WARNING
Marine Electrical Products
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These instructions are intended to provide assistance with the
installation of this product, and are not a substitute for a more
comprehensive understanding of electrical systems. We strongly
recommend that a competent electrical professional perform the
installation of this product.
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
gasoline engine rooms or battery compartments as the circuit breakers
are not ignition protected.
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.
The shunt must be installed in the negative line to avoid damage to the
meter. Positive voltage applied to digital meter terminals #4 and #5 will
cause damage to the meter not covered by warranty.
The vessel’s shore power cord must be disconnected form shoreside
power before installing this electrical panel.
If an inverter is installed on the vessel its power leads must be
disconnected at the battery before the panel installation. Be aware that
many inverters have a “sleep mode” in which their voltage potential may
not be detectable with measuring equipment.
If an AC Generator is installed aboard it must be stopped and rendered
inoperable before the panel is installed.
Verify that no other AC source is connected to the vessel’s wiring before
the panel is installed.
AC & DC Power Distribution Panel
PN 8408 / PN 3408 / PN 8508 / PN 3508
Specifications
Material:
0.125" 5052-H32 aluminum alloy
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Primary Finish:
Panel Finish:
Chemical Treatment per MIL-SPEC C-5541CFinal
Graphite color 2 part textured Polyurethane
Maximum Amperage: Varies by components; busbar maximum 100A
Voltage Rating:
8408 /3408 12 or 24 Volt DC* /120 Volt AC Systems
8508 /3408 12 or 24 Volt DC* /230 Volt AC Systems
Inches Millimeters
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Overall Dimensions: 15-3/4 × 10
400.10 × 254.00
* Configure your panel with the supplied voltage identification labels.
Features
DC 8408 /3408 /8508 /3508
• One 100 Ampere C-Series DC main circuit breaker
• Eighteen circuit breaker positions, twelve 15 Ampere branch circuit
breakers installed
• DC digital multimeter PN 8248 with remote shunt and battery bank
selector switch
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AC 8408 /3408
• Eight circuit breaker positions, one 30A AC Main circuit breaker and three
15A branch crcuit breakers installed
• AC digital multimeter PN 8247
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AC 8508 /3508
• Eight circuit breaker positions, one 16A AC Main circuit breaker and three
8A branch circuit breakers installed
• AC digital multimeter PN 8247
Questions and Comments
We invite your questions and comments. You may contact us at the address
below. To find out more about our full line of marine electrical products visit
Guarantee
Any Blue Sea Systems product with which a customer is not satisfied
may be returned for a refund or replacement at any time. Reference Blue
Sea Systems’ Digital Meter installation manual for specific meter
Blue Sea Systems Inc.
425 Sequoia Drive
Bellingham, WA 98226 USA
Phone (360) 738-8230
Fax (360) 734-4195
warranty information.
9089 Rev. 006
Installation Set Up
DC Installation
1. Disconnect all AC and DC power
1. Select 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 2
AWG wire, assuming a 10 foot wire run between the panel and the
batteries in 12 volt systems. Refer to the Wire Sizing Chart for other
situations. In the case of panels with two or more columns of breakers,
jumpers from positive bus to positive bus and from negative bus to
negative bus should be the same size as the positive feed and the
negative return wires.
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. 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
If this panel is to serve as your main shore power disconnect circuit
breaker, select 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. If
it is more than 10 feet, additional fuses or circuit breakers must be
installed within 10 feet of the shore power inlet.
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.
2. Install shunt, negative return and positive feed
The DC digital meter shunt must be installed in the negative line of the
circuit whose current is to be measured. Refer to the DC meter
installation and operation manual prior to installing the shunt. Review the
Theory of Operation, Use, Installation Overview, Installing Shunt, Wiring
Diagram and Wire by Wire Instruction sections. Observe all warnings
regarding the shunt installation.
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 cutout in the mounting
surface where the distribution panel is to be mounted. Do not yet fasten
the panel to the mounting surface.
Connect a negative return wire from the negative bus on the panel to DC
negative and ultimately the load side of the shunt. Connect a positive
feed wire from the positive bus on the panel to DC positive. Be certain
that there is a fuse or circuit breaker of the correct size protecting the
positive feed wire.
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Panel Mounting and Testing
1. Apply branch circuit labels and mount panel
Apply a label for each circuit from the label set provided. If the
appropriate label is not included, extended label sets are available
through retail suppliers, and over 500 individual labels are available
order stock or custom labels for specific applications.
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Using a multimeter where the power source is connected to the panel
verify:
PN 8408 / PN 3408—120 Volt AC
a. 120 volts between hot and neutral
(nominal, this may vary depending on source voltage)
b. 120 volts between hot and ground.
c. 0 volts between neutral and ground
Fasten the panel to the mounting surface using the screws provided.
2. Testing
PN 8508 / PN 3508—230 Volt AC
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Reconnect the main positive cable to the battery terminals and turn
the main switch on to supply power to the panel. Turn on all branch
circuits and test the voltage at the panel. Compare this voltage to
the battery terminal voltage to determine that the voltage drop is
within 3%. With all branch circuits still on, test the voltage at one
device on each circuit to determine that there is a 3% or 10% drop
as is appropriate.
a. 230 volts between hot and neutral
(nominal, this may vary depending on source voltage)
b. 230 volts between hot and ground.
c. 0 volts between neutral and ground.
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Turn on each branch circuit to verify power to each circuit.
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Review the AC and DC meter installation and operation manual.
Reference the Theory of Operation, Use, Installation Overview and
operations sections. Verify meter functions.
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Connect the vessel’s shore power and verify the Reverse Polarity
light is not illuminated. If the red Reverse Polarity light is on then
either the hot and ground or the hot and neutral wires have been
crossed. Starting at the panel, trace the connections back as far as
necessary to locate the error.
Reference
Applicable Standards
• American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC)
Standards and Recommended Practices for Small Craft sections:
E-1, E-3, E-9.
• United States Coast Guard 33 CFR Sub Part 1, Electrical Systems
Useful Reference Books
• Calder, Nigel (2005). Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual
(3d ed). Camden, ME: International Marine / McGraw-Hill.
• Wing, Charlie (2006). Boatowner’s Illustrated Electrical Handbook
(2d ed). Camden, ME: International Marine / McGraw-Hill.
Other Innovative Products from Blue Sea Systems
• 360 Panel System
• Battery Management Solutions
• AC and DC circuit protection devices
• WeatherDeck waterproof circuit breaker panels
• Fuses, fuse blocks, and BusBar
• Analog and digital meters
9089 Rev. 006
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9089 Rev. 006
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