Anyone replace/upgrade their electric panel?

[marchem]

I'm not real happy with the electric panel in our 2000 C310. Looking at pictures posted here the newer boats have a much nicer design, with better breakers and screw connections, rather than slide on tabs.

Has anyone with the old panel replaced theirs, either with the newer Catalina version, or maybe a Blue Sea 8084 AC/DC panel? Not sure if the Blue Seas would fit, and it doesn't have a battery selector switch, but I wouldn't mind getting something besides a Perko.

I've come across some info from Seaward on the various panels they've made, but I'm hoping someone else has gone down this road already.

 

[woodster]

if your panel plate will come off ...you can either replace all the breakers with the screw type and add a blue sea battery switch..or send the plate to a panel maker and have them upgrade it with new breakers and add the blue sea battery switch.....and that may be best for you it will come back wired so all you have to do is attach the items it controls and remount the panel....there are a lot of options in wiring a boat panel and a lot of gadgets to add so plan on what all you want on your boat and then start from there ...you may want to read mainsails article on wiring procedures and options before you ever start to disassemble any wiring...systems on a boat can get well involved and its best to be informed before hand ...lots of pre planning involved in this

 

[marchem]

Thanks, woodster. I've read plenty of Maine Sail's articles, and got advice from him on rewiring our C27. I'm hoping I don't have to rewire most of the C310, but I'll certainly end up replacing a lot of end fittings with properly crimped and sealed ones.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

I didn't replace the whole panel but I did change from the Perko selector switch to the Blu Sea Systems. It fits in the same hole. Details are on my blog.

I have hull #65 and the breakers are all screw connectors with ring terminals. Not heat shrunk though. Blue Sea System breakers will fit on the panel. It's not really a panel but a board with holes drilled in it. The screw spacing appears to be universal so you can swap out breakers.

Good luck,

Jesse

 

[marchem]

The older panels have rocker switches and tab connectors. I don't think new breakers would work. Seaward seems to make the new ones, I'll call them Monday. Catalina Direct also sells the Seaward panel.

I read your report of the switch switch. Seems like a good idea. Maybe Seaward will sell one without the Perko switch installed?

I'm learning a lot....

 

[woodster]

you can get the exact replacement breakers from any of the suppliers that will fit your panel if you have toggle breakers now with the same hole pattern...you can also spec the switch you want to have in the panel ...and if seaward won't do it go some where else there are other good panel makers out the ...blue seas is one along with paneltronics is another...this stuff is like alice's restaurant you can get anything you want

 

[marchem]

The early panels on the C310 (at least #31) were PB2644, with rocker switches and push to reset breakers, so new breakers can't be used in them. Toggle breakers were introduced with PB2709, at least by hull #65. I think the current panels are PB4651. The advantage of the Seward panel is it drops right in. None of the Blue Seas, or combinations of the Blue Seas panels fit cleanly. Not that it can't be done, but it will require more work.

 

[woodster]

The early panels on the C310 (at least #31) were PB2644, with rocker switches and push to reset breakers, so new breakers can't be used in them. Toggle breakers were introduced with PB2709, at least by hull #65. I think the current panels are PB4651. The advantage of the Seward panel is it drops right in. None of the Blue Seas, or combinations of the Blue Seas panels fit cleanly. Not that it can't be done, but it will require more work.

i know you can get one made from scratch and spec either toggle or rocker you could take the old plate and send it to whomever you decide to go with and have the them match the plate size to go back in your boat ...i personally like toggle ..maybe its cause i am sorta old school...you could have them make a new face to use with toggle style but it may cost a bit...the only thing i would like with the toggles is the little led lights on each circuit to let you know they are on or off ...i have a friend with the rocker style and it just seems to me that there is too much wiring in that system ...with the toggle you have the breaker and switch in one cube and only two wires hot in and power out to the device plus it being a ring terminal connection

 

[marchem]

I got in touch with Dennis at Seaward, and they now sell the PB4651e with the Blue Seas switch, rather than the Perko. So I"m going with that.