Electrical panels

wstokes · Post by **wstokes** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 4:34 pm

A couple of years ago, I replaced Secret Arrival's electrical system in its entirety. I purposely limited the number of devices on a circuit, for example; The lighting circuits were separated so that I ran one circuit on starboard and a second circuit on port. I tried to minimize the load on each circuit as much as possible. Using halogen lamps everywhere except the head helped to acheive this. However, it bothers me somewhat that the wiring on the panels was supplied with 18ga wire and that I was using 14ga Ancor marine wiring throughout the boat. When I look at some manufacturer's wiring systems the wiring on the panels is much heavier. Should I be concern, I have never had a blown fuse since I completed the work and everything is working as it should.

Post by **Tim** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:23 pm

wstokes wrote:Should I be concern, I have never had a blown fuse since I completed the work and everything is working as it should.

If you have circuit breakers, the tiny wires inside most panels are for indicator lighting circuits only. The heavier amperage draw is handled by a main hot bar and, of course, the wire you ran to your individual circuits. See the photo for an example.

wstokes · Post by **wstokes** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 5:42 pm

Tim, I should have been clearer about what I was describing. The panels that I used are illuminated switch panels ( rocker type switches) one panel has six switches and the other three switches with a cigarette lighter socket and a battery meter. Similiar to this:
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/a9caeb2617.jpg

You can see the general arrangement from this photo of my nav station.

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/76ca8d165a.jpg

The way the panels are wired they leave a short wire for you to connect to and it is this wire that is 18ga - 20ga. That is where is my concern is.

Post by **Tim** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:42 pm

If you want my frank opinion, I'd suggest replacing the panel. That's a small boat panel that does indeed have baby wire leads inside.

Alternatively, what about simply removing the wire they nicely left behind for you and running your larger wire all the way to the screw terminal? I wired one of these into a boat this spring, but I don't recall exactly how I connected the wiring. I'm pretty sure I didn't splice into any tiny wires, though.

wstokes · Post by **wstokes** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:17 pm

After reading your last post, I am now seriously thinking about replacing those panels. I have been checking the various mfgrs web sites, such as Blue Sea, and others. I also have been talking to a local Electrical Marine Supplier and fabricator and it looks like I can get a new 10 dc circuit panel with leds, volt and amp meters, and 30amp double pole ac breaker with 2 15A breakers custom made to my specifications. For less than $500.00cdn. This has got me thinking about replacing my battery switch with a Blue Sea Mini switch system as I ruin a handheld GPS last summer due to switching from Battery 2 to 1 to start the engine. I will keep you posted.