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Mike...
Joined: 13 Dec 2008
Posts: 470
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Photos: Accelerando
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 Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:11 pm Post subject: Moving from Fuses to Breakers |
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Hello everyone.
I am pondering moving from fuses to DC breakers for my wipers, refrigerator, lights, 12V accessory sockets, macerators, and pumps (except bilge).
Anyone have any concerns about this?
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mike |
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Captains Cat
Joined: 03 Nov 2003
Posts: 7313
City/Region: Cod Creek>Potomac River>Chesapeake Bay
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Captain's Choice II
Photos: Captain's Cat
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| Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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Just one question. Why?
Charlie
_________________
CHARLIE and PENNY CBRAT #100
Captain's Cat II 2005 22 Cruiser
Thataway (2006 TC255 - Sold Aug 2013)
Captain's Cat (2006 TC255 - Sold January 2012)
Captain's Kitten (1995 CD 16 Angler- Sold June 2010)
Captain's Choice (1994 CD 22 Cruiser- Sold Jun 2007)
Potomac River/Chesapeake Bay
K4KBA |
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Mike...
Joined: 13 Dec 2008
Posts: 470
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Photos: Accelerando
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| Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Captains Cat wrote: | | Just one question. Why? |
I hate fuses. It's an odd pet peeve of mine. Probably rooted in the fact that I generally don't have the one I need at the time. 
I also have no love of crawling around trying to insert a fuse in rough seas while the Admiral says something like, "Honey, should I be worried about that big wave coming at our beam?"
Plus it's nice to just take a quick look to check the status of most circuits.
And I admit it, there's also a certain cool-factor to cleaning up some of the wiring and installing a nice neat clean breaker panel.
Yes, I am a little bizarre, but I am sure you all figured that out long ago.
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mike |
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Dora~Jean
Joined: 09 Mar 2004
Posts: 1518
City/Region: Simi Valley
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2003
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Dora~Jean
Photos: Dora~Jean
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| Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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My only concern would be that most fuses on our boats are "fast blo" type. In other words, most are there to protect the circuitry of the device connected rather than the wiring. Breakers, on the other hand, unless they're very special (read high dollar) tend to be slow acting, requiring something like 150% overload to trip in a reasonable time (seconds).
At least that's what I think.
_________________
Steve & Carmen
"Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance" (Samuel Johnson)
Dora~Jean C-Dory 25 2002-Present
Corsair F-31 Trimaran 1996-2002
MacGregor 26X 1988-1996
Glaspar Seafair Sedan 18 (2)
StarCraft 19 & 22
Catalina 17 & 22
Crestliner 19
+4 Previous, 1/2 sail, 1/2 power |
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patrick and linda
Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Posts: 953
City/Region: somerset
State or Province: KY
C-Dory Year: 1986
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Fan-A-Sea"
Photos: Misty Seas
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| Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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over all these boating years i can't recall the last time i had a fuse blow. i understand your concern but just wonder how often this would come into play, aboard your boat. i never agree with charlie, not because he's wrong, i just like keeping him on the edge of his rocking chair, but is the need worth the labor?
best regards
pat
ps: the first thing charlie does when he wakes up by mid afternoon, is start's counting his money, sometime around 6 or 7 pm he calls it a day, and then spends the rest of the evening thinking about how the poor people are doing! love you man! |
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Sea Wolf
Joined: 01 Nov 2003
Posts: 8650
City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
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| Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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Mike-
Lots of good advice above! Rather than repeat it, I'd suggest you employ the KISS Principle, and just keep the fuses, cleaning up and spraying the fuse holders and wiring with some electrical preservative, and then invest the considerable amount of money saved into a really useful modification that would increase the enjoyment of your boat, and probably the resale value as well. 
If you have a case of obsessive/compulsive wiring concern disorder (OCWCD)  , such as experienced by perfectionists and some electrical engineers, you might consider re-wiring and looming the wiring behind the helm and elsewhere to make it more like a modernized B-52 and/or the Space Shuttle. We have several of these types on board already, so you won't feel alone! 
Do what you want, it's your boat!!!
Joe.  
Wiring on Sea Skipper by Hanks Brooks, now owned by Socrateur
_________________
Sea Wolf, C-Brat #31
Lake Shasta, California
  
"Most of my money I spent on boats and women. The rest I squandered'. " -Annonymous |
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Will-C
Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 2476
City/Region: Temple
State or Province: PA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Vessel Name: Will-C
Photos: Will-C
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:55 am Post subject: Moving from Fuses to Breakers |
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Hi,
For me worring about things that most likely won't be a problem is something I always have try and fight. Why not do a quick inventory of all the fuses you have currently and then go on line and buy some backups. I'm not sure completely redoing electrical system from fuses to circut breakers would be time well spent for me. On the plus side it would make you much more in touch with your boats wiring and what goes where etc. Check circuts for amperage loads to size breakers accordingly. Buy spare breakers as they fail also. I have found circut breakers are not as readily available as glass or automotive fuses. It's summer time and we all have a limited time on this earth; I would go out and enjoy your boat. You will probably encounter something that needs your attention long before the first fuse ever blows.
