DC panel Upgrade

[MarkT]

I'm considering replacing the DC panel in my 1987 vintage boat. Seaward has the replacement panel as an advertised part so that is my preferred option. I'd love to hear some accounts of what experiences others have had doing this.

I found this thread which is encouraging.
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,1356.0.html

Mark Tamblyn

[Craig Illman]

Mark - I did it on my 1991, Hull #1150 a couple years ago. I had to lengthen all the wires and change the original female spade terminals to captive lug terminals. I'd recommend investing in a good crimper. Also, while you're at it, Ken Juul mentioned in another thread about upgrading the ground circuit from the battery box. I'd suggest running a new 6 gauge wire. I think the factory ground to the panel on my boat was only 10 gauge and came from who knows where, maybe the engine?

It was well worth it. Now I have individual breakers for both AC & DC, plus I had spares for the Autopilot and Refrigerator. Maybe when I retire, I'll get motivated to clean up and organize the mess behind the panel and rewire most of it.

Craig

[Stu Jackson]

Mark,

You might be interested in these, too:

http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Electrical

Just go to C34 Tech Wiki at the top of ALL of these main message board pages.

I'm keepin' my 1986 panel - it still works.  And I got the fuses to prove it!  

Mark, from your other posts, I know YOU know the wikis, it's just that others might not, yet...

[BillG]

I replaced my panel several years ago on my 87, also using a Seaward panel, tho they recommended that I use a panel that was  being used on a smaller Catalina versus the one currently being used on the 34.  The rationale was that the battery switch on the newer Catalina 34 panels was not part of the DC panel ,but was separate.  That made sense to me and I ended up with a panel that had 4 circuits for AC and and 18 circuits of DC.  The best part was that I was able to provide them with a list of what each circuit should be named and  the  amp size of  each circuit.  Very custom.

[hump180]

Just finished installing a new panel from seaward. The panel came ready to install and is straight forward except for a couple of troubleshoots at the end. Overall I like the look of it and now have three more breakers. I ordered the panel with custom labels rather than the etched version. This way If I ever shuffle things around I can just order new labels from seaward. Anyone taking on this project needs to be prepared with plenty of ring terminals of different sizes,(red,yellow,blue) I believe for #10 screws.