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sailaway78

sailaway78

.
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
What do you smart guys think of using an automotive type, auto reset circuit breaker on a boat. These seem to work pretty good in automotive applications, they are small and relatively inexpensive. Am considering this for a couple of applications where there are currently fuses which are difficult or impossible to get to. Specifically thinking of using one on the alternator output. Recently I managed to touch the alternator battery lead with a wrench while doing something else, and blew the fuse. Almost impossible to get to it, and the plastic fuse holder is a joke. There are also a couple of other applications that are not independantly fused, which I would like to change. Anyone ever use these, and what are your thoughts.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

.
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
What do you smart guys think of using an automotive type, auto reset circuit breaker on a boat. These seem to work pretty good in automotive applications, they are small and relatively inexpensive. Am considering this for a couple of applications where there are currently fuses which are difficult or impossible to get to. Specifically thinking of using one on the alternator output. Recently I managed to touch the alternator battery lead with a wrench while doing something else, and blew the fuse. Almost impossible to get to it, and the plastic fuse holder is a joke. There are also a couple of other applications that are not independantly fused, which I would like to change. Anyone ever use these, and what are your thoughts.
 
Rich (P303)

Rich (P303)

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Jun 1, 2005
772
Pearson 303 Robinhood, ME
I am no expert...

I would think they would be in the same kind of environment... exposed to salt air, extreme temperatures and the like. Living on the coast. Never used one. Yet again... I am a dumb a**.
 
Rich (P303)

Rich (P303)

.
Jun 1, 2005
772
Pearson 303 Robinhood, ME
I am no expert...

I would think they would be in the same kind of environment... exposed to salt air, extreme temperatures and the like. Living on the coast. Never used one. Yet again... I am a dumb a**.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I am not crazy about auto reset anything electrical

My power saw is thermally protected with manual reset. With auto reset the saw would start when it cooled down if I hadn't pushed the stop switch. I like to know when a breaker has tripped.
 
Ross

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I am not crazy about auto reset anything electrical

My power saw is thermally protected with manual reset. With auto reset the saw would start when it cooled down if I hadn't pushed the stop switch. I like to know when a breaker has tripped.
 
RAD

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
I agree with Ross but....

For your application on the alternator I see no problem. As an electrician I use them for trouble shooting short circuits and they work pretty well doing what there designed to do but they reset as soon as the short is clear.
 
RAD

RAD

.
Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
I agree with Ross but....

For your application on the alternator I see no problem. As an electrician I use them for trouble shooting short circuits and they work pretty well doing what there designed to do but they reset as soon as the short is clear.
 
Stillraining

Stillraining

.
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
Have one on

my Sea Ray's windless and it works great. As you need it where the draw is, it keep us from having to go forward to reset it. It is used as an over heat protection befor you would blow the big 150 amp fuse below deck. So if we over pull it kicks out and then maybe 1 min latter it resets itself and were back in buisness again. I will definatly be installing them when we mount our new pair of windless on the sailboat this spring, one on each one. The windless is on a spring loaded switch so there is no way when it resets that the windless will engage by itself. If your hand isint on the switch overpowering the return spring it cant self ingage. Edit: My dump trucks have 20 to 30 of them in each one. They are great there also. I dont now how many times I have had clearence light issues late at night on the road and my clearence lights have blowen only to come back on and blow again this just continues over and over. At least it gets me home. Then I sort out the trouble in the morning when it's light. We have had the head lights do the same thing. A tow bill for a Dump Truck is 500.00. The little buggers have probably save me 1000's of dollors over the years.
 
Stillraining

Stillraining

.
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
Have one on

my Sea Ray's windless and it works great. As you need it where the draw is, it keep us from having to go forward to reset it. It is used as an over heat protection befor you would blow the big 150 amp fuse below deck. So if we over pull it kicks out and then maybe 1 min latter it resets itself and were back in buisness again. I will definatly be installing them when we mount our new pair of windless on the sailboat this spring, one on each one. The windless is on a spring loaded switch so there is no way when it resets that the windless will engage by itself. If your hand isint on the switch overpowering the return spring it cant self ingage. Edit: My dump trucks have 20 to 30 of them in each one. They are great there also. I dont now how many times I have had clearence light issues late at night on the road and my clearence lights have blowen only to come back on and blow again this just continues over and over. At least it gets me home. Then I sort out the trouble in the morning when it's light. We have had the head lights do the same thing. A tow bill for a Dump Truck is 500.00. The little buggers have probably save me 1000's of dollors over the years.
 
Timo42

Timo42

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Mar 26, 2007
1,042
Venture 22 Marina del Rey
I wouldn't

put one on the alternator because you wouldn't have any indication of a problem, the breaker would pop and reset until something melts or catches fire, those things get hot in operation. IMHO you would be better served by rewiring the alternator wire and relocating the fuse to a more convenient location. a breaker has its place, a windlass is a perfect example, something that can be manually overloaded by the operator who will know when it blows and why. In a car these breakers are typically used in just this way, power seat adjusters, window motors , etc. Tim
 
Timo42

Timo42

.
Mar 26, 2007
1,042
Venture 22 Marina del Rey
I wouldn't

put one on the alternator because you wouldn't have any indication of a problem, the breaker would pop and reset until something melts or catches fire, those things get hot in operation. IMHO you would be better served by rewiring the alternator wire and relocating the fuse to a more convenient location. a breaker has its place, a windlass is a perfect example, something that can be manually overloaded by the operator who will know when it blows and why. In a car these breakers are typically used in just this way, power seat adjusters, window motors , etc. Tim
 
sand sailor

sand sailor

.
Sep 19, 2006
643
SCHOCK santana27' lake pleasant,az
i use them for areas that might be considered

emergency electrical item (running lights,marker lights, bilge pumps etc.)best thing ever
 
sand sailor

sand sailor

.
Sep 19, 2006
643
SCHOCK santana27' lake pleasant,az
i use them for areas that might be considered

emergency electrical item (running lights,marker lights, bilge pumps etc.)best thing ever
 
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