Paneltronics Replacement Meters

jviss

jviss

.
Feb 5, 2004
7,090
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Buying a new, old boat - a 1996 Tartan - that has a Paneltronics, OEM electrical panel. The meters are old and moldy. I went to the Paneltronics site, and they have digital replacement gauges for $131.00 One can purchase similar gauges on eBay for $1.66.

I'm about to undertake an exhaustive search on eBay for gauges that fit the panel cutouts, for DC Volts, DC Amps, AC Volts, and AC Amps. I will even have choices of color for the digits! I just want to ask, before I start, has anyone already done this?

The panel cutout is (apparently, I haven't yet measured it) 2.90" (73.7mm) by 1.28" (32.5mm).

Thanks!

jv
 
Hello Below

Hello Below

.
May 7, 2012
1,615
Hunter e33 Maple Bay, BC
I just looked up on yachtworld.com, a 1996 Tartan 3800 and the first two words that described the beautiful boat is: "Professionally maintained." A buck sixty-six just doesn't seem to fit the quality of vessel.
 
jviss

jviss

.
Feb 5, 2004
7,090
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Hello Below said:
I just looked up on yachtworld.com, a 1996 Tartan 3800 and the first two words that described the beautiful boat is: "Professionally maintained." A buck sixty-six just doesn't seem to fit the quality of vessel.
Click to expand
If you saw the "quality" of the existing Paneltronics meters, you wouldn't have any trouble with Chinese digital meters!
I hear what you're saying, but I'm not going to "cheap out" from a quality and utility perspective. But just as I won't pay $893 for a Westerbeke starter, I'm not paying $131 for a cheap, analog meter. Stay tuned!
 
Ken Cross

Ken Cross

.
Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
I installed an inexpensive 4 digit meter in our boat. I used momentary contact switches so I can just push the button for the battery I want to see. It works great. Make sure you buy a meter that doesn't need an external power source. Ours uses the energy from the battery we are measuring to power up the meter.

Ken
 
J

jeepbluetj

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Jan 18, 2016
782
Catalina 387 Dana Point
There's quite a few meters in the 32mm x 72mm form factor - just shop around. The meter I installed on my boat had a pot for calibration - it's been spot on ever since I've installed it (compared to a Fluke dmm).

I'd never pay what Paneltronics or Blue Seas wants for a simple meter. It's just a meter. Its not a keel bolt. If it goes TU, so what?

There's quite a few nice looking meters that have volts/amps/AH/etc all in one small package for around $29 or so.
 
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