Blue Sea Systems AC Power Distribution Panels

Product Identification

Brand: BLUE SEA SYSTEMS

Product Line: Marine Electrical Products

Product Type: AC Power Distribution Panels

Model Numbers: PN 8058, PN 3058, PN 8059, PN 3059, PN 8265, PN 3265, PN 8460, PN 3460, PN 8461, PN 3461, PN 8480, PN 3480

Panel Specifications

Overall Dimensions

Mounting Centers

Standards

This panel, when properly installed, complies with all applicable Standards and Recommended Practices of the American Boat and Yacht Council as well as United States Coast Guard 33 CFR Sub Part 1.

Guarantee

Any Blue Sea Systems product with which a customer is not satisfied may be returned for a refund or replacement at any time.

Installation

1. Disconnect all AC and DC power

   Disconnect all AC power originating on or off the vessel. This includes inverters, generators, shore power attachments, and any other device capable of supplying AC power to the ship's circuits.

   Disconnect the main positive DC cable from all batteries to eliminate the possibility of a short circuit and to disable the inverter while installing the distribution panel.

2. Select mounting location and cut opening

   This panel is not intended to serve as the main AC circuit breaker panel. A double pole circuit breaker that breaks both the AC hot and neutral legs (such as Blue Sea Systems' PN 8029) must be installed in a location which is not more than 10 feet from the shore power inlet or the electrical attachment point of a permanently installed shore power cord as measured along the conductors of the feed wires.

   Select a mounting location which is protected from water on the panel front and back and is not in an area where flammable vapors from propane, gasoline, or lead acid batteries accumulate. The circuit breakers used in marine electrical panels are not ignition protected and may ignite such vapors.

   Using the panel template provided, make a cut out in the mounting surface where the distribution panel is to be mounted. Do not yet fasten the panel to the mounting surface.

3. Install branch circuit wires

   Determine the proper wire size for each branch circuit using the chart below. Verify that the standard 15 amp circuit breakers installed in the panel are correct for each branch circuit. Remove and replace any that are incorrectly sized. The circuit breaker must have a rating less than the allowable amperage of the wire, yet greater than the circuit's continuous current.

   Connect each branch circuit hot (black) to the appropriate load terminal. Connect each branch circuit neutral (white) to one of the screws on the neutral bus. Connect each branch safety ground wire (green) to one of the screws of the safety ground bus.

   Do not confuse the neutral current carrying wires (sometimes called ground) with the green normally non-current carrying wires (sometimes called grounding). These two wires must be connected only at the source of power, nowhere else.

   Wire sizing chart

   Use the wire sizing chart below to determine the proper branch and feed circuit wire sizes.

   Wire Size (AWG)	Allowable Amperage of Conductors
   	Engine Spaces	Outside Engine Spaces
   16	25.0	21.3
   14	35.0	29.8
   12	45.0	38.3
   10	60.0	51.0
   8	80.0	68.0
   6	120.0	102.0
   4	160.0	136.0
   2	210.0	178.5

   Note: This chart assumes wire with 105°C insulation rating and no more than 2 conductors are bundled. Not suitable for sizing flexible shore power cords.

4. Install feed circuit wires

   Install the feed wires from the AC main circuit breaker panel or other AC source, referring to the wire sizing chart to select the correct wire size. Connect the black AC hot, white AC neutral, and green AC safety ground to their corresponding buses. In the case of the 24 position panel, the black AC hot, white AC neutral, and green AC safety ground should be connected to the middle bus structure.

5. Installation of Backlight System

   The backlight board is a DC device. When installing it in an AC panel, both wire leads must be connected to an appropriate DC source and ground.

   Connect the yellow negative wire to a DC ground. Connect the red positive wire to any DC positive supply, usually a switch that controls the vessel's other nighttime illumination.

6. Apply branch circuit labels and mount panel

   Apply a label for each of the branch circuits from the 30 basic labels provided. If the appropriate label is not included, the Extended Label Set of 120 labels may be ordered from your marine supplier (PN 8067). Individual labels are also available from Blue Sea Systems for specific applications. Refer to the label order form for a complete listing of individual labels.

   Fasten the panel to the mounting surface using the panel mounting screws supplied with the panel.

7. Testing

   • Using a multimeter where the power source is connected to the panel, verify:
     • 120 volts between hot and neutral (nominal, this may vary depending on source voltage)
     • 120 volts between hot and ground.
     • 0 volts between neutral and ground.
   • Turn on each branch circuit to verify power to each circuit.

Optional Branch LEDs

This Panel is supplied with LEDs pre-installed in all optional branch positions. For future expansion of the panel, remove the hot leg of the LED from the AC neutral bus and connect it to the Load side of the appropriate branch circuit breaker.

Note

This Blue Sea Systems electrical distribution panel is furnished with 15 amp AC/DC circuit breakers for all branch circuits. This rating was selected to minimize the need for removing the panel's circuit breakers and reinstalling different size circuit breakers. It is rare to have more than 15 amps of current flowing in any one circuit. Therefore, 15 amp circuit breakers will satisfy the vast majority of marine circuit protection situations.

Related Products from Blue Sea Systems

• PanelBack Insulating Covers
• High Amperage Fuses and Circuit Breakers for positive feed wires
• High Amperage Battery Switches
• Terminal Blocks and Common Bus Connectors
• AC Distribution Panels
• DC Distribution Panels
• AC and DC Digital and Analog Voltmeters and Ammeters

The Purpose of a Panel

There are five purposes of a marine electrical panel:

• Power distribution
• Circuit (wire) protection
• Circuit ON/OFF switching
• Metering of voltage and amperage (In panels with meters)
• Condition Indication (circuit energized)

Useful Reference Books

• Calder, Nigel, 1996: Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual, 2nd edition, Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books, Inc.
• Wing, Charlie, 1993: Boatowner's Illustrated Handbook of Wiring, Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books, Inc.

Wiring Diagrams

The following describes the connections shown in the wiring diagrams:

Wiring Diagram AC Distribution Panel PN 8059 / PN 3059

This diagram illustrates the connections for an AC Distribution Panel. Key connections include:

• AC Hot Bus: From AC Hot Source.
• AC Neutral Bus: From AC Neutral Source.
• AC Safety Ground Bus: From AC Safety Ground Source.
• Line: Connects to the AC Hot Bus.
• Load: Connects to the branch circuit breaker output.
• To Device: Connects to the load terminal of a branch circuit breaker.
• DC Backlight Board: Connected via a fuse (1.0 to 2.0A) from DC Positive to DC Negative.
• From Device: Connections for Safety Ground, Neutral, and Hot wires from the device being powered.

Wiring Diagram AC Distribution Panel PN 8058 / PN 3058

This diagram illustrates similar connections for a different panel model:

• AC Hot Bus: From AC Hot Source.
• AC Neutral Bus: From AC Neutral Source.
• AC Safety Ground Bus: From AC Safety Ground Source.
• Line: Connects to the AC Hot Bus.
• Load: Connects to the branch circuit breaker output.
• To Device: Connects to the load terminal of a branch circuit breaker.
• DC Backlight Board: Connected via a fuse (1.0 to 2.0A) from DC Positive to DC Negative.
• From Device: Connections for Safety Ground, Neutral, and Hot wires from the device being powered.