[C320-list] Push Button Circuit Breaker

Tue Sep 18 13:42:41 PDT 2018

Jack,

If the breakers on your 1998 model are the same as the ones on my 1995 model, they take a harder push than you might expect.  If you don't hear a "click" when you push the button in, try pushing harder to see if that will make it click on or off.  But what eventually made me replace mine was that I had one that wouldn't turn on, and one that wouldn't turn off, no matter how hard I pushed.

Also, If they are "off" the button should be sticking out far enough that a white ring is visible on the breaker button.  If no white ring is showing, the breaker is in the "on" position.  It will become obvious once you see it.

To my knowledge, there may be switches associated with individual items (like the microwave, or in some cases your charger or inverter) but no other way to shut off entire circuits.

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality, 
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of jackbrennan
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 1:38 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Push Button Circuit Breaker

A question on these AC circuit breakers:
On my new-to-me 320, these buttons are always out. If I try to push in the water heater button to turn it off, for example, it comes back out.
Does this mean all of them are broken? Is there some other way to shut off selective AC circuits?
Jack BrennanSonas, 1998 Catalina 320Tierra Verde, Fl.Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 

  On Tue, Sep 18, 2018 at 12:41 PM, Mark Seyler<mseyler at cox.net> wrote:   I replaced the breakers on my 1995 #232 last fall, and was able to find the
equivalent breakers for about $20 each, vs $43 on Catalina Direct.  It took a little work to get truly identical parts (like, screw terminal vs push-on connectors), but ultimately I found the ones I was looking for.  The 15 amp breaker for my boat was available at the link below, and I'm pretty sure they had all the different amperages you may need:

https://www.alliedelec.com/e-t-a-circuit-protection-and-control-2-5700-ig1-k
10-dd-15a/70128881/ 

I went ahead and changed all of mine while I was working on it - I figured that they were all original, and if one wore out it was probably time to do the others.  

Be prepared for surprises.  The fiberglass hull holds up forever, but 20+ year old wiring sometimes shows its age.  I thought I might have to replace my Heart inverter/charger last fall, but it turned out to be bad connections at the breaker panel.  (You may want to have a box of crimp connectors handy when you start.)  A breaker failed when I was trying to diagnose the charger problem.  You just have to follow the circuit and keep fixing things until it all works.

I also recommend either completely disconnecting the 12 volt power at the batteries before you start, or putting some kind of insulating material over the back of the battery selector switch, to make sure that no tool accidentally shorts the 12V system.  That's the kind of excitement you don't want.

Good luck with it.

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality,
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Gene Gammon
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 9:00 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Push Button Circuit Breaker

Over the years I have bought hard to find switches and breakers from
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

I bought all new push button breakers from them for my 320 #351 last fall
and the shipping was more than the cost of the breakers and switches.

Gene Gammon, Capt.

________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of
Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2018 9:52 AM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Push Button Circuit Breaker

Another source for electric parts, especially for an older model, is Dennis
Igarashi digarashi at earthlink.net<mailto:digarashi at earthlink.net>
Whittier, CA 90601
626-374-6422

He worked for Seaward when they were supplying all electric panels and parts
for the 320. Last I knew, he had the leftover inventory. Give him a call to
see if he is still there, and let us know what you find.

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, MD (Chesapeake Bay)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Smith [mailto:jeffreyssmith at live.com]
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2018 7:30 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Push Button Circuit Breaker

To all,

Has anyone changed out any of their push button circuit breakers on their
electrical panel? I just received my Pronautic 12-40P battery charger and I
see that it calls for a 15-amp circuit breaker, and I am quite sure my panel
has a 10-amp circuit breaker. Catalina Direct has a 15-amp available, but I
am wondering if it is just plug and play, in that all the circuit breakers
are the same circumference so it will fit? I am tempted to leave it on a
10-amp circuit, but I am sure bad things will happen as soon as I do this.

As a bonus question, the 12-40P has what looks like an additional stud on
the left side of the plastic chassis. I assume this goes to a ground, but I
can't imagine what this would do over and above the common ground that will
be connected on the AC side, and the separate ground that is connected on
the DC side.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks,

Jeff, '94, #121