Choice of switch panals.

[steveeasy]

Hi,
My new boat has the original Contessa switch panel with a couple of added panels and like others, it looks as if its time to get things in order, which will probably mean a rewire. Been looking for a fairly simple but smart panel. need around 10 switches and a battery monitor would be useful. Does not seam to many on the market other than blue sea. Can anyone recommend any others. Really need something off the shelf.
Any idears?
Steveeasy

 

[superheat6k]

I was going to say Bluesea as it is decent gear.

 

[Trident]

ASAP make their own brand that are quite decent quality-wise

 

[peteK]

Plenty on ebay/amazon.

 

[andsarkit]

Panels are easy to make. Just do a drawing with relevant dimensions and writing and an engraving shop will make it in your selected material. You can then select breakers to suit your needs and even add a voltmeter and 12V socket or a full battery monitor if there is room. You will then get exactly what you need with the correct labeling and breaker values.
If you ask, there will be lots of recommendations for either combined switch/breakers or separate units
Add at least a couple of spare switches to allow for future additions.
If you want a ready made panel you could try here:
Axon panels
I can't comment on the quality of the panels but I have used visirocker switches and found them OK.

 

[Tranona]

Another vote for Axon axoncontrol.co.uk similar quality to Blue Sea in terms of switches but far more choice. This is the one I used

16 way with blade fuses because the panel size fitted my layout, but you can have circuit breakers if you prefer. As you will see you can get them with volt meters for one or both banks, but I chose to have a separate battery monitor.

 

[kalanka]

I have been trying to contact Axon Controls to get a panel built. Their website triggers serious security warnings on my Mac and the email I wrote is being bounced back. Can anyone tell me if they are still trading? If not, does anyone know of some other company operating in a similar area of manufacture?

 

[Tranona]

I noticed that. They are only small - husband and wife that I dealt with. Give them a call The number I have is 01977686550 Mark Vipond is the owner.

 

[Concerto]

KDD Powercentre Ltd in Falmouth. They will make exactly what you want. Been arround for decades and used to produce switch panels for Westerly and still do for other boat builders.

kddpowercentre.com
01326 376938

 

[MOBY2]

Furneau Riddell in Southsea for of the shelf stuff.

 

[ChromeDome]

Had the same considerations and made it with 4 x
Touch Control Waterproof Membrane Switch Panel


Several versions available

Edit: Made the backing plate from Dibond (Alucobond) 3mm sandwich. White to mach the gelcoat, but other colurs available. Foil wrapping easy also, if you prefer. Extremely easy to work on, cut, bend, drill.

 

[coopec]

What is wrong with these?

6 Gang Boat Fused Circuit Breaker Splashproof Switch Panel for Caravans RV
Opens in a new window or tab

Brand new
AU $47.96
Was: Previous priceAU $50.48  5% off
Buy It Now
Free postage
from China

 

[Stemar]

I made my own from a bit of thin ply, switches from fleabay (should have used circuit breakers and dispensed with the fuses) and Dymo labels.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Chinese switches and panels on Ebay and the likes are usually poor quality. There are some exceptions, but finding them can be tricky.

Quality switches/breakers from the likes of Carling, ETA etc will virtually last a lifetime.

 

[Tranona]

That was the attraction of using Axon. The switches are Carling and all wired to a single input. In terms of price, the 16 way panel was around £120. The cheap Chinese panels as in post#12 are usually 6 way and cost £30 or so each on UK. Better 6 way panels like Blue Sea are around £60 each.

My setup in post#6 with the mimic and blank to add the bilge pump switch and masthead light selector came to just over £200, probably half what a custom made panel would cost.

 

[coopec]

Chinese switches and panels on Ebay and the likes are usually poor quality. There are some exceptions, but finding them can be tricky.

Quality switches/breakers from the likes of Carling, ETA etc will virtually last a lifetime.

If you went for quality all the time even when the fuse/switch/circuit breaker/ light bulb is non critical you'd quickly go broke.

I suggest most electronic components are made in China and are probably dead copies of the "branded version". This article is worth reading.
Made in China: the risks of buying cheaper tech | IT PRO

 

[Tranona]

If you went for quality all the time even when the fuse/switch/circuit breaker/ light bulb is non critical you'd quickly go broke.

The knack is to achieve the balance of price/quality that suits you. I find those Chinese switch panels clunky and ugly - but that is perhaps because the last time I did a rewire I had a custom made panel from the company that made the panels for lifeboats and the admiralty small boats. A work of art but expensive at £500 25 years ago.


With my latest project I would have liked to replicate that but the firm is long gone and the estimates I got from another firm were more than I could justify. So my use of a ready made panel with good quality components for a relatively small premium over the Chines ones was a good compromise

 

[bluerm166]

Waterproof panels cost about twice the 'below-decks ' grade so if your mounting is really remote/shielded from the hatch you can stick to the latter.

 

[Refueler]

I have the old awful typical 1980's panel .... I keep meaning to replace it with something better.

I have 3D printers, Dymo labeler and Laser Cutter ..... time I put them to work and produced my own panels.

 

[coopec]

The knack is to achieve the balance of price/quality that suits you.
View attachment 150916

With my latest project I would have liked to replicate that but the firm is long gone and the estimates I got from another firm were more than I could justify. So my use of a ready made panel with good quality components for a relatively small premium over the Chines ones was a good compromise

"The knack is to achieve the balance of price/quality that suits you".

I won't argue with that. There's some pretty rough looking yachts out there but I've found that generally they are the ones that have done a circumnavigation!