What is this?

[AZcamperguy]

I have this thing on my boat that the positive and ground wires hook into for my lights, bilge, anchor winch, etc. It still works but has broken in half so I would like to replace it. The only problem is that I don't know what it is called? Some kind of control box? If I were to go to a store to get one what would I ask for? Also, what kind of store would carry these? Thanks

 

[Willyclay]

Re: What is this?

Terminal strip/block available right here at iboats.com

http://www.iboats.com/Seachoice_Ter...073900095--**********.087850141--view_id.2904

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: What is this?

a bus

 

[rbh]

Re: What is this?

The terminal block is a great thing for terminating your circuits on, but you might want to step up to a fused terminal block.
rob

 

[jeeperman]

Re: What is this?

Where is it broken? It don't look broken to me.

It is what I would call terminal block. Radio Shack has them too.

I think of an electrical bus (or buss) as being a bar of metal with multi points to attach wire terminals to the same piece of metal bar or bus.

 

[180shabah]

Re: What is this?

..and when you get your replacement, also buy the little bus "tabs", they just slot under the terminals so you can get rid of those jumpers you have in there now.

 

[roscoe]

Re: What is this?

solder, crimp, shrink wrap, oh no, not again.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: What is this?

...... you might want to step up to a fused terminal block.rob

...good advise and might I add: When you replace the existing terminal block, get one with at least several more terminals for whatever future electrical additions you might add (GPS, VHF, party lights, etc).

FWIW....Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[AZcamperguy]

Re: What is this?

Eddie. that is an awesome looking crappie in your av!
Ok, some great advice as usual..... Just need to figure out where to get the appropriate stuff. I bought the boat this way and have been working with what is there.

@ rbh - IS this what you are talking about? Here?

@ jeeperman - It is hard to see from the pic but it has pulled away and is cracked. It still functions but I am attempting to be proactive on this one

@ 180shabah - Will the previous one work or will I need one like this instead?

 

[joey maneri]

Re: What is this?

Yours looks like it has steel or zink coated screws be sure to buy all brass to avoid bad connections due to rust, more money but worth it in the long run.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: What is this?

that first one is purty.
the second one not so much, everything is out in the open, not protected like the first one.
can't tell what type of fuses the second one uses.
get one that uses commonly avaialble fuses, not some oddball specials you have to hunt for all over.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: What is this?

Eddie. that is an awesome looking crappie in your av!

Hey Camper!!! 2lbs,7oz. x 15-1/2" Virginia ciation.

Another point on your wiring connections:

Those crimp connectors are weak at the point of compression, especially from a bending moment: like wave hopping or abrupt manuvers.
May I recommended that when you replace the terminal block that you heat-shrink the crimped portion of your terminals to add strenght (and provide a degree of water-proofness) AND bundle those wires into a harness with zip-ties? Again, to add strength to the connectors,and wires, and to reduce the possibility of inadvertently snagging a wire while oneone is fumbling around. You might even consider proper splices inlieu of those getto patches!!!
Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[rbh]

Re: What is this?

Eddie. that is an awesome looking crappie in your av!
Ok, some great advice as usual..... Just need to figure out where to get the appropriate stuff. I bought the boat this way and have been working with what is there.

@ rbh - IS this what you are talking about? Here?

@ jeeperman - It is hard to see from the pic but it has pulled away and is cracked. It still functions but I am attempting to be proactive on this one

@ 180shabah - Will the previous one work or will I need one like this instead?

Yes, thats the one.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: What is this?

That is a terminal block, not a bus. A bus has all the terminal screws electrically connected while the terminal block is a way of connecting the "boat" side of the wiring harness to the "motor" harness/umbilical cord. the terminal block is a way of connecting wires one to another which have different purposes. A bus would be a common ground or common power connection, not an individual, likely switched, connection.

Not trying to be nit-picky but a bus would be bad in that application depending on what / where all the wires go.This is a bus, but what you show is a terminal block like willyclay shows.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: What is this?

Yeah your being nit-picky.

Once you jump the screws like his is it's a dual bus.

I'd use a nice one like in the link below, you run your power from your battery (motor to boat with a block? no that's some crazy wiring) to it then use inline breakers in each circuit you run off it., like builders have been doing for a long time.

These are the ticket for breakers, they have a rubber boat that goes over them and all you do is push to reset them.

http://www.iboats.com/Seachoice_Cir...536347400--**********.232428200--view_id.2899


You can use a single or dual but you basically you want two one for power and one for ground and yeah go big lots of terminals, it never hurts and makes adding accessories a lot easier.

http://www.iboats.com/Dualbus_100_A...36347400--**********.232428200--view_id.38374

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: What is this?

(motor to boat with a block? no that's some crazy wiring)

no, helm control wiring to gauges etc. with terminal blocks....and the way it is on many an old 70's/80's/90's boat.

I was trying to help the guy, not argue. peace- out.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: What is this?

Bro I'm not trying to argue.

But a bus is the correct thing to use and you splitting hairs about it being a terminal block (the exact part displayed in the pic) not a bus is well arguing for no reason cause it's a bus once you jump it.

That's why I said it was a bus because in that application it is.

And... if your only gonna use a terminal block to connect one wire to another your just adding a point of corrosion and problems use butt connectors.

Sure you could rewire your boat like they did in the 70's or you could update to the what's being done now and has been for oh at least 20 years.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: What is this?

Bro I'm not trying to argue.

But a bus is the correct thing to use and you splitting hairs about it being a terminal block (the exact part displayed in the pic) not a bus is well arguing for no reason cause it's a bus once you jump it.

That's why I said it was a bus because in that application it is.

And... if your only gonna use a terminal block to connect one wire to another your just adding a point of corrosion and problems use butt connectors.

Sure you could rewire your boat like they did in the 70's or you could update to the what's being done now and has been for oh at least 20 years.

You are incorrect. This is a terminal block. It is not a bus or busbar.

 

[180shabah]

Re: What is this?

This is a terminal block.

Which is just a bunch of little bus bars packaged together.....

 

[backyard mechanic]

Re: What is this?

Yes... it's called a terminal block. Some call it a buss bar or a connector block. Call it what you will, the reason for one of these (placed in a good dry location) is to terminate "power wires" for connection to alternate sites like radios, lights, windshield wipers, instrumentation and other navigation equipment.

I use a fuse block for my positive power connections and separate terminal block for negative connections. Regardless, all connections are labeled, wires color coded, wire tied, bundled and secured to the bulkhead or to other secured cables/parts.

In line fuses work nicely but a fuse block is a better deal because the view of the fuse is easy, the replacement simple and perhaps best of all to yank a fuse to stop current flow for what ever reason.

A job worth doing is worth doing right. label all your fuses, connections and arrange the wiring so that you can tell what goes where. Splices mean bad connections and lead to failure. Making them up correctly is to eliminate the corrosion fcators or at least keep it to a minimum. Die electric grease is your friend for all connections as is stainless steel, aluminum or brass connections. Any place you use dissimilar metals the chance for galvanic corrosion or electrolysis is sure to build up if you don't use the same metals for connections, splices and terminal/fuse blocks.

Good luck!