Circuit panel suggestions.
 

I am in the process of cleaning this up.
http://www.classicseacraft.com/1986w...edium/0009.jpg
Can any one suggest a good circuit panel. I figure I need 12 -14 circuits for the boat. Breakers would be nice but I see the cost is up there. I have looked at the blade type fuse blocks at West Marine and am leaning that way but I like to hear suggestions of experiences with any. I would like to get rid of all the buss fuse blocks under the helm. The panel does not need to be weather proof because it will be mounted in the cabin. Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

The Blue Sea's ATC 12 circuit is what you will need. They make them with and without the ground buss. Get the one with the ground buss.Part # 5026
http://www.bluesea.com/product.asp?P...63&l1=7463&l2=

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

I like blue seas stuff too. I had planned on keeping all my fuses on the inside of the console as well but after thinking about it some I changed my mind and put them back in the dash/console. I fish at night a lot in the summer and it is a lot easier to just look and see what fuse might be blown instead of digging/crawling around up inside your console. If you were to go this route go with the twist off fuses instead of the slot/push/turn jobs - they are a pos-

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Thanks for the suggestions.
Wart that is the one I was looking at, now I just need to figure out how to run the wiring.
Any suggestions or pics of pretty wiring jobs?

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

This is the only pix I have right now and it is the 12 circuit unit w/GND buss.

http://www.classicmako.com/bobby/Batt%20Charger1.JPG

there's ton's of wiring in the other console that is not complete yet.

To start with, paint the inside of the console. It will brighten everything up and make it look cleaner.

When you make your wire run's, kink the wire in nice 90deg turn's.

You will need a way to fasten down the wiring. Those stick on tab's that have double side tape on them that you can run a tye wrap thru work great in a piece of equipment that doesn't move. there not worth a damn in a boat. They will fall down.
Before you paint the inside of the console you may want to glue in some plywood to have a place to fasten thing's. Cut all the edge's at a 45deg angle to give the wood a finished look.
Here you can see a piece I've glued in. It's a piece of 3/4in to have plenty of meat for screw's.

http://www.classicmako.com/projects/...elminside2.jpg

There are clamp down's that you can screw down and then run a tye wrap thru. Also there is spiral wrap that help's manage wire's. You can barely see it bellow the terminal block

http://www.classicmako.com/bobby/Tri...Pump%20001.jpg

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Bryan - I would stay away from the blade type fuse block - I installed one on my boat and it corroded very easily.

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

WOW .... Looks like just about anything is going to be an upgrade/enhancement !! That just looks scary :eek:

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Yes the current wiring is scary, but it is safe. Alot of etra wiring from the VHF, Depth sounder and stereo makes it look like a rats nest. I have started making a few pyramid blocks for screws and such. I pirated that idea from looking at the X-shark on CM, NICE RESTAFICATION! What interior paint did you use Wart?
Unfortunatly I have the same glue problem there as the hull sides. This stuff was everywhere. If you look at the pics you can still see some Gorilla hair under fasteners that have not been removed yet like the resivoir for the steering and rail bolts and such. I think whitewater installed it before the cap and hull were joined.

Fishjack - Wher did you mount that fuse panel? Under the console somewhere I would guess. Mine will be in a cabin hopefully that will make a difference. Did you switch to something else? If so what?

Thanks again guys.

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

A little diaelectric grease on the prong's help's a lot.

The paint on the inside of the cuddy and console's is Shurwinn William's Tile Clad HS. It is a true epoxy paint. It does not do well in direct sunlight, but inside these area's will not be a problem.

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Hey guys, to end the corrosion problem in these circuits clean up the terminals real good and then spray them with Corrosion Block from West Marine. The stuff leaves a flexible coating on the terminals that shields them against the salt. Works real good and I haven't had any corrosion problems in 2 years. :rolleyes:

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

I installed a (+)12V and (-)12V bus bar in my console fed each with 6g cables from my accessory battery. I opted to install inline fuses on my equipment that does not go through my Blue Seas fused flush mounted switch panel.

Blue Seas Busbar -
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ack/BusBar.jpg

I installed covers on each - cover
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...usBarCover.jpg

It made for neat installation and the inline water proof fuses are easy to access and troubleshoot.

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

If you like ATO/ATC fuses (I do) try an automotive in-line fuse holder. Waterproof, and they don't say "marine" on them so they came be bought fairly cheap at automotive stores. I've used the one in the middle of the page for a couple of years now without any problems.
http://order.waytekwire.com/IMAGES/M...og/218_062.pdf

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Bryan … This fuse block is going to feed everything on the boat ? Or are you going to change out switches ?
Blue Sea Weatherdeck panels seem to be the latest thing ( in either no fuse, blade fuse, and now circuit breaker.) Labels are back lit for circuit ID , to tell you if they are on or off and to tell you if the fuse is blown. They use Carling switches( I think are pretty good) which can be swapped out and changed for $5-7 a pop…. on/off, on/off/on, momentary on/off …and on and on.

I like the fuses as they are simple to change( and inexpensive) if they pop !! The circuit breaker is pretty nice too but more money and if one goes bad …then what. A backup of each breaker might get expensive. Just something else to think about and an opinion

I realize this is probably more than you are looking for … given how I *think* your going to apply it. I just got one and they look very well built.

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

I would like to route all power throught this panel. I would also like to eliminate all the exterior switches that I can. It is easy enough for me to reach into the cabin from the helm and turn things on. This should clean up the dash. I think I'll leave the horn and big bilge pump on the dash and put everything else inside. That panel looks cool, how much did you pick it up for? Mine dosn't have to be waterproof but I like the switch panel. I was going to make up my own panel on mohoghany plywood inside the companion way since I already have all the switches. As you see from the pic anything is possible at this point. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Dash pic test. I'm trying to figure ot this MAC.
http://www.classicseacraft.com/1986w...edium/0005.jpg

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Wart ... whats the story with this stuff ?? Its for fiberglass?

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

It's a paint that was designed to paint the inside of water tower's, so it's ideal for bildge's.

It is a true epoxy 1 to 1 mix. It need's no primer. Because it is a true epoxy UV ray's will break it down and it will chalk on you if exposed to sunlight all the time. Not good for topside paint. But in bildges,inside of console, inside of a cuddy it's outstanding. The cost is aprox $38 for part A and $38 for part B in gal quanties. That's 2 gal's of paint.

It is also ideal for your garage or shop floor paint. Hot tire's will not effect it and the only way to get it up is by droping something and chipping the concrete.

See your local dealer for Tile Clad HS. It use to be Tile Clad II.

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Thanks Bobby

Do you like how it went on for you ?

Thats a pretty good endorsement for its use, plus I see this on the Sherwin-Williams website:

"For use in a wide range of industrial applications such as masonry surfaces, offshore and marine structures"

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Yes, It goes on real nice. I used West System roller cover's for rolling it on.

Re: Circuit panel suggestions.
 

Here is an update on the fuse panel. I installed the Blue Seas 12 circuit and am happy so far. The big work came in removing all the old stuf and adding some more 1/2" ply for extra mounting and then painting the entire thing white. I used Wart's Tile Clad HS and the stuff is great so far. Goes on good and dries hard and is relativley cheap. Eventually I wil do the interior hull sides with it but for now I need to get'er done and in the water to chase doormats. Check it....

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y84...er/wiring1.jpg