Spare Breaker Switches Blue Sea Systems Panel

[Irish Rover]

Does anyone know where I can buy spare breaker switches for this Blue Sea Systems panel. I can't see a model no on the panel - I'll possibly find it if I take off a ceiling panel on the aft cabin but I'd rather not until I have to.

 

[PaulRainbow]

If you look on the back of the switches they will have a make and model on them. Most likely Carling, perhaps ETA. Blue Sea don't make the switches.

 

[andsarkit]

Agreed it looks very like the Carlingswitch one.
Carlingswitch from Mouser
If you scroll down the data sheet in the link you will find the code numbers for the type of switch and you can see if they agree with the writing on your switch. You may have trouble sourcing them as there are so many variations and they are not cheap but very good quality.

 

[Irish Rover]

It's like a birds nest in there. It's literally, and metaphorically, well above my head standing on a stool. I'll wait for my taller, braver more technically competent son to come in 10 days or so. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

It's like a birds nest in there. It's literally, and metaphorically, well above my head standing on a stool. I'll wait for my taller, braver more technically competent son to come in 10 days or so. Thanks for the replies.View attachment 182967

+1 for the previous suggestions of Carling? However, it looks as though you have two variants there. the centre two switches 30 & 50 amp look to have a different style rocker to the outside rows. Don't be misled by the amp value on the rocker, that will be for the circuit served. The switches may have a higher rating. Good luck!

 

[Irish Rover]

+1 for the previous suggestions of Carling? However, it looks as though you have two variants there. the centre two switches 30 & 50 amp look to have a different style rocker to the outside rows. Don't be misled by the amp value on the rocker, that will be for the circuit served. The switches may have a higher rating. Good luck!

Yes, the switches on the supply side are a different type to the switches on the utility side. I think figuring this out is above my capability. I want to fit an inverter and I was planning to install an suitable switch in the blank position at the bottom of the supply side. As you may see the protection to prevent the shore power and generator being operational at the same time is by way of sliders which only allow one or the other to be activated. I'm not sure how I can protect when I fit the inverter.

 

[Timeless 2]

My boat is a bit older than yours. I have a similar generator/shorepower switch. When I leave shore power I switch on the inverter as that runs all the fridges etc on boat all day. The inverter is wired into the same switch as the generator.If we stop and want to use the generator for high load usage, microwave and induction hob. I switch off the inverter and start the generator. A bit of faffing about but investigating the wiring which had all been done after the boat was built is daunting. I might look into it one day but In real life it’s not too much of a problem.

 

[PaulRainbow]

My boat is a bit older than yours. I have a similar generator/shorepower switch. When I leave shore power I switch on the inverter as that runs all the fridges etc on boat all day. The inverter is wired into the same switch as the generator.If we stop and want to use the generator for high load usage, microwave and induction hob. I switch off the inverter and start the generator. A bit of faffing about but investigating the wiring which had all been done after the boat was built is daunting. I might look into it one day but In real life it’s not too much of a problem.

Sorry, but this is a bad idea. If you forget to switch the inverter off and start the generator you get two out of phase sources. Bang !

 

[PaulRainbow]

Yes, the switches on the supply side are a different type to the switches on the utility side. I think figuring this out is above my capability. I want to fit an inverter and I was planning to install an suitable switch in the blank position at the bottom of the supply side. As you may see the protection to prevent the shore power and generator being operational at the same time is by way of sliders which only allow one or the other to be activated. I'm not sure how I can protect when I fit the inverter.

Not sure how your panel is wired. One way would be to connect shore power to shore 1 and the generator to generator (there's a surprise). Then the output from this set of switches to shore 2, with inverter to transfer, then the output from this panel to the consumer unit.

Of course, the panel may already be pre-wired (they are sometimes wired so only some systems are available when using the generator) and that cannot be done, although it might be possible to fit an additional set of switches.

Another option would be to fit a changeover switch, remove the generator connection from the panel and connect it to the changeover switch, along with the inverter output, then connect the output from the switch to the generator terminals on the Blue Sea panel.

 

[Irish Rover]

Not sure how your panel is wired. One way would be to connect shore power to shore 1 and the generator to generator (there's a surprise). Then the output from this set of switches to shore 2, with inverter to transfer, then the output from this panel to the consumer unit.

Of course, the panel may already be pre-wired (they are sometimes wired so only some systems are available when using the generator) and that cannot be done, although it might be possible to fit an additional set of switches.

Another option would be to fit a changeover switch, remove the generator connection from the panel and connect it to the changeover switch, along with the inverter output, then connect the output from the switch to the generator terminals on the Blue Sea panel.

Thank you, Paul. I really appreciate your help and advice. To my simple mind an automatic changeover switch, as you describe, seems to be the way to go. My son is coming next week to tackle this job and I'll ask him to source a suitable switch in the UK before he travels. If you have any suggestions, that would be great .

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thank you, Paul. I really appreciate your help and advice. To my simple mind an automatic changeover switch, as you describe, seems to be the way to go. My son is coming next week to tackle this job and I'll ask him to source a suitable switch in the UK before he travels. If you have any suggestions, that would be great .

Have you bought the inverter yet ?

 

[Irish Rover]

Have you bought the inverter yet ?

Yes. It came off my previous boat although it's only a couple of years old. Victron Phoenix as I mentioned on the other thread.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Yes. It came off my previous boat although it's only a couple of years old. Victron Phoenix as I mentioned on the other thread.

I think i'd double check that the shore 2 switches are actually being used, if not you could use them.

Failing that, a simple, manual changeover switch would work. Use it to select whether the generator or inverter output goes to the generator switch. You could use an automatic changeover switch if you want, there are lots to choose from.

 

[Irish Rover]

I think i'd double check that the shore 2 switches are actually being used, if not you could use them.

Failing that, a simple, manual changeover switch would work. Use it to select whether the generator or inverter output goes to the generator switch. You could use an automatic changeover switch if you want, there are lots to choose from.

Thanks. There are 2 separate shore power supplies, one to each hull. I generally only use Shore 1 and the Transfer switch to send the power to all areas. However, the air con needs both shore leads connected. We don't really use the air con much but I'd rather not exclude the possibility of being able to do so. Is there an automatic switch you've used successfully which won't break the bank?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks. There are 2 separate shore power supplies, one to each hull. I generally only use Shore 1 and the Transfer switch to send the power to all areas. However, the air con needs both shore leads connected. We don't really use the air con much but I'd rather not exclude the possibility of being able to do so. Is there an automatic switch you've used successfully which won't break the bank?

Not fitted one for an age, so not sure what's the best value at the moment.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Not fitted one for an age, so not sure what's the best value at the moment.

Some available on Amazon, amongst others, I have no experience of any of them I am afraid, Heads or Tails
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Automatic-...038777951-B07R599LYP-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1

 

[Irish Rover]

Some available on Amazon, amongst others, I have no experience of any of them I am afraid, Heads or Tails
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Automatic-...038777951-B07R599LYP-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1

Thanks. I was just looking at them a short while ago. I'll speak to my son in NI to order one tonight.

 

[Irish Rover]

Another option would be to fit a changeover switch, remove the generator connection from the panel and connect it to the changeover switch, along with the inverter output, then connect the output from the switch to the generator terminals on the Blue Sea panel.

Got this done last weekend and working fine. The only small issue we had was with the battery charger which came on whenever the inverter was switched on. There is no on/off switch on the charger and the breaker for it is in a fairly inaccessible location in the opposite hull. We connected the charger to a spare AC switch on the main panel.
Thanks again for your invaluable advice and to the other posters who contributed.