Hi,
I'm re-doing the control panel in my boat and can't make any sense as
to what items should have a switch on CP. eg AM/FM, vhf,sounder have
dedicated switch on CP yet also have their own on/off switches and fuse
protection. Cabin lights and water pump circuits don't have any
switches on CP.
All circuits go to breakers and or have fuses.

Can anyone enlighten me on this.

Matt wrote:

Hi,
I'm re-doing the control panel in my boat and can't make any sense as
to what items should have a switch on CP. eg AM/FM, vhf,sounder have
dedicated switch on CP yet also have their own on/off switches and fuse
protection. Cabin lights and water pump circuits don't have any
switches on CP.
All circuits go to breakers and or have fuses.

Can anyone enlighten me on this.

Space on your control panel and personal preference, possible additional
wiring considered. Sheesh...

Matt wrote:
Hi,
I'm re-doing the control panel in my boat and can't make any sense as
to what items should have a switch on CP. eg AM/FM, vhf,sounder have
dedicated switch on CP yet also have their own on/off switches and
fuse protection. Cabin lights and water pump circuits don't have any
switches on CP.
All circuits go to breakers and or have fuses.

Can anyone enlighten me on this.

It's usual to have all the radio-type components grouped to one
switch/contact breaker, and the instruments and similar grouped to another
switch/contact breaker.

Dennis.

Matt wrote:

Hi,
I'm re-doing the control panel in my boat and can't make any sense as
to what items should have a switch on CP. eg AM/FM, vhf,sounder have
dedicated switch on CP yet also have their own on/off switches and fuse
protection. Cabin lights and water pump circuits don't have any
switches on CP.
All circuits go to breakers and or have fuses.

Can anyone enlighten me on this.


The main battery switch should kill all lighting circuits except for
emergency/ repair / anchor /boarding lights and bilge pumps.

Use one big switch to feed power to all the accessory group on the
dashboard, get rid of unneccassary secondary dashboard power feed
switches. Fuse the main feed to suit all accessories at once, use
the inline fuses for each device to protect the individual devices
from fire.

With this plan, any manual 'bilge pump on' switch will possibly feed
power to all the accessory group. A diode might prevent this.

Use twisted pair feed to prevent dc from affecting any nearby compass.

Less is more, eh?

Terry K

In article . com,
"Matt" wrote:

Hi,
I'm re-doing the control panel in my boat and can't make any sense as
to what items should have a switch on CP. eg AM/FM, vhf,sounder have
dedicated switch on CP yet also have their own on/off switches and fuse
protection. Cabin lights and water pump circuits don't have any
switches on CP.
All circuits go to breakers and or have fuses.

Can anyone enlighten me on this.


I very much like having all the 12Vdc loads connected to the
12Vdc Buss thru seperate Breaker/Switches rated for the 150%
of their Maximum Current Draw. This allows isolating an
non-functional load from the buss, individually, and seperatly.


Bruce in alaska
--
add a 2 before @

Hi,
I'm re-doing the control panel in my boat and can't make any sense as
to what items should have a switch on CP. eg AM/FM, vhf,sounder have
dedicated switch on CP yet also have their own on/off switches and fuse
protection. Cabin lights and water pump circuits don't have any
switches on CP.
All circuits go to breakers and or have fuses.

Can anyone enlighten me on this.


I very much like having all the 12Vdc loads connected to the
12Vdc Buss thru seperate Breaker/Switches rated for the 150%
of their Maximum Current Draw. This allows isolating an
non-functional load from the buss, individually, and seperatly.


Bruce in alaska

That's the only way to go, Bruce! Those switches and breakers are not there
for good looks...... additionally, USCG (ABYC) rules are used in insurance
coverage and claims investigations. (heaven help us). Also, a 6 passenger
or more vessel or off-shore commercial fishing vessels have a few pretty
specific electrical (and comm/nav) requirements set in US code *&^%##@ZXW
(or something like that) It's been a while.

Old Chief Lynn, PG13-20604

In article ,
"Lynn Coffelt" wrote:

Hi,
I'm re-doing the control panel in my boat and can't make any sense as
to what items should have a switch on CP. eg AM/FM, vhf,sounder have
dedicated switch on CP yet also have their own on/off switches and fuse
protection. Cabin lights and water pump circuits don't have any
switches on CP.
All circuits go to breakers and or have fuses.

Can anyone enlighten me on this.


I very much like having all the 12Vdc loads connected to the
12Vdc Buss thru seperate Breaker/Switches rated for the 150%
of their Maximum Current Draw. This allows isolating an
non-functional load from the buss, individually, and seperatly.


Bruce in alaska

That's the only way to go, Bruce! Those switches and breakers are not there
for good looks...... additionally, USCG (ABYC) rules are used in insurance
coverage and claims investigations. (heaven help us). Also, a 6 passenger
or more vessel or off-shore commercial fishing vessels have a few pretty
specific electrical (and comm/nav) requirements set in US code *&^%##@ZXW
(or something like that) It's been a while.

Old Chief Lynn, PG13-20604



Small Passenger Vessels are covered by USCG Regs on electrical stuff,
and by SOLAS Title III Part III for Radio Carriage.
Fishing Vessels in the US are covered under Fishing Vessel Safety Act
administered by the USCG.
Each has it's own set of Requirments for Carriage for the vessel type.


Bruce in alaska
--
add a 2 before @