Please Help: Fuse Block DC Appliance Wiring for Beginners

[ValkyrieVanLife]

Does anyone know of a good resource that shows a total beginner how to wire DC appliances into the fuse block? I am confused on what sizes of fuses to use, how to make sure the voltage matches (specifically for DC appliances that usually plug into an A/C outlet with a big block - I've put a picture of the block my casio keyboard uses, for example). I've seen a lot of videos about how to build a solar system, but they just say "wire your DC appliances to the fuse block". I can't find any resources that tell a total beginner how to do that. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!

 

[John Frum]

That wall wart is 12 volts @ 1.5 amps.
To power the keyboard you need to run wires from your fuse block to the keyboard.
Fuses are usually calculated at 1.25 times the expected current.
So in your case 1.5 amps * 1.25 fuse factor = 1.875 amps.
The fuse is meant to protect the wire so a 3 or 5 amp fuse will be fine.

Now for the wire.
Use this to determine the wire and the fuse. https://baymarinesupply.com/bosns_corner_wire_sizes
Not sure what connector is required to connect to the keyboard but the most standard one is 5.5mmx2.1mm.
On the load center side use spade connectors like these https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01B1DL4OA/
For best results use a crimper like this https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0069TRKJ0
The connectors come in 3 colours that correspond to supported wire guages.
red is small, blue is medium and yellow is large.

Hope that is enough to get you started.
If you have any further questions just holler.

 

[ValkyrieVanLife]

That wall wart is 12 volts @ 1.5 amps.
To power the keyboard you need to run wires from your fuse block to the keyboard.
Fuses are usually calculated at 1.25 times the expected current.
So in your case 1.5 amps * 1.25 fuse factor = 1.875 amps.
The fuse is meant to protect the wire so a 3 or 5 amp fuse will be fine.

Now for the wire.
Use this to determine the wire and the fuse. https://baymarinesupply.com/bosns_corner_wire_sizes
Not sure what connector is required to connect to the keyboard but the most standard one is 5.5mmx2.1mm.
On the load center side use spade connectors like these https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01B1DL4OA/
For best results use a crimper like this https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0069TRKJ0
The connectors come in 3 colours that correspond to supported wire guages.
red is small, blue is medium and yellow is large.

Hope that is enough to get you started.
If you have any further questions just holler.

That is very helpful in getting me started! I think I remember seeing a video where Will cut the wire on the A/C cord before the wall wart and spliced in an XT60 connector so that he could still use the wall wart with A/C power. That way, he could use the original connector to the appliance, he just connected the XT60 connector on that original wire to a different wire running to the fuse block. I don't know if I explained that very well. Would something like that work? Also, I recall seeing him use a DC/DC converter for charging a unicycle. Is that only necessary if the appliance doesn't have 12V on the specs? (Like my computer charger is 20V) Thanks for your help!

 

[John Frum]

That is very helpful in getting me started! I think I remember seeing a video where Will cut the wire on the A/C cord before the wall wart and spliced in an XT60 connector so that he could still use the wall wart with A/C power. That way, he could use the original connector to the appliance, he just connected the XT60 connector on that original wire to a different wire running to the fuse block. I don't know if I explained that very well. Would something like that work? Also, I recall seeing him use a DC/DC converter for charging a unicycle. Is that only necessary if the appliance doesn't have 12V on the specs? (Like my computer charger is 20V) Thanks for your help!

If its an unusual connector you could cut the cord off and use it.
You could use a buck or boost or boost/buck converter if the voltage required is different from your system voltage.
Its not nescessary to use an XT60 connector though unless you want to.
XT60 requires soldering and I don't like to solder so I use crimps and ferrules and wago connectors.

 

[ValkyrieVanLife]

If its an unusual connector you could cut the cord off and use it.
You could use a buck or boost or boost/buck converter if the voltage required is different from your system voltage.
Its not nescessary to use an XT60 connector though unless you want to.
XT60 requires soldering and I don't like to solder so I use crimps and ferrules and wago connectors.

Sorry for the slow reply! Thank you so much for your help. I wasn't aware that XT-60 requires solder, hmmm, I'll look into the other connectors you recommend. I really appreciate you taking time to help me.