Moving from Fuses to Breakers

[Mike...]

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?
---
mike

 

[Captains Cat]

Just one question. Why?

Charlie

 

[Mike...]

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.
---
mike

 

[Dora~Jean]

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.

 

[patrick and linda]

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!

 

[Sea Wolf]

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. :wink:

If you have a case of obsessive/compulsive wiring concern disorder (OCWCD) :shock:, 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! :lol:

Do what you want, it's your boat!!!

Joe. :teeth :thup


Wiring on Sea Skipper by Hanks Brooks, now owned by Socrateur

 

[Will-C]

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.

 

[Mike...]

Mike-
If you have a case of obsessive/compulsive wiring concern disorder (OCWCD) :shock:, 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.
---
mike

 

[Captains Cat]

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

 

[Minnow]

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.

 

[Jazzmanic]

Mike,

Pardon me if this sounds rude but...

Get that boat in the water and enjoy it! Summer's almost half over.

Peter

 

[Sneaks]

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.

 

[Jazzmanic]

Mike,

Pardon me if this sounds rude but...

Get that boat in the water and enjoy it! Summer's almost half over.

Peter

 

[Mike...]

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.
---
mike

 

[Mike...]

Pardon me if this sounds rude but...
Get that boat in the water and enjoy it! Summer's almost half over.

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.
---
mike

 

[Sea Wolf]

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.
---
mike

As an alternative, there are Slo-Blo fuses that are designed to take overloads for a limited amount of time.

They usually have a more complex structure visible through the glass envelope with a coiled fuse element around a central insulator. The insulator helps to absorb the heat produced in the coiled electrical conductor/fuse for a while while an electrical device starts up or labors for awhile.

You'd get some slow blow protection for a lot less cost than a relay, and with the proper amperage fuse, be safe to run the pump real hard, but could count on it to blow in a dead short, protecting against an electrical fire hazard.

Just another 2 cents gratis.....!

Joe. :teeth :thup

 

[Chris Bulovsky]

I have most of my electronics on a Hella Marine breaker switch panel. Even the bilge. It works for me. I flick it on to pump out the rain water. The GPS and Radio are wired direct. I hate fuses as well. Keep in mind I trailer my boat and it seldom sits in the water overnight unoccupied. I have not had the bilge trip it yet.

Rewiring the boat is a big job. Lots of grunting and swearing involved. The C-Dory is pretty straight forward compared to many other boats but still painful.

Chris

 

[Jazzmanic]

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.

You're right Don, I do love SD's weather. Nice town. Up here in the great PNW, if we make it through September before the rains come, it's a GREAT summer!

Mike, sounds like a plan. Don't mind me, I just like to tease.

Now back to the thread...

 

[Mike...]

Mike, sounds like a plan. Don't mind me, I just like to tease.

Oh I don't mind at all. Especially now that I have figured out where you live.
---
mike