D.D.
_________________
Chevrolet The Heart Beat Of America |
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Mike...
Joined: 13 Dec 2008
Posts: 470
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Photos: Accelerando
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Sea Wolf wrote: | Mike-
If you have a case of obsessive/compulsive wiring concern disorder (OCWCD) , such as experienced by perfectionists and some electrical engineers, you might consider re-wiring and looming the wiring behind the helm and elsewhere to make it more like a modernized B-52 and/or the Space Shuttle. |
I do suffer from a bit of that.
I do realize that this is a bit of a waste of time/money, but it's also one of a few ways I will be personalizing this boat. And personalization makes the boat more fun. And one of a kind.
From a safety perspective, I'll not be removing any fuses that require a fast blow. But the things I mentioned are all fine on breakers.
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mike |
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Captains Cat
Joined: 03 Nov 2003
Posts: 7313
City/Region: Cod Creek>Potomac River>Chesapeake Bay
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Captain's Choice II
Photos: Captain's Cat
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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| patrick and linda wrote: | over all these boating years i can't recall the last time i had a fuse blow. i understand your concern but just wonder how often this would come into play, aboard your boat. i never agree with charlie, not because he's wrong, i just like keeping him on the edge of his rocking chair, but is the need worth the labor?
best regards
pat
ps: the first thing charlie does when he wakes up by mid afternoon, is start's counting his money, sometime around 6 or 7 pm he calls it a day, and then spends the rest of the evening thinking about how the poor people are doing! love you man! |
You're just plain mean spirited... Get that C-Dory out of your profile and put your real boat in there....BTW, what are you poor people with Bow Thrusters doing these days. Love you too pat!
Charlie |
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Minnow
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
Posts: 190
City/Region: East Amwell
State or Province: NJ
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Minnow
Photos: Minnow
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Mike-- Here's another "why" question. You said you wouldn't put the bilge pump on a breaker. Why wouldn't you want the bilge pump on a slow-blow circuit breaker?
As a 30 year licensed electrician, I think it's kinda-sorta like wiring a fire pump-- you don't want the circuit to trip. You want it to run 'till destruction.
That being said, properly sized fuses will always be more reliable than breakers. |
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Jazzmanic
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 2232
City/Region: Seattle
State or Province: WA
Photos: C-Dancer
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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Mike,
Pardon me if this sounds rude but...
Get that boat in the water and enjoy it! Summer's almost half over.
Peter |
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Sneaks
Joined: 06 Jun 2004
Posts: 2020
City/Region: San Diego (Encinitas)
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 16 Angler
Vessel Name: C-Brat
Photos: Jenny B and C-Brat
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Jazzmanic wrote: | Mike,
Get that boat in the water and enjoy it! Summer's almost half over.
Peter |
Half over? Is it December already? Oh, its not like that in the PNW. I forgot. Never mind.
Don
In beautiful San Diego where summer never ends. |
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Jazzmanic
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 2232
City/Region: Seattle
State or Province: WA
Photos: C-Dancer
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 12:15 am Post subject: |
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Mike,
Pardon me if this sounds rude but...
Get that boat in the water and enjoy it! Summer's almost half over.
Peter |
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Mike...
Joined: 13 Dec 2008
Posts: 470
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Photos: Accelerando
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 12:29 am Post subject: |
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| Minnow wrote: | | Why wouldn't you want the bilge pump on a slow-blow circuit breaker? |
Good question. The bilge pumps have to be wired to the battery (or unswitched buss), so a breaker in a panel that might be powered down won't do. Now, I was pondering using use an inline breaker, but because of the electronics in these particular bilge pumps, I think a fuse is best. I am going to keep the inline fuses on all electronic devices.
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mike |
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Mike...
Joined: 13 Dec 2008
Posts: 470
State or Province: VA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Photos: Accelerando
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| Jazzmanic wrote: | Pardon me if this sounds rude but...
Get that boat in the water and enjoy it! Summer's almost half over.
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Mid August is a convergence point for many things that makes it the right time to get the boat in the water.
Right now was the best time for some of the changes I have been discussing in my posts.
I will get her in the water this season, and will go as long as I can. I bet I make it though November.
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mike |
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