Blue Sea Systems 8096 DC 6 Position - Manual

Marine Electrical Products
DC Power Distribution Panel
PN 8096 / PN 3096 6 Position
PN 8385 / PN 3385 8 Position
Panel Specifi cations
Material: 0.125” 5052-H32 Aluminum Alloy
Primary Finish: Chemical Treatment per Mil Spec C-5541
Final Panel Finish: Graphite color 2 part textured Polyurethane
Circuit Breakers:
15 Ampere AC/DC magnetic 65VDC/277VAC
Maximum
Amperage Rating: Panel Buses are sized for 100 Amperes of
continuous current.
Voltage Rating: Panels are rated for 12 or 24 volt DC distribution.
Confi gure your panel with the supplied voltage
identifi cation labels.
Inches Millimeters
Panel Depth: 2-1/2 63.50
PN 8096/3096 Dimensions: 10-1/2 x 3-3/4 266.70 x 95.30
PN 8385/3385 Dimensions: 10-1/2 x 4-1/2 266.7 x 114.3
PN 8096/3096 Centers: 9-11/16 x 2-15/16 245.60 x 74.20
PN 8385/3096 Centers: 9-11/16 x 3-11/16 246.10 x 93.70
The Purpose of a Panel
There are fi ve 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)
Applicable Standards
• American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Standards and
Recommended Practices for Small Craft sections: E-9.
• United States Coast Guard Code of Federal Regulations 33, Part 183,
Subpart I, Electrical Systems on Boats.
Blue Sea Systems Inc. Phone (360) 738-8230
425 Sequoia Drive Fax (360) 734-4195
Bellingham, WA 98226 USA E-mail [email protected]
www.bluesea.com
Document 9839 Rev.J
WARNING
@ It is not possible within the scope of these instructions to fully acquaint
the installer with all the knowledge of electrical systems that may be
necessary to correctly install this product. If the installer is not
knowledgeable in electrical systems we recommend that an electrical
professional be retained to make the installation.
@ If either the panel front or back is to be exposed to water it must be
protected with a waterproof shield.
@ The panels must not be installed in explosive environments such as
gas engine rooms or battery compartments as the circuit breakers are
not ignition proof.
@ The main positive connection must be disconnected at the battery post
to avoid the possibility of a short circuit during the installation of this
distribution panel.
Guarantee
Any Blue Sea Systems product with which a customer is not satisfi ed
may be returned for a refund or replacement at any time.
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.
Related Products from Blue Sea Systems
High Amperage Fuses and Circuit Breakers for positive feed wires
High Amperage Battery Switches
Terminal Blocks and Common Bus Connectors
AC and DC Voltmeters and Ammeters
Installation
1. Disconnect all AC and DC power
Before starting, disconnect the main positive cable from all batteries to
eliminate the possibility of a short circuit while installing the distribution
panel. Also disconnect the AC shore power cord from the boat to
eliminate the possibility of electrocution from AC wiring in the proximity
of the DC distribution panel.
2. Apply Voltage Label
All panel components are sized for 12 or 24 Volt systems. Use the
labels provided to permanently identify the system voltage and its type
(DC) as required by ABYC. Apply the appropriate voltage label to the
recessed area on the front of the panel.
3. Select mounting location and cut opening
Select a mounting location which is protected from water on the panel
front and back and is not in an area where fl ammable 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 fasten
the panel to the mounting surface.
4. Install positive feed wire and negative return
Determine the positive feed (red) and negative return (black or yellow)
wire size by calculating the total amperage of the circuits that will be
routed through the panel. Blue Sea Systems’ electrical panels are
rated at 100 amp total capacity. The positive feed wire must be sized
for 3% voltage drop at the 100 amp panel rating or the maximum
amperage that will be routed through the panel in any particular
installation, whichever is less. It is recommended that the positive feed
wire be sized for the full panel capacity, which, in most cases, will
require at least 4 AWG wire, assuming a 10 foot wire run between the
panel and the batteries in 12 volt systems. Refer to the Wire
SizingChart for other situations. Remember that the length of the circuit
is the total of the positive wire from the power source and the negative
wire back to the DC Negative Bus. Be certain that there is a fuse or
circuit breaker of the correct size protecting the positive feed wire.
5. Install branch circuit wires
Determine the proper wire size for each branch circuit using the
guidelines in step 4. Verify that the standard 15 amp circuit breakers
installed in the panel are large enough for each branch circuit. Remove
and replace with a higher amperage any that are undersized.
Connect the positive (red) branch circuit wires to the load terminals of
each circuit breaker.
Connect each negative (black) branch circuit wire to the DC Negative
Bus. DO NOT CONFUSE THE DC NEGATIVE BUS WITH THE DC
GROUNDING BUS.
6. Optional - install grounding system wire
The grounding wire (bare, green or green with yellow stripe and
normally non-current carrying) should not be confused with the
negative ground wire (black or yellow and normally current carrying).
In Boatowner’s Illustrated Handbook of Wiring, Charlie Wing identifi es
three purposes of DC Grounding:
1. Holding conductive housings of low voltage (under 50 volts) DC
devices at ground potential by providing a low resistance return
path for currents accidentally coming into contact with the device
cases.
2. Providing a low resistance return path for electrical current,
preventing stray currents that may cause corrosion.
3. Grounding metal electrical cases to prevent emission from inside
or absorption from outside of radio frequency noise (RFI)