Cables, switches, fuses
Torqeedo cable connections and cable sets
Torqeedo cable connections and sets must be able to handle peak currents of over 80 amps. For example, the Cruise 2.0 model with an input power of 2,000 W and a voltage of 24 V has a current flow of some 83 amps. For this reason, Torqeedo uses cables with American wire Gauge 2 cross-sectional area for cable connections and cable sets. With a cable run of 15 foot between motor and battery, this results in a loss of approximately 17 W. In case of the Torqeedo Cruise, this corresponds to a loss of 0.8 percent of the overall performance and 1.1 W per foot of cable. This minimizing of the power loss ensures a high degree of motor efficiency and offers the additional benefit of safety, as high loss increases the danger of local overheating.
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Ein-Aus-Schalter
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Torqeedo master switches, fuses and connectors
In order to be able to quickly interrupt the power circuits in the event of technical problems, electrical installations on boats should be equipped with a master switch. The only genuine source of danger in a power circuit under 42 volts is defective contacts. These can cause local overheating and thereby lead to the risk of fire. Possible short-circuit currents are also a danger in relation to this, as they can irreversibly damage the battery. For this reason, when assembling an electrical motor it is not recommended that you use soldering irons and pole tip pliers.
A better alternative is the use of pre-assembled cable sets, which should include additional short-circuit protection as well as a master switch.
Torqeedo draws on a meticulous selection of materials and uncompromising quality for all of its cable connections, switches, connectors and fuses. This means that minimum loss and a high standard of safety are guaranteed.
Torqeedo offers pre-assembled cable sets with master switch, fuse and jumper cable for series connection of two 12 V batteries for the Cruise series models. The cable sets are completely pre-assembled and are equipped with high-current connectors for convenient installation.
Due to their low power requirements, the models from the BaseTravel series only require simple cable connections; these are included together with the main switch and the fuses within the standard scope of delivery.
In all cases, a Torqeedo motor can be safely installed within just a few minutes using the appropriate cable set and a simple wrench.
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Background knowledge: Ohm’s law and cable power dissipation
According to Ohm’s law, the power dissipation of a cable is proportional to its electrical resistance and is related to the square of the electricity flowing through it. More simply expressed: double the current leads to a quadrupling of loss, and ten times the current leads to one hundred times the loss.
For safety reasons, boats operate in the low-voltage range. That is why even in electrical drives between 2,000 and 3,000 watts input power, the peak current flow amounts to 80 to 100 amperes.
In comparison: A 1,100 watt electric drill draws 5 amps from a 220 V socket. If you were to operate an electrical drive using standard household cable then there would be a power loss of approx. 15% caused simply by the cable resistance. In order to keep losses at a minimum and to avoid the danger of local overheating, manufacturers have to reduce the cable resistance to a minimum. In order to do so, there are two approaches: the distance between the battery and the motor can be minimized, and a large diameter cable can be selected.
Torqeedo connection cable with 35mm2 cross sectional area.
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