PCUK
Well-Known Member
Ellesar, are the light up ones available for standard size blade fuses?
Automotive blade fuses on a yacht ????
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savageseadog
Well-Known Member
To back up my previous post, can someone enlighten me as to a single advantage of breakers please? Before someone replies with the idea that you can put them back on easily after they trip, it's something that shouldn't be done without finding the fault.
Tati B
New Member
The only advantages I can see of using circuit breakers are:
1) you can simply switch the circuit on again after a trip. It is up to the user if they locate the fault before doing so, which they should of course. There is no need to find a new fuse and insert it to get the circuit operational again. Obviously if the fault was a brief overload, or intermittent fault but the need for the circuit is needed 'now' then a simple swith on may be very useful.
2) makes the 'panel' more neat, no need for separate switch and fuse.
Personally I've just changed our whole panel to separate switches and blade fuses, I now know how it's wired, all the ratings (wire and fuses) and have a supply of spare fuses easily at hand. Our original panel didn't use fuses but special overloading diodes, not exactly sure how they worked but an orange light would indicate an overload, after a short period of time the circuit would be available again. All very nice until something more severe happened to the panel which I would have been incapable of fixing and fusing quickly. It was also hard wired.
1) you can simply switch the circuit on again after a trip. It is up to the user if they locate the fault before doing so, which they should of course. There is no need to find a new fuse and insert it to get the circuit operational again. Obviously if the fault was a brief overload, or intermittent fault but the need for the circuit is needed 'now' then a simple swith on may be very useful.
2) makes the 'panel' more neat, no need for separate switch and fuse.
Personally I've just changed our whole panel to separate switches and blade fuses, I now know how it's wired, all the ratings (wire and fuses) and have a supply of spare fuses easily at hand. Our original panel didn't use fuses but special overloading diodes, not exactly sure how they worked but an orange light would indicate an overload, after a short period of time the circuit would be available again. All very nice until something more severe happened to the panel which I would have been incapable of fixing and fusing quickly. It was also hard wired.
Elessar
Well-Known Member
noelex
Well-Known Member
Fuses do blow sometimes, particularly as they age, without any fault present.
Sometimes the fault is obvious like a jammed windlass and with a CB the equipment can be working again very quickly.
Magnetic Circuit breakers have more precisely controlled tripping points, are unaffected by temperature, allow a switch and circuit protection in one device minimizing wiring and failure points.
If they trip its impossible to substitute an inappropriate higher value, there is no risk of not having a spare, less voltage drop.....
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mitiempo
Well-Known Member
When it comes to a winch I prefer fuses - ANL type - as they have an AIC rating much higher than most breakers.
Breakers are the switch in a normal panel which makes the panel wiring neater. I have experienced very few breaker failures over the years.
Breakers are the switch in a normal panel which makes the panel wiring neater. I have experienced very few breaker failures over the years.
CreakyDecks
Well-Known Member
It seems a bit silly to me to replace a £2 switch with a £20 circuit breaker. Circuit breakers cannot be repaired when their contacts are knackered from all the on-load switching that they were never designed for, so when they are duff they need replacing, as of course would a switch but at a tenth of the price. So, if they aren't really a sensible choice as a switching device, all they seem to have going for them is their ability to be reset. Automotive blade fuses are only ten pence each, so replacing a fuse is not really a big deal. If fuses really get as hot as claimed, how come cars are not burning out by every roadside?
noelex
Well-Known Member
Blue Seas ANL fuses have an interrupt rating of 6,000 A
There A series circuit breakers 7500A
mitiempo
Well-Known Member
In what amp ratings?
noelex
Well-Known Member
The A series are typically used on panels and go up to 50A but there are other CB such as the 187-Series which go up to 200A and have an interrupt rating of 5,000A.
5000A meets the ABYC ratings for boats with even the largest battery banks.
In short IR is no reason not to choose a CB for anchor winch, or other, protection.
Anchor winches are sometimes needed in emergency situations and it is important IMHO to be able to reset them quickly in the event of an overlaod.
Replacing an ANL fuse takes time, and many crew members will be unable to do this. Anybody can turn a circuit breaker back on, and do it quickly.
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mitiempo
Well-Known Member
I prefer ANL's for main battery fusing - both house and start banks, windlasses, thrusters, and inverters.
As far as AIC rating of banks, what is the AIC of a 800 AH house bank? Higher than 5000 I think. I always run windlasses, thrusters from the house bank.
I have never had nuisance blows - even on starting banks. If the banks are wired to a 1/2/both switch both banks can be house banks and both should be fused. Only a dedicated start bank is free from the fusing requirement.
As far as AIC rating of banks, what is the AIC of a 800 AH house bank? Higher than 5000 I think. I always run windlasses, thrusters from the house bank.
I have never had nuisance blows - even on starting banks. If the banks are wired to a 1/2/both switch both banks can be house banks and both should be fused. Only a dedicated start bank is free from the fusing requirement.