Electrical Advice

[Rusty10]

Hi

First time poster

Have just purchased a small boat that is a bit of a project!

I intend to rewire given I would only require lights, GPS, FF, radio and maybe one or two other accessories. I have been looking at a basic blade fusebox and wondered if I should also go for a switch panel with integrated circuit breakers or would this be pointless given the circuit protection would be with the fuses?

Any help guidance, greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[CLB]

I would drop the fuse box from the plan and just have a breaker panel. I have found fuses to be troublesome on boats, due to surface corrosion leading to high resistance and circuit failure.

 

[jrudge]

I agree with the prior post. If you look on eBay you can get small breaker panels for not a lot of money

The only caveat is how small ? My Williams 325 has fuses and the cause no issue. The good thing about a panel is you can turn stuff on and off and the breaker can be reset.

 

[matthewriches]

A good quality breaker panel is a good idea.

I do use blade fuses on occasion and do have them on my own boat for the lighting etc then have some breakers for more heavy duty gear such as the Planus electric toilet, macerator pump, hydraulic pumps, etc...

 

[Rusty10]

Hi and thank you all for the replies.

I was looking for a 6/8 gang switch panel with integegrated circuit breakers.

I was thinking of adding the fuse box as part of the internal wiring instead of having a distribution/bus bar (if that makes sense?)

 

[matthewriches]

Get something with plenty of spares as you'll find you need them. If you get a circuit breaker panel, the more expensive ones are all commoned with brass strips so essentially from your isolator you go straight to the positive common on the panel, this then distributes it to all the different circuit breakers, through the breaker then off to the item.

The cheaper ones instead of having solid strips use jumper cables between each.

Negative is by way of a busbar. Blue Sea make some nice ones. All the negatives end up here, again, linked back to the battery by a thick wire.

 

[Rusty10]

Thanks again for all replies

OK, now on to the internal wiring question(s) - What would people recommend to use (size wise) for all the accessories (plotter, lights, ff, radios etc) back to the switch panel, 16 gauge or 14 gauge?

I am also thinking of using 10 gauge as my main feed from the battery (from a switch isolator)?

 

[matthewriches]

Are you American?

Thanks again for all replies

OK, now on to the internal wiring question(s) - What would people recommend to use (size wise) for all the accessories (plotter, lights, ff, radios etc) back to the switch panel, 16 gauge or 14 gauge?

I am also thinking of using 10 gauge as my main feed from the battery (from a switch isolator)?

 

[Rusty10]

Are you American?

Hi no, based in UK

Maybe I should refer to wire sizes in mm?

Main feed 6mm?

Accessories 2.5mm or 1.5mm?

 

[matthewriches]

Ha ha, you got it then. 1.5 and 2.5 are common final supplies. Anything from 6-50 is common for main board supply depending on size of board. I’ve dealt with some with 185 supply wires!

Hi no, based in UK

Maybe I should refer to wire sizes in mm?

Main feed 6mm?

Accessories 2.5mm or 1.5mm?