor Time" 2006 288 Vista
"Kalin II" 1995 258 Vista
"Kalin" 1985 Four Winns 215 Santara

There are many ways to do this. Butt connectors, soldering, wire nuts and any type of male to female connector. It should be water tight and there are many ways to do that.

Some ways are better than others, its all on how "neat" you make the connections. Case in point, soldering. Some will say its, it should not be done on a boat. But most wires are soldered on to push pull connectors along with being crimped. Just use heat shrink tubing to seal and limit the wire bending that could break the connection.

I'm am talking about the main 12v ships power breaker at the back of the boat on my 278.
I don't have high current capable system in the cabin panel. My cabin panel is 120v ac power.
The breaker has terminals. I put a terminal lug on the wire and connected to the 12v ships breaker terminal.

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The Dance II
2007 278 Vista
6.2L Mercruiser

On the 278 it's a pretty easy route from the battery control panel to the fridge as they are on the same side of the boat.

Yep!

Okay. I understand what you are referring to. When I return to the boat in May, I will check out to see if I have a similar set-up. Thanks for the help.

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"One Moor Time" 2006 288 Vista
"Kalin II" 1995 258 Vista
"Kalin" 1985 Four Winns 215 Santara

I just rewired my frige on my 2005 288 last weekend I ran wires from where the main battery switch is on the starboard side behind the seat back down across the front of the bilge then down and followed the sewer line forward I was able to drill a hole from the access panel in the floor of the aft birth to the bilge then fished the wires up under the bathroom sink this was the hardest part I used a small fiberglass fishing rod that I taped loops of string to then used a piece of stiff wire to snag the string and bring it up under the sink and attach the wires I used the 20 amp breaker for the stereo amp for the fridge I had installed a new breaker for my amp when I replaced the stereo

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2005 vista 288

Signalstan, what size wire did you use? I am planning to use 10AWG.I was concerned that going that distance may create another voltage drop to kick the frig out. I will be taking this on as soon as I can get access to the boat.

Thank for all of your contributions.

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"One Moor Time" 2006 288 Vista
"Kalin II" 1995 258 Vista
"Kalin" 1985 Four Winns 215 Santara

I used 10 gauge wire IT seams to work but I have not used it out on the lake yet

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2005 vista 288

I was the originator of the frig rewire on the 2006 288. I just completed the rewire this past weekend. Used 10AWG 2 wire in a flat insulator (Genuinedealz.com). ran it from frig compartment, behind head compartment and accessed through opening under waste receptacle in cockpit sink, then down into bilge, across bilge bulkhead and up starboard side to 12 v breaker access panel and then into frig breaker. Frig runs now. Thanks for all of your responses.

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"One Moor Time" 2006 288 Vista
"Kalin II" 1995 258 Vista
"Kalin" 1985 Four Winns 215 Santara