[C38] fuse panel replacement / upgrade question.

[Phil Gay]

I did 2 things this past spring that improved my boating pleasure.  One of
them was completely separating the house from the start battery.  I did this
with a Blue Seas add a battery kit.  With one switch it turns on both the
house circuit and the engine start circuit but keeps them separate.  The
switch also has a combine batteries mode for use when the engine start
battery fails.  The kit included a relay which combines the batteries when
the alternator is operating and separates them when not.  Evidently this
arrangement has no voltage loss which occurred with the old battery combiner
diodes.  I could never remember to move the switch on the DC panel and
always started the engine with the house bank.  Sometimes starting the
engine shut down the chartplotter.  Everything works great now and there is
no need to flip switches.

 

The other thing I did was hinge the DC panel which was more than adequate
before.  By being able to swing down the panel, I am able to check and add
circuits without lifting a lot of weight.  The panel is not as cumbersome
now when I relocated the engine start/house bank switch to a spot closer to
the engine.  I also have a 5 circuit AC panel next to the DC panel which
adds a lot of flexibility in switching equipment on.

 

I know this wasn't the answer to the original question but I hope it gives
someone some ideas to use.

 

Phil Gay

C38 049 Que Linda

Everett WA

 

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Ann Boochever
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 8:55 PM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Re: [C38] fuse panel replacement / upgrade question.

 

Hi Mark,
I'm sure others know more than I do, but we did this a few years ago. Went
with a Blue Sea panel and a separate battery isolator switch and battery
combiner from West Marine. The Catalina panel might be fine. It's a matter
of planning out all the circuits you have and all the ones you think you'll
need and figuring out how many breakers and what size for the loads that
will be on each circuit. Then leave yourself one or two extras if you can.
Not hard, but takes some planning. You can put more than one thing on a
breaker, e.g., a stereo and some cabin lights on the same breaker, if you
don't exceed the capacity of the breaker, but it's best to have individual
circuits for most items. When you get to the windlass, that will have it's
own, larger, breaker, so it won't run through the panel. 
However you do it, you'll love not having those push-on connectors at the
back of the panel slide off and disconnect things when you least expect it.
Scott
Tacita II
224

On 9/19/13 4:12 PM, "Mixed Business" <mixedbusinesscontact at gmail.com> wrote:

hey all itz time to upgrade my elec system. I want to replace the whole
panel and then require and upgrade to LEDs.  thinking about picking up a
premade ready to rock panel from catalina direct. would either of the panels
on this page fit the bill? 

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display
<http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&categor
y_ID=69> &category_ID=69

if not, any suggestions? experience? wisdom etc? 

I have a simple system. chart plotter, water pressure, cabin lights, bilge
pump, some fans, radio, and 1 30amp shore power connection. but looking to
add raw water wash down, cold plate refrigerator in ice box and eventually a
windlass. anything I should consider? 

I have two 27 series batts right now. was thinking of upgrading while I'm at
it. (?)

thanx in advance,

mark o
momentous 230
Baltimore.




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