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DC Circuit breakers
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sep2x
Portland, ME
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September 9, 2014 - 9:21 am
Member Since: July 16, 2010
Forum Posts: 19
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hey all! It's been a while since I posted anything in here.. we got our boat 'finished' and then stopped needing advice on projects! haha! now we're dealing with a strange electrical thing, it seems our DC circuit breakers are going bad. I guess they only last 35 years! how do we replace these? has anyone else has this problem? We thought we were having a problem with our chart plotter two years ago, but switched the breaker it was on and it's been fine ever since. then our engine room fans stopped working, again they are not getting power from the panel. we don't use them much so just stopped using them altogether and forgot about it. now it's clear that the other breakers are all on their last legs and we're going to need to replace them! the spreader lights now don't get power, and i'm not sure what's going to go next! not good. has anyone else replaced these? where did you find them?

Thanks!

Sophi

SV Seabird

DE 32

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Scott Carle
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September 9, 2014 - 1:37 pm
Member Since: October 10, 2009
Forum Posts: 1480
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Hey Sophi [Image Can Not Be Found]

How have you guys been doing. For some reason I thought you guys had sold your boat... glad to hear your around if being a bit quiet [Image Can Not Be Found]

 

panel problems hmm.. That sucks.. we have one bad one on our panel and I hope never to have to replace the panel. Seriously I would look really hard for individual breaker switches that you could retrofit to the existing panel. Otherwise your going to have to pull the panel and replace it. Unless you purchase a custom panel it isn't going to be the same size nor the same layout. If it isn't the same layout then there is the potential for the wiring to not be long enough to connect to the right places on the new panel. Which means replacing or splicing into the existing wiring.

Not sure where I would find breakers that would fit right or retrofit in but maybe McMaster Carr or another industrial supply place. I wouldn't worry about using marine branded units. Your going to pay through the nose for those and any decent industrial grade unit will last a while. Buy a few spares while your at it so if you do have issue you can drop a new one in.

Don't envy you the job. If I had unlimited money and time I would yank our entire electrical system other than the stuff I have already done and replace it. Just because.. it's a rats nest in a lot of areas from 30 years worth of additions and repairs etc... however it all works so for the electrical stuff I'm still living the rule (if it ain't broken don't fix it!)

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Scott Carle DE38 Cutter s/v Valkyr
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carmine
Long Island, NY
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September 29, 2014 - 9:35 pm
Member Since: November 7, 2009
Forum Posts: 20
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Hi:

The DE breakers are thermal and pretty standard, I think that they are used in small aircraft. The info on my replacement breakers reads – SIEMENS  Potter and Brumfield .  I found them at Peerless Electronics, an  electrical supply house with outlets in Lynbrook NY, Columbia MD, Florida and Atlanta.  I have phone numbers if you want – try an internet search first. 

Carmine

TOPAZ, '75 DE 38

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Scott Carle
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September 30, 2014 - 12:34 pm
Member Since: October 10, 2009
Forum Posts: 1480
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Absolutely post some phone numbers.. I bet there are a lot of us that need some.. I have on bad breaker on our panel in Valkyr. I will actually compile this and post it on the main website also with model numbers, company names and phone numbers if you will get it all to me either here on the thread or in email.

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