i am rewiring my boat, and im having trouble when im looking for replacements for the main ac & dc breakers. I have found all the regular breakers and replaced them, but there is something different about the mains. they arent like the rest of the breakers that fit into the round holes. the dc main is 1 breaker with one switch, so i would call it a single pole, it is the same size as the regular breakers. however, a regular breaker will not fit in the square hole reserved for this main. i dont have it with me at the moment, but i seem to remember that the terminal configuration may be different on the back (im not sure about the dc main, but i am certain the ac configuration is different). The ac main is three breakers wide, but only has one switch in the center. I cannot read the stickers on either of the mains, and i really dont know much about amps/volts, etc. i have seen some literature that makes me believe that both mains are 50 amps. my shorepower is a 30amp inlet with a breaker at the helm (i havent examined that one yet, but i think it was a dual pole). I simply cant find anyone that knows what im talking about. i have been to every marine store in the area. where can i buy "main" breakers, as im beginning to think that they are not the same as "regular" breakers. i think i can make out somethin on one of the breakers that says "fl amps 65", but for some reason i think they may be 50 amps. does 50 amp breaker at the distribution panel make sense when the inlet is 30 amps? would the breaker at the inlet be 30 amps and the panel 50 amps? or am i totally lost and the ac should be something like 65 amps or more? I have all the other breakers installed & wired and im at a dead end without the mains. i have about 35-40 breakers in all. they were airpax brand, and ive been replacing with ancor & blueseas. please advise!! i wanna turn this thing on! thanks.
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Hi Brandon, Paneltronics sourced many electrical...
panels and components for Hunter boats over the years. Our 1991 model DC amp meter was toast when we purchased Belle-Vie in 2002. I sent the old meter to them and they matched it up perfectly. Perhaps they can do the same for you. Give them a shot. Please let us know the outcome. Terry
panels and components for Hunter boats over the years. Our 1991 model DC amp meter was toast when we purchased Belle-Vie in 2002. I sent the old meter to them and they matched it up perfectly. Perhaps they can do the same for you. Give them a shot. Please let us know the outcome. Terry
Contact Hunter Parts
Brandon: Contact Hunter parts. They usually have a solution or can steer you in the right direction.
Brandon: Contact Hunter parts. They usually have a solution or can steer you in the right direction.
Breaker and Inlet should be same rating
If you have a 30 amp inlet, you do not want a 50 Amp breaker cause you may run the risk of overheating the inlet wire and inlet connection points. The AC main breaker will be different than the distrubution breakers cause they may break and make ground and neutral also. DC main breakers do not have to be different than dc distribution - they just need a single pole. The interrupt rating may be different for a main dc breaker(trip curve) to allow all the feed breakers to be left on and still handle the inrush into the main. Trip curves are important for inrush capabilities, they allow the fast trip for sensitive loads or slow trip for motors and other high inrush loads. Wire size is usually the determining factor of a main breaker. If you know what gauge the feed wire is, you can determine the ampacity requirements of the breaker.
If you have a 30 amp inlet, you do not want a 50 Amp breaker cause you may run the risk of overheating the inlet wire and inlet connection points. The AC main breaker will be different than the distrubution breakers cause they may break and make ground and neutral also. DC main breakers do not have to be different than dc distribution - they just need a single pole. The interrupt rating may be different for a main dc breaker(trip curve) to allow all the feed breakers to be left on and still handle the inrush into the main. Trip curves are important for inrush capabilities, they allow the fast trip for sensitive loads or slow trip for motors and other high inrush loads. Wire size is usually the determining factor of a main breaker. If you know what gauge the feed wire is, you can determine the ampacity requirements of the breaker.
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