New electrical panel

Cederholm

Cederholm

.
Oct 9, 2022
61
Catalina 30 Stratford CT
Hi all,
I'm refitting a 1980 Catalina 30 and want to upgrade the electrical panel. With one breaker per, does my list below sound right? What am I missing and should any circuits share a breaker?

Thanks!
  • anchor light
  • spreader lights
  • steaming light
  • running lights
  • cabin lights
  • instruments
  • marine radio
  • music "radio"
  • macerator
  • water pressure pump
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

.
Oct 26, 2008
6,220
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
I've used separate breakers for each of the following:
  • chartplotter
  • autopilot
  • VHF
  • sailing instruments
  • bilge pump
But it does make sense to share some of these features if necessary.

I've also had separate breakers for:
  • DC accessory outlets
  • Fans
  • propane solenoid
  • refrigerator
  • exterior "mood" lights (just a separate switch mounted on the panel - previous owner modification!)
I think it depends on how many breakers you can fit in the size panel you have, or are planning to install.

My plan is to install a panel with 16 breakers and share items as necessary and makes sense.

For instance, with my macerator pump, I share the breaker with the toilet pump and the shower drain pump because none of these pumps are ever used simultaneously. I also share a sea-water wash-down pump with the water pressure pump. The applicable pumps have separate on-off switches, except the water pressure pump operates by water pressure (obviously). I put a separate on-off switch for the macerator near the through- hull just to make it easier to operate both without having to get up and get to the panel.

You are correct that you need separate panel switches for the 4 navigation and deck light fixtures, but you could share the deck (spreader) lights with something else if you use an independent (off-panel) on-off switch.
 
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WayneH

WayneH

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Jan 22, 2008
1,081
Tartan 37 287 Pensacola, FL
Are you cooking onboard? Propane needs a solenoid at the tank. On that line, I saw a neat idea. Someone installed a NO switch behind his fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher keeps the switch closed and when removed opens the circuit and shuts off the propane.

My surveyor wanted my cabin fans and lights on separate circuits. CT probably uses less fans than FL. :biggrin:

Any 12V plugs should be on a circuit.

WTG, Scott. I was still working the list.
 
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D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,436
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
There is no provision for electronics or an autopilot. Cabin lights are typically on 2 circuits, port and starboard. What about 12v sockets and USB ports? Fans?

Think about where the various devices are and how to wire them. Limit the number of devices on each breaker, if there are more than one device on a breaker they should be related and should typically be used at the same time. For example putting the Chartplotter and the instruments on the same breaker makes sense because they are related and typically used at the same time.

Think of the future and have a few blank spaces on the panel.
 
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dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,436
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Bilge should not be on a breaker on the panel. It should be wired before the panel such that it is always on even if the main DC switch is turned off. The bilge pump switch will have its own breaker or fuse on the bilge pump switch. Both Rule and Blue Seas make bilge pump switches. I prefer the Blue Seas one.
 
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Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

.
Oct 26, 2008
6,220
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
dlochner said:
Bilge should not be on a breaker on the panel. It should be wired before the panel such that it is always on even if the main DC switch is turned off. The bilge pump switch will have its own breaker or fuse on the bilge pump switch. Both Rule and Blue Seas make bilge pump switches. I prefer the Blue Seas one.
Click to expand
Good point ... for that reason and the fridge, my selector switch is always ON currently (I just switch off all the rest of the breakers). When I upgrade my panel to a new Blue Sea System panel, there will be "Always ON" breakers for a few of these features so that I can switch the selector switch OFF when I leave.
 
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dmax

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,112
O'Day 35 Buzzards Bay
You guys don't have a circuit breaker on the panel for the bilge pump? My present and two previous boats do/did so you can turn on the pump manually when the battery selector switch is on. The pump is also wired directly to the battery so that it turns on when the pump float rises up.
 
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dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,436
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
dmax said:
You guys don't have a circuit breaker on the panel for the bilge pump? My present and two previous boats do/did so you can turn on the pump manually when the battery selector switch is on. The pump is also wired directly to the battery so that it turns on when the pump float rises up.
Click to expand
The dedicated bilge pump switches have either 2 breakers or a double pole switch to allow for manual use.


www.defender.com

Rule 3-Way Panel Switch - 45

Rule 3-Way Panel Switch Features: Toggle has (3) positions (automatic, off or manual) plus "fail safe" spring return to "off" from "manual" position Specifications: Rule Model No. 45 Nominal Voltage: 12 / 24 / 32V DC Max. Current Draw:
www.defender.com www.defender.com
 
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dmax

dmax

.
Jul 29, 2018
1,112
O'Day 35 Buzzards Bay
Yeah, I've seen those I just thought most boats came from the factory with a breaker in the panel for the bilge pump. Just wondering.
 
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Cederholm

Cederholm

.
Oct 9, 2022
61
Catalina 30 Stratford CT
WayneH said:
Are you cooking onboard? Propane needs a solenoid at the tank. On that line, I saw a neat idea. Someone installed a NO switch behind his fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher keeps the switch closed and when removed opens the circuit and shuts off the propane.

My surveyor wanted my cabin fans and lights on separate circuits. CT probably uses less fans than FL. :biggrin:

Any 12V plugs should be on a circuit.

WTG, Scott. I was still working the list.
Click to expand

I wasn't planning on cooking onboard, but plan to leave a couple circuits open for future expansion.
 
Cederholm

Cederholm

.
Oct 9, 2022
61
Catalina 30 Stratford CT
dmax said:
You guys don't have a circuit breaker on the panel for the bilge pump? My present and two previous boats do/did so you can turn on the pump manually when the battery selector switch is on. The pump is also wired directly to the battery so that it turns on when the pump float rises up.
Click to expand
This was my plan. It's how I wired my old Cat 27.
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,065
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Our factory panel has a dedicated breaker for the Bilge Pumps. I prefer it.
Actually our OEM panel has quite a few breakers.
Remember that one major purpose of your main DC selector switch is to be able to de-energise your whole DC distribution system in case of a short circuit/smoke/fire emergency.
The less stuff wired directly to the battery terminal, the better, even with individual fusing within a few inches. That said, we do have a couple of things wired directly, albeit fused right at the terminal. So, opinions vary; just keep the ABYC recommendations in mind.
Regarding the Rule toggle switch for controlling (auto/manual) the bilge pump -- great switch and they seem to live forever. It's their lousy centrifugal pumps that should be avoided. (Our electric bilge pumps are both Jabsco diaphragm types, from the factory. )
 
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C

CYQK

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Sep 11, 2009
592
beneteau first 42 kenora
When you get ready have a look at Paneltronics... they produce some great stuff installed them on my rebuild
 
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