Hi all, I have been looking for a quality made affordable 8 switch panel (12 VDC. I'd prefer a water resistant (does not need to be exterior waterproof) that is under $100. I've looked at a Blue Sea 8 switch (5 installed) for ~$120, but thats out of my price range after I install the 3 extra switches. Anyone know of some other cheaper but still quality panels? The West Marine cheapo $40 panels are not made well enough and don't stand up to the elements. Thanks, Tim
Affordable Quality Electronic/Switch Panel
- Thread starter Poca Long
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Hamilton Marine
They have an 8 position fused switch for ~$120. That's about the best I'm going to get in that price range. How is Hamilton Marine to order from? Tim
They have an 8 position fused switch for ~$120. That's about the best I'm going to get in that price range. How is Hamilton Marine to order from? Tim
High quality and low cost
If you have some of the hardware from your existing panel, why not recycle it and just buy the new stuff you need. A panel is nothing more than a piece of 1/4" plywood with a few holes and a lot of finish work. To get the labels on the finish I used a printer and transparent slide stock. After a thin coat of polyurethane, use a toothpick to position the labels that you cut out of the transparency. Round corners are better than square ones. Then it is just 10-15 thin layers of finish with sanding the high spots between each coat. Mount the hardware and wire it up and you are done. I re-did my Catalina 30' 12 switch panel for about $35 and had it done in about a week. Even put the boat name and owner on it for a personal touch.
If you have some of the hardware from your existing panel, why not recycle it and just buy the new stuff you need. A panel is nothing more than a piece of 1/4" plywood with a few holes and a lot of finish work. To get the labels on the finish I used a printer and transparent slide stock. After a thin coat of polyurethane, use a toothpick to position the labels that you cut out of the transparency. Round corners are better than square ones. Then it is just 10-15 thin layers of finish with sanding the high spots between each coat. Mount the hardware and wire it up and you are done. I re-did my Catalina 30' 12 switch panel for about $35 and had it done in about a week. Even put the boat name and owner on it for a personal touch.
rebuild panel
i rebuilt the original panel with new switches and breakers instead of fuses for less than $50 and i didnt have to change the panel it looks original that way i got all the parts from an electronics recycler most of the parts are new and if you need wire i found that low voltage direct bury cat5 is really good it comes in 4-6 wire very good for replacing original wiring
i rebuilt the original panel with new switches and breakers instead of fuses for less than $50 and i didnt have to change the panel it looks original that way i got all the parts from an electronics recycler most of the parts are new and if you need wire i found that low voltage direct bury cat5 is really good it comes in 4-6 wire very good for replacing original wiring
Rebuild Option
I priced 8 switches and 8 circuit breakers at Hamilton Marine and it comes to about the same price as the 8 switch fused panel. The current switch panel is only a 6 position panel anyway and thats not enough unless I combine my electronic devices onto one switch, which is an option that I am OK with if I need to do that. I'll keep looking for cheaper sealed switches and breakers and see what I come up with. Thank for all the info, it's been helpfull. Tim
I priced 8 switches and 8 circuit breakers at Hamilton Marine and it comes to about the same price as the 8 switch fused panel. The current switch panel is only a 6 position panel anyway and thats not enough unless I combine my electronic devices onto one switch, which is an option that I am OK with if I need to do that. I'll keep looking for cheaper sealed switches and breakers and see what I come up with. Thank for all the info, it's been helpfull. Tim
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