DC pannels - where to buy.

[kevinnem]

Hello Everyone, I am looking for cost effective DC panels.

Sure I could drop 5000.00 on a set of bluesea ones, that just doesn't make sense in my world though. Also, I have trouble finding the information on a lot of the ones on amazon as to weather they are switch only , .. or if they are a breaker as well. I would prefer breakers, as I am not a fan of messing around with fuses.

Recommendations?

Kev.

[Mac Ziggy]

If you just want to add a couple of switches, the maker of the original panel is available in a 6 switch model (says 4 but it's 6). https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sea-Dog-4221 ... about-item

Or if you want to change the world, follow this thread, 'BOAT' needs your help and advice

PS Amazon is not always the best source or best price. I bought a Blue Seas AC panel recently that was about $50 less than Amazon.

[Tomfoolery]

I used the West Marine DC panel, which has breakers instead of fuses, and LED indicators. And it looks nice. And it was surprisingly inexpensive. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-mar ... ecordNum=1

[sailboatmike]

I just bought membrane switch panels, pretty awesome I recon and should be a easy to fit

A bit like these
https://www.ebay.com.au/p/?iid=25247974 ... s&&&chn=ps

[Seapup]

I just bought membrane switch panels, pretty awesome I recon and should be a easy to fit

I will second those. On a small boat they are really hard to beat. I put one in last summer and have been happy with it. I was able to mount the panel in a convenient switch location and mount the breaker box in a cabinet where there is room to run wires.

Seachoice is a US distributor of a 12 gang touch membrane breaker panel. It runs 12 circuits with a 10A breaker in each circuit. There are also a few other similar 6&8 gang models. The 12 gang seachoice is $60 shipped on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-12-Gang-Tou ... DN&vxp=mtr

[Sumner]

I've looked for switch panels for the Mac and Endeavour and just don't find ones that really fit my needs. I've ended up making switch panels and the using Blue Sea's spade fuse blocks which I really like. This allows me to put a single switch or multiple switches where I need them and the fuses are all in the same place and I can fuse each circuit to match the wiring and load.



Above are the two switch panels for the Endeavour that give me a lot more flexibility than the panel that was in the boat. I can use single pole or double pole switches that are either single throw or double throw depending on the circuit they are controlling. For instance I have 3 bilge pumps on the boat and there is a switch for each. Middle is off, up is manual on, and down is auto with the pump being turned on by the float switch.

I can also have LED lights for each switch and have a switch that can turn them all off if I want. Another switch sends either the start battery or house battery voltage to the volt meter on the panel. Also have 3 hour meters that could be hooked to different items if so desired.



For the Mac some of my switches are in a console above the galley and others are on separate smaller panels like shown above. In the case of the one above one of the spade fuses in the Blue Sea's fuse block protects the wire to this panel and then bayonet style fuses on the panel protect the wiring going to the computer, modem/wifi, a bilge pump and a blower in the laz. The wiring to the separate loads are different sizes and the bayonet fuses are fused accordingly.



Above are the two fuse blocks (6 and 12 circuit) in the Endeavour and larger fuses that control the Main Loads, Solar Charge Controller and a fuse for a 110 volt battery charger's output. The Mac uses a single 12 circuit fuse block ....

https://www.bluesea.com/products/catego ... s/ST_Blade

It isn't that hard to make up some switch panels to fit your needs using the fuse blocks to feed them. More on the Mac wiring here...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... de-30.html

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[sailboatmike]

Sumner, are thos pictures of the space shuttle cockpit or is that your boat???

[grady]

I will have to aggree with Summer. Could not find a panel that fit exactly what I wanted. Compact, clean looking, good circut protection. So I made my own also. Wanted to add 2 switches this year so quickly added them. This winter will probably make a new panel and have all the switches evenly spaced again.

[romden35]

I also have a West Marine DC elec panel. Have no complaints so far.