Battery circuit breaker

colind3782

colind3782

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Jan 2011
Messages
4,510
Location
Shropshire/Empuriabrava
Visit site
Max wire size of these is 10 awg (6 mm2) and max corrent rating is 100 amp so definately not suitable for starter motor current. and doubtful for anchor windlass.
There are better quality surface mounted circuit breakers with higher ratings but expect to pay a lot more.
 
colind3782 said:
Thinking of replacing the battery fuses with a circuit breaker so I can get it back on line in a hurry. Something like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-12V-2...hash=item4b56569255:m:mDw5gkLTseObTxIzGhxSvEQ

What would be an appropriate current rating? The only heavy draws are the starter motor, fridge and anchor winch and it would be rare that they are all drawing current together.
Click to expand...

Furneaux Riddall do a range of high amp, surface mounted circuit breakers including 150 and 200 amp ones which would be more suitable for starter motor loads

https://www.furneauxriddall.com/aca...terproof-Circuit-Breakers-VA_220_HIGHAMP.html

More likely to be a decent quality item than a bit of £5 ebay trash
 
Be careful that the interupt rating is adequate. For some ciruit breakers this can be quite low.
 
colind3782 said:
Thinking of replacing the battery fuses with a circuit breaker so I can get it back on line in a hurry. Something like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-12V-2...hash=item4b56569255:m:mDw5gkLTseObTxIzGhxSvEQ

What would be an appropriate current rating? The only heavy draws are the starter motor, fridge and anchor winch and it would be rare that they are all drawing current together.
Click to expand...

I was warned off those when I was putting together my solar system..... this type was suggested as more appropriate..... I cant recall why :(

https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/waterproof-switchable-surface-mounted-circuit-breakers.html
 
Last edited:
VicS said:
They look like they are the same as the ones from Furneaux Riddall .......... but £10 more ??
Click to expand...

The old Chinese buy 500 and we put you name on them, Ebay sell them, all look identical, is there a difference ? how do you tell ?

Remember if the circuit breaker / fuse trips you should have a fault that has caused it, if the problem is solved by just resetting the trip /replacing a fuse, the system specification is wrong.

Brian
 
Graham_Wright said:
Make sure you leave the alternator connection direct (sudden disconnection may blow the diodes).
Click to expand...

If the cable has fallen off and shorted to the engine block, I'd far rather risk blowing the alternator diodes than leave it to start a fire.

That said, I'm sceptical of the whole premise here. Blowing a 300 or 500 amp battery fuse is not something that "just happens" from time to time and needs a quick and easy way to reset. It will probably never happen, and if it does it's likely to be while working on the engine or (less likely) in the electrical panel, rather than out of the blue at sea. And if it did happen while under way (say something heavy shifting in a locker with inadequately-protected battery cables passing through) then the short and accompanying damage needs to be found and at least temporarily fixed, not just a shrug of the shoulders and flick the power on again.

Pete
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top