new simple fuse board

[simonfraser]

Hi,
i have a micro switch controlled relay / led fuseboard installed by some electrical boffin. this is heavy, complex, is fitted under the stern ! and now has one broken circuit.
i have no idea / inclination to learn how to fix it.

i propose to replace it with a simple set of blade fuses, in a more accessible place & just use the blade fuses to switch on and off
i only sail at the weekend, so if the gps "switch" gets used 52x a year i am doing well !
good bad idea ?

 

[captainslarty]

what does it control, what sized cable.. how HEAVY can it be ??

 

[neil_s]

Simplicity is a very good idea. You might find that even 52 switching events is a bit much for your blade fuses, though. The plating on the contacts will quickly wear off - and the springs get weak. Why not fit a battery switch and kill the circuits with that? Day to day switching of instruments could be done using the front panel switch. Nav lights really need switches, but even then you only need two - one for sailing and one for motoring and perhaps one more for anchor.

Cheers! Neil

 

[Bodach na mara]

Removing blade fuses and replacing to switch on and off does not strike me as a good idea, and certainly no better than fitting a switch in the lead from the battery. Applying Sod's Law, the fuses you remove will be lost or replaced in the wrong sockets next time you go aboard.

 

[halcyon]

Bad idea, fuse / holder will probably fail, and it is almost certain you will loose the fuse !!

Does the gps not have a on/off switch ?

What loads are you trying to switch, how many, and are you planning on changing them all ?

Brian

 

[simonfraser]

thanks,

so, still trying to keep it simple:

1) leave the fuses in for the instruments, plotter/nmea interface/autohelm 1000/ VHF when i am on the boat
2) put a switch on the tri color and steaming light
3) use the main switch by the battery for on / off

sugestions ?

 

[simonfraser]

p.s. re weight of the current fuse box, it's made out of steel, bigger than the box in my home !!
duno what it weighs yet /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
it's got a relay in for every circuit that is on, and a led on the box, and one on the micro switch of course !
and one led that is on all the time, no battery on/off switch

 

[halcyon]

The thing is you want to do it simply, but correctly, after all your life may depend on it.

The switch panels we supplied to Westerly that are now coming up to 25 years old, and they are still running fine, and a lot are mounted under the companion way steps. A lot is what you use, and to a degree were you mount it, for instance we always use silver plated switches, give you 20 years life, but at a reasonable cost.

Start with what you need, not how you plan to do it, once you have what you need, then decide how to achieve it.

So list the circuits you need, the switches you need, note you did not list bi-colour lights ?. Once you have your list work out how to do it. Simple is best, use simple circuit breakers, for protection, and switches only were you need a switch, if you do not need to switch a circuit do not fit a switch, just a breaker.
If you want I can give you some part numbers and supplier of switches and circuit breaker, that should give 10 / 20 years use.

Brian

 

[whipper_snapper]

[ QUOTE ]
If you want I can give you some part numbers and supplier of switches and circuit breaker, that should give 10 / 20 years use

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes please!

A present I am looking at a mix of BlueSea breaker/switches for high current/critical applications and 2 or 3 cheapo things like below for most circuits - the logic being I know they are likely to become flaky with time, but I can easily get in behind them and bodge something to get me home!

 

[halcyon]

Re circuit breakers, if you go to www.cpc.co.uk, and search for FF01641 - FF01644, we used 1000's of them 1983 - 1986, and on and off since. we had very little trouble with them, and they are available worldwide. The ones we see on panels in for repair, they are still ok after 25 years. They are not switched, we only fitted a switch when it was needed, otherwise thay just protected the circuit. Switches we have used similar to cpc, SW00276, or SW00284. This spec switch we have used for 23 years, and some are still going strong, They have been used on helm panels for motor cruisers, and have proved ok for upto 15 years on outside helm positions.

If you are not desperate, I am hoping to have a new waterproof breaker in the range in a couple of months.



Brian