Circuit panel suggestions.

[Bryan A.]

I am in the process of cleaning this up.

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.

[warthog5]

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=

[Miles Offshore]

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-

[Bryan A.]

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?

[warthog5]

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



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.



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

[Fishjack]

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

[Scott]

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

[Bryan A.]

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.

[warthog5]

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

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.

[nestorpr]

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.