Fuse Blocks

Outrage 19

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
317
I have a 19’ Boston Whaler center console and I need to replace the fuse block. Is there an advantage to blade fuses over buss fuses?
 

18rabbit

Captain
Joined
Nov 14, 2003
Messages
3,202
Re: Fuse Blocks

No meaningful advantage…blades have less surface area to corrode, but you shouldn’t have corrosion in there. Have you thought about upgrading to a circuit breaker panel?
 

Outrage 19

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
317
Re: Fuse Blocks

Thanks for the reply 18rabbit. Corrosion is the reason I’m replacing the old one, I guess after 20 some years there’s no stopping it. Any way I found an auxiliary fuse block (blade style) for a Crown Vic on Ebay that looks like it will more than do the job. The current bid is $18.50. As far as upgrading to circuit barkers the boat’s not worth all that.
 

ThomWV

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 19, 2003
Messages
701
Re: Fuse Blocks

Don't you think it might be worth the couple of extra bucks to head to your local marine place and buy a fuse block that has tinned connectors?<br /><br />Thom
 

crab bait

Captain
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Messages
3,831
Re: Fuse Blocks

i post this all-the-time.. o'well whats another..<br /><br />i lite coat everythin' that's not soldered.. bulbs, contacts, fuses, trailer plugs ,ect with aluminium wire oxidation compound,, i.e. NO-LUX,PENETROX, bear grease.. buy a small tube at any hardware store 2 bucs.. good stuff .. keeps away the 'greenies'.. little-dab-will-do-ya..
 

Outrage 19

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
317
Re: Fuse Blocks

Hay crab bait you and I are on the same page. As I posted earlier this is a small fishing boat over 20 years old. In fact if it were not a Boston Whaler it might not have lasted this long given the treatment by previous owners. I’m not running an inverter or even a fresh water system so fuses should be fine. ThomWV, thanks for the advise about tinning the connectors I was planning to do that and use heat shrink on any butt splices. The other idea I’m knocking around is to incase this fuse block in some kind of watertight container and seal what ever holes I’ll have to make with silicone, maybe Tupperware. Any thoughts on that?
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: Fuse Blocks

Hi Outrage,<br /><br />Just to throw in my thought on sealing the fuse block. I would be afraid that might promote corrosion from condensation. I think I would do as crab bait suggested and let it go from there. Plus, access might be a problem if you seal it up tight. Just a thought...
 

18rabbit

Captain
Joined
Nov 14, 2003
Messages
3,202
Re: Fuse Blocks

If you look at all the electronics around your house, anything that plugs into the wall or takes a battery, how may items do you see in sealed containers?<br /><br />Ditto Crab Bait and RB.
 

Outrage 19

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
317
Re: Fuse Blocks

Not many 18rabbit but the bare wire connections are always in a junction box. I know this is not to stop corrosion its to limit the amount of oxygen available in case of a fault.
 
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