Marine fuse panel

[walkersteelhead]

For those lucky people that have rewired your boat what brand fuse panel has everyone went with and where did they get it from.

[Tinman]

I used a panel from West Marine that has lighted rocker switches and fuse holders built into the front. To replace a fuse, just unscrew a cap. The rocker switches tell you if the pump/light or whatever is on. I really like it.

The panel is not waterproof however, and is only one season old, so I cannot vouch for its durability.

[Fish Mode]

Lucky? I wouldn't say that it is very lucky to have to rewire a boat...wasnt fun, for me, anyways. I would pop in a name I found for marine fuse boxes, BlueSeas

[fishkisser]

Fuse boxes are fine , but I like to install breaker switch panels. No need to worry about having enough fuses on board . Except some for your sensitive electronics .:twocents:

[chucks electric]

hello, i do this every day and there is only one panel i use and that is blue sea. i never install components with glass fuses as they have a cavity that is very difficult to clean when it corrodes. blue sea makes a switch panel that is water proof and has circuit breakers, and the labels have a backlite. use circuit breakers as much as possible, this way you dont have to try to dig up fuses in low light situations. if you install a switch or breaker panel, you must install circuit protection. again use a circuit breaker ie .... if the panel has 6 switches multiply the capacity of the breaker on the panel by the number of switches. so 6 x 15 amps=90 amps total load capabilty. if you know that you wont be using that much current even with all your switches and loads on then the use a smaller breaker. you must put your breaker as close to the power source or battery as possible. use no smaller than an 8 ga marine wire. please dont use the wire size that comes with your panel as an indication of the size of wire needed for the supply circuit. mock up the length and run of your supply circuit with cheap wire measure and that way you dont buy too much or more importantly to little wire. use unisulated terminals and self sealing heat shrink. DO NOT SOLDIER ANY CONNECTIONS ! crimp your connections ratcheting crimpers are cheap and should be a part of everyones tool box. use but and ring terminals only, spade terminals are not recommeded. read the instructions that come with the panel. blue sea does a good job of providing a sample wiring diagram with there panels and the diagram meets abyc standards. the coast guard has determined that 55% of all boat fires were caused by faulty electrical. hope this helps you, better to have too much info than not enough. happy new year. after thought you can get what you need a west marine.

[hot wire]

Fuse boxes are fine , but I like to install breaker switch panels. No need to worry about having enough fuses on board . Except some for your sensitive electronics .:twocents:

Just remember that fuses blow at the source. But, breakers may blow after a fuse may blow. Fuses are kinda instant, breakers trip from heat. An entire circuit may be on a single fuse. (something alot of boat manufactorers use.) Then, at each lighted on/off switch is a breaker. If the short occurs next to the pannel side, the CB won't trip. The fuse on the entire circuit does. THATS why we used fuses at the end of the circuits (nearest the item being fused), and breakers feeding the entire circuit.

Example. A pannel with five-10amp cb's...radio, Nav lights, DF, etc. On a fused 40amp wire from the battery. Do you know what blows first if a dead short occurs at the DF, correct---the CB feeding EVERYTHING--including your nav lights.

Just a thought.

[fishkisser]

:agree:

[ratcitycat]

This is something I plan on doing(wiring in a panel) so if I understand the above,
1) if I install a circuit breaker panel then
2)I should install an inline fuse between the breaker & the object I am powering
3) or should I just install a fuse panel w/switches instead.
I just want to do it right the first time because the boat has no permanent wiring/distribution yet.
Thanks, Mike.

[hot wire]

This is something I plan on doing(wiring in a panel) so if I understand the above,
1) if I install a circuit breaker panel then
2)I should install an inline fuse between the breaker & the object I am powering
3) or should I just install a fuse panel w/switches instead.
I just want to do it right the first time because the boat has no permanent wiring/distribution yet.
Thanks, Mike.

It kinda depends how far away from your battery(s) your distribution pannel is. If you have some 15-20' of distance, then you have to guess what could happen between that span. If something rubs/chaffes into that cable and shorts, then that length of wire becomes a red hot ignition source because your fuse or CB is at the long end of that wire! Not good. Lets say you run a 10ga wire to power a distribution pannel near the helm. I would add a CB at the battery end, and maybe a fused pannel at the other. A few people here like CB's on their equipment, well, unfortunetly they don't trip fast enough for todays VERY expensive equipment. So, I'd stick with fuses at the equipment end. The way I've described, you have protected your equipment, and the overall 10ga wire too won't ever get too much current draw from ALL that which the pannel is providing.

a couple of quick notes:

1. I like the car type fuses that are colored squares. Now you can buy them where the fuse glows when they fail.
2. I am not a glass fuse fan.
3. Both new boats I have had used a 20amp fuse next to the battery to protect the wire all the way to the distribution pannel. I always removed their fuse and added a CB.
4. Take your time and enjoy these projects, you will learn alot.:)

Tom (ex Electronics Tech USCG)

pm me if you want me to give you some additional help. I like this stuff.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/Taco_board.jpg

[Coastalfisherman]

So if I buy a Blue seas panel, who will come to the coast and help me wire it up. I will trade the wiring work for a guided salmon or steelhead trip.

[hot wire]

Just name the date and time.....I work 20hrs /week. So, I have free time all over the place.:laugh:

Tom

pm sent

[ratcitycat]

I just want to say Thank You:bowdown: for the information.Now I have a better idea of how to progress with the project and start working on a mock-up.This will be my spring project since I have to do it outside.If I do have future questions:help: I will pm you HewesFisher and thanks again.
Happy New Year everyone,
Mike

[Moldy45]

Just name the date and time.....I work 20hrs /week. So, I have free time all over the place.:laugh:

Tom

pm sent

Dont be shocked there maybe plenty more that want to fill your week up now:)

[roadsend]

"I just want to say Thank You:bowdown: for the information."

:yeahthat:

I can see several things I need to look at on my boat.