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catalina switch panel

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stang9150
Navigator

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USA
138 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/15/2014 : 09:00:11

Installing a switch panel for the dc wiring. This is the 8 rocker switch panel with 2 25 amp breakers built in. I want to put an inline fuse at the battery, trying to figure out what amperage I should use? I run the nav lights, 2 cabin lights,depth finder, and a vhf radio.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2014 : 09:35:57

Like they say, the fuse protects the wire, so the fuse should blow before the wire burns up...

IMHO.. I'm no electrician ... but as I understand it...

the fuse size is dependent on the wire size.

#10 wire should not pull over 30 amps
#8 wire should not pull over 55 amps

[url="http://www.cerrowire.com/ampacity-charts"]i.e. Wire Ampacity[/url]

so you look for something like a 30 amp fuse for #8 wire.

I'd probably run #8 and a 35 amp fuse ( model # 5164 ) in this fuse block ( Blue Sea Systems ANL Fuse Block ). Shown in the Defender web page.

http://www.defender.com

and your crimp lugs to the post size on either side of your wire connections

Does that sound about right everybody??? ( Voyager?? )

ANyhoo... that's one way to do it.

Just don't plug in a hair dryer or a microwave...

Edited by - redeye on 09/15/2014 12:12:28

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2014 : 12:28:30

Oh.. and a funny story.. I was rewiring a 17 foot aluminum Starcraft boat once and I did not have a primary fuse at the battery... anyhoo it shorted the primary and the ground near the panel underneath the steering wheel and it was "poof" in seconds, all the primary wire and ground was smoking and all the insulation melted off. I was lucky I didn't have a fire, and now I think of how quickly that could happen.

I've been more careful with DC wiring ever since...

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stang9150
Navigator

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USA
138 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2014 : 13:44:01

Yeah I have just been working on rewiring all the po wiring projects that he attempted.Thanks for the tips.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3754 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2014 : 19:56:22

Sailing with a much older friend many years ago in moderately rough conditions at night, I discovered that he had neither terminal fuses nor battery hold downs. The nav lights went out in the ship lanes north of Toledo and smoke billowed out of the cabin. A bucket of lake water doused the burning insulation, but it was a long way across the lanes that night.

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Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2014 : 00:25:03

quote:
Originally posted by Dave5041

... A bucket of lake water doused the burning insulation, but it was a long way across the lanes that night.

Reminds me that movie "All is lost" :-)

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2014 : 19:10:39

Been traveling of late - in Paul's neck of the woods (south FL). Meanwhile I recommend the following if you have an outboard with an electric start:

1. A separate #10 or #8 wire lead from the battery to the electrical panel, with a 30A or 35A fuse. You need at least 30A if you have conventional electric lighting (2A apiece x 10 lamps), plus 5-10A for the VHF and 5A for your audio system.

2. #6 or #4 wire for your starter circuit. Give that a 40A or 50A fuse.

Some people like circuit breakers BUT they fail. They can stick, freeze or short. If this happens, you won't know it until its too late and worst-case the boat will burn down to the waterline

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2014 : 04:08:14

Thanks Voyager, I always forget to mention the engine circuit as mine is not an electric start.

We had a Catalina 30 burn up on Lake Lanier in 2011.. not pretty.

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stang9150
Navigator

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USA
138 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2014 : 11:50:24

no starter circuit on this boat.Thanks for the tips

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2014 : 19:29:55

Whoa! That boat looks to be in pretty bad shape. Surprised there's that much left after the fire.
For no electric start, reduce item 2 to the max current supplied by the alternator plus 50%. For example, if you have a 6A alternator, use #12 or #14 wire and a 10A fuse. Use the standard ampacity tables depending on wire run length. For a 12A alternator go with a 15 or 20A fuse and appropriately sized wire..

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.