Electrics, damp & corrosion

[stephenh]

When surveying houses I am aware that pre-war ( yes, that war! ) electrical fuseboards etc. tend to be in damp cellars and exposed to the corrosive atmosphere.

Just post-war (same one! ) houses tend to have a cupboard / timber surround offering nominal protection.
Modern installations have all connections, fuses etc. installed in damp proof (?) boxes and so they should be.

Nearly all yachts have their electrical panels exposed to the atmosphere as in the post-war houses above, open to the bilges and not sealed to the cabin which is a notoriously damp area.
I have seen ‘proper’ damp proof installations only on very expensive boats ( Oyster, Fairline etc. ).

Why is this ? Modern damp-proof plastic boxes (‘enclosures’) are very cheap , in many sizes and easily available.

Why don’t we use them ? Most electrical problems on boats are caused by corrosion at terminals, the answer is there and yet we ignore it……

later......

Does anybody have their electrical board totally enclosed ?

 

[William_H]

I would suggest that house fuse boxes are more for aesthetics and keeping fingers out rather than moisture protection. I don't believe either in boats or houses that a box around the electrics will keep out moisture laden air.
Treatment of individual wire ends seems worthwhile . Minimising electrics, with large wires robust connections etc seems the best way.
olewill

 

[NigelClegg]

[ QUOTE ]

Does anybody have their electrical board totally enclosed ?

[/ QUOTE ]

In my experience......... only on large luxury yachts and commercial vessels.

Much of the electrical equipment used on smaller craft seems to be derived from domestic or automotive control gear (for high and low voltage systems respectively).

Morover, much of the control gear on bigger vessels is housed in machinery spaces and engine rooms where the atmosphere is usually much warmer and drier.

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
Nearly all yachts have their electrical panels exposed to the atmosphere as in the post-war houses above, open to the bilges and not sealed to the cabin which is a notoriously damp area.

[/ QUOTE ]Not sure that the cabin is a notoriously damp area! But maybe you didn't mean to say that. I don't think you're right at all - most boats have the electrical panel in a relatively dry and protected location. Mine does, and most other boats I know also do. What's the location on your boat?

 

[alexrunic]

i dont think there is a need for a damp proof box. you just need to use good quality tinned marine cable and use vasoline on any terninals. i also spray the inside of my switch board with wd 40 every now and again

 

[LittleShip]

Re: Electrics, damp & corrosion

Not really an answer to your question but this stuff is the best I have found for preventing corrosion, much much better than WD40............

www.nocorrosion.com/cart/index.php

Tom