Circuit breakers - will these work for 12v applications

[Quack Addict]

I am building a new switch panel for my project boat; part of my intention is to eliminate the glass tube fuses.

Relative to circuit protection, I am looking to install push-button reset style breakers in the new panel. I am considering these breakers.

The voltage rating listed shows 125-250 VAC / 32VDC maximum. Question is, these are thermal circuit breakers... and when I hear thermal as it pertains to electrical, it brings the P=V*I equation to mind... so will these breakers trip at 10A if fed with 12-15 VDC?

Thanks!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Circuit breakers - will these work for 12v applications

Should be fine.

 

[dmccaffrey]

Re: Circuit breakers - will these work for 12v applications

Personnally, if you really want to use push buttons breakers, I'd go with these:

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|328|296553|299262|825429&id=825354

The one bad thing I see on the ones from Granger is that the mounting shaft is plastic. I'd worry about that breaking in rough conditions. The Blue Seas one has a brass shaft. The Blue Seas breaker also won't let you hold down the button and energize a shorted circuit. I'm not sure if that's true with the one from Granger. They are twice as expensive ... but I'd rather pay more for something I know is high quality.

If it was my boat, I'd forget about the breakers in the switch panel and switch over to a fuse block like this:

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|328|296553|336270&id=336204

I prefer them because they fail faster than thermal fuses. I also think it makes for a cleaner, more understandable wiring job by giving you one central location to run all the leads for both switched and unswitched circuits.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Circuit breakers - will these work for 12v applications

Quack, My '88 SeaRay came with breakers that look identical to those. They mounted them under each switch. It was real easy to see which ones tripped and reset them. They may not be waterproof, so try to mount in a dry spot.

 

[Quack Addict]

Re: Circuit breakers - will these work for 12v applications

Thanks for the responses guys.

The switch panel I am building is going to be mounted in my boat's hardtop above the helm (boat is a 1978 SeaRay V240 if it's anything to `ya ). If we see any water in the area I am mounting the panel, chances are we have more to worry about than the breakers getting wet.

I should add that I am re-wiring the boat. The hard top electrical is going to be double protected via a monster / mega fuse (probably 40 or 50A) in a fuse panel I am going to mount near the batteries. If something shorts out, there will be a fuse in the circuit to pop if the breaker is slow in heating up.