garmin 18hd radar install on a 2004 maxum 2400se

[captsavvy]

So I'm installing a garmin 18hd radar on a fishing arch and running the power and radar wiring inside the arch tubing. With the radar wire going to the garmin 741xs. Should I run the power wire directly to the battery and connect the black wire to the negative post and the red wire to the positive post, or run it to the wiring under the steering wheel. I have two batteries. One starter battery and a deep cell. Which battery should I connect to if running the wires to the battery is the way to go.
Thanks
Captsavvy

[mmwjr]

captsavvy welcome aboard.

IMO the perfer way is to run the power to the helm and use a spare aux switch that has a rated fuse for the radar. The ground (black) will go to the ground block look for where all the other black wires are connected and the red (12V positive) will go to the switch. This is how I wired by GPS.

Running wires to the battery ends up in a rates nest that leads to issues.

[shrew]

Welcome Aboard 'captsavvy'!!!!

I am not a big fan of wiring things directly to the battery terminals themselves. For one, you quickly start to exceed the max. number of connectors to a post. As stated by mmwjjr is begins to lead to a rats nest and makes troubleshooting cumbersome. Most importantly, you by pass the ability to isolate your batteries and shut the entire 12v circuit off completely. IF that battery is dead, then your radar is dead and you have to crawl in the bilge to start re-wiring your electronics. I would avoid that scenario. Run it off of the panel, where you can shut it down as well as select which battery to be the active battery.

Basically, what 'he' ^^ said.

Just my .02

[captsavvy]

Thank you