Bluewater NMEA 2000 Non-Fused Power Cable - 1 Meter
Bluewater NMEA 2000 Non-Fused Power Cable - 1 Meter — Product description
The Bluewater NMEA 2000 Non-Fused Power Cable is the 12-volt feed for your boat's N2K network. One meter of cable, a sealed 5-pin molded connector on one end, stripped leads on the other, and no built-in fuse. That's on purpose. When your circuit's already protected, you get a clean power leg without a redundant second fuse in the line.
The Bluewater NMEA 2000 Non-Fused Power Cable is the wire that feeds 12-volt power into your boat's NMEA 2000 network. It's one meter long, with a sealed 5-pin molded connector on one end and stripped wire leads on the other. There's no inline fuse built in, and that last detail is the whole point of this particular cable.
Quick primer if you're newer to N2K. A NMEA 2000 network is a backbone with drop cables branching off it, a terminator at each end, and one power insertion point. Every device on the network, your chartplotter, your sensors, the displays at the helm, shares that single backbone for data and shares the power leg for 12 volts. This cable is that power insertion point. You wire the stripped leads to a switched 12-volt source, plug the molded connector into a power T on the backbone, and the whole network comes alive.
So why non-fused? Most N2K power cables ship with an inline fuse holder molded into the run. This one deliberately leaves it out. If your circuit already has protection, a fused panel, a dedicated breaker, or a fuse block at the battery, you don't want a second fuse sitting in series with the first. That's redundant, and it gives you two spots to fail instead of one. This cable hands fuse placement back to you. Installers doing custom rigs, OEM builds, or replacements on an already-protected feed reach for the non-fused version for exactly that reason.
If your circuit isn't already protected, add a fuse. Don't skip it. An N2K network is a low-current bus, and the accepted practice is a small inline fuse at the battery or panel end, sized to the network's total load. For a typical network that's commonly in the 3 to 5 amp range. Put it as close to the 12-volt source as you can. The reason you buy the non-fused cable is control over where that protection lives, so use that control, don't leave the network unprotected.
One meter gives you enough reach to run from a switched accessory terminal or fuse panel to a power T mounted near the helm on most center consoles and smaller boats. On a bigger boat with a flybridge, or a long haul back to where the network lives, you may want the 2-meter version or an extension instead. Measure the run from your power source to the power T before you order. The stripped leads land easily on a terminal block, a fuse holder, or ring terminals, so termination is straightforward however your panel is set up.
The molded 5-pin connector is sealed, not a field-assembled screw-together type, so there's no loose backshell to work water into. That matters on a connection that sits live whenever the network is switched on. A couple of field notes from real installs: vibration works connectors loose over time, so seat the molded end firmly and add a zip tie for strain relief near the T. A dab of dielectric grease on the pins keeps corrosion out on an open console. And keep your grounds and power runs clean, because N2K is sensitive to voltage sag when a high-draw device spins up on a marginal 12-volt system.
One more thing worth saying plainly: this is a power cable, not a drop cable, and the two get mixed up. A drop cable connects a single device to the backbone for both data and power. This cable's only job is feeding 12 volts into the network at the insertion point. If you were looking for the piece that hangs a new sensor or display off your existing backbone, that's a drop cable, and this isn't it.
It's also a clean replacement part. If your existing power leg corroded at the terminal block or the connector cracked, swapping in the same non-fused cable keeps your fuse arrangement exactly as it was. You're replacing the wire, not rethinking the protection. Just remember this is a component, not a complete starter kit. If you're building a network from scratch and want the fuse included in the box, that's a different cable. This one is for the installer who already has a protected circuit and wants a tidy, fuse-free power leg to drop into a custom or OEM layout. It meets NMEA 2000 standards for connector fitment and works with any standards-compliant network.
Key Features
- 1-meter cable length runs from a fuse panel or switched 12V source to a network power T on most smaller boats and center consoles
- Sealed 5-pin molded connector, no field-assembled backshell to work water or vibration loose
- Stripped wire leads on the source end land easily on a terminal block, fuse holder, or ring terminals
- Non-fused design keeps a single fuse in the circuit when your panel or battery feed is already protected
- Meets NMEA 2000 standards for connector fitment on any standards-compliant network
- Built for custom installs, OEM builds, and like-for-like power-leg replacements
- Feeds clean 12-volt power into the backbone at the network's power insertion point
Why Buy from NVN Marine
- Authorized Bluewater reseller, full manufacturer warranty
- NMEA member and ABYC certified, advice from real boat techs
- Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock items
- NY headquarters and Fort Lauderdale flagship retail store
Technical specifications
| Title | Bluewater NMEA 2000 Non-Fused Power Cable - 1 Meter |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bluewater |
| Manufacturer | Bluewater |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 2703-11-001 |
| UPC | 810196330382 |
| Network Standard | NMEA 2000 |
| Cable Type | Power Cable |
| Cable Length | 1 Meter |
| Connector | 5-Pin Molded Connector |
| Opposite End | Stripped Wire Leads |
| Fuse Configuration | Non-Fused (inline fuse installed separately) |
| Category | Marine Navigation & Instruments | NMEA Cables & Sensors |
Frequently asked questions
Does this cable include a fuse?
No. It's the non-fused version by design, meant for circuits that already have fuse protection at the panel, breaker, or battery. If your circuit isn't protected, add a small inline fuse at the source end yourself.
What size fuse should I use with it?
For a typical NMEA 2000 network the accepted practice is a small inline fuse, commonly in the 3 to 5 amp range, sized to your network's total load. Mount it as close to the 12-volt source as you can.
How long is the cable?
One meter. That's enough to run from a switched accessory terminal or fuse panel to a power T near the helm on most smaller boats and center consoles. For a longer run or a flybridge, look at the 2-meter version.
What connects to each end?
A 5-pin molded connector on one end plugs into a power T on your NMEA 2000 backbone. The other end is stripped wire leads that you wire to your 12-volt source.
Will it work with my existing network?
Yes. It meets NMEA 2000 standards for connector fitment and plugs into a standard power T, so it works with any standards-compliant N2K network.
What's the difference between this and a drop cable?
A drop cable connects a single device to the backbone for both data and power. This is a power cable, its job is feeding 12-volt power into the network at the power insertion point. Different piece, different job.
Can I use this for an OEM or custom build?
That's exactly what it's for. The non-fused design lets the builder decide where fuse protection sits in the circuit, which is what you want when you're laying out a network from scratch or matching an existing protected feed.
How do I keep the connection reliable on an open console?
Seat the molded connector firmly, add a zip tie for strain relief near the T so vibration doesn't work it loose, and put a dab of dielectric grease on the pins to keep corrosion out.
Is it a straight replacement for a power cable that failed?
Yes. If your existing non-fused power leg corroded or cracked, swapping in the same cable keeps your fuse arrangement unchanged. You're replacing the wire, not the protection scheme.