Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

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Dapdan
Dapdan Solar Expert Posts: 330 ✭✭
in Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum #1
Hi all,

Could anyone out there advise me whether or not what i am currently doing is ok. Presently i am using a Bluesear systems Bussmann series 187 marine rated circuit breaker as my fuse and disconnect between my Inverter and battery bank. I have been using it for about the past 5-6 months with no problem. I run my entire house with my system day and night, it is my primary residence for my family. I had use the class T type fuses and found that when i had to replace them getting the right size was always a challenge. so while i was doing some research i came up these type of circuit breakers and got some of them for about $60 each which was very reasonable considering the other type was about $50 inclulding the fuse holder. I was then able to safely connect the battery to the inverter with out getting that possibly dangerous spark (when capacitors are being charged) since the circuit breaker was ignition resistance. also the housing allowed the circuit breaker to be mounted very close to the batteries without any worry of corrosion since it was weatherproof and vapourproof (to SAE J1171). so all of the considering i thought it was a good product and fit for my battery room environment.

Tell me what you guys think of my reasoning. Am i totally of base here.

Regards...
Damani


I have included a picture of my set up and a link to the circuit breaker for you guys to study and let me know what you think.


http://bluesea.com/category/3/10/productline/overview/174
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Comments

  • n3qik
    n3qik Solar Expert Posts: 741 ✭✭
    #2
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    Re: Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

    The switch is fine.

    Now the rest of the room.

    The vertical batteries, wet cell ?? if so, should be in a box vented to the window.
    The horizontal batteries, a board or something to protect the terminals from shorting.

    Wiring, all should be in conduit.

    The CC to battery disconnect should be mounted to the wall.

    Don't worry about the nick-picking, I started out like this, then over time cleaned everything up to meet the US NEC codes.
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  • Dapdan
    Dapdan Solar Expert Posts: 330 ✭✭
    #3
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    Re: Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

    Hey Ken,

    Thanks for the reply. I do plan to enclose the wet cells and install some trunking to place all wiring. I am planning to buy an outback CC or the Classic CC(if it comes out this year) so my installation is still quite fluid. Thanks for the feed back.

    Oh the agm are there temp. to be tested (gnb 900ah got them free) and then installed at another site (my office).

    Regards...
    Damani
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  • blackswan555
    blackswan555 Solar Expert Posts: 246 ✭✭
    #4
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    Re: Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

    Those switch`s seem ok, now to the rest of the room :blush: The open battery and connection terminals, The metal items ( hacksaw etc) by the side of them, The automotive looking battery cutout switch for the charge controller, the look of the earthing,

    Sorry , Don`t wish to criticize, But I would be very careful, It may only be batteries, But in my opinion it is a lot more dangerous than main`s is some case`s,
    Drop that hacksaw across the batteries, you will be lucky to come out with you sight, If the ventilation has been poor , possibly your house !

    Have a good one
    Tim
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  • Dapdan
    Dapdan Solar Expert Posts: 330 ✭✭
    #5
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    Re: Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

    Hey Tim,

    Yeah i realise that it is not the tidiest, i will organise it asap. The room is a basement with 8" solid filled cinder blocks with one door opening and on window opening(as seen in pic) I always leave the door open. the room also has a concrete roof and measures 10' x 19' x 6' tall with a concrete floor as well. the basement is not connected to the main house.

    thanks
    Damani
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #6
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    Re: Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

    These ?
    http://bluesea.com/category/3/10/productline/overview/174

    Looks good as a breaker, if you stay within it's voltage capacity, but for a switch, I would use a real switch, and not risk pitting the breaker contacts.

    I'm not sure I understand why they have different amp capacitys at different voltages, as your battery will dump all it can into a short.

    http://bluesea.com/category/1/productline/4 Switches.


    Fuse block - This one that bolts to a terminal looks neat, but what's with
    the 58VDC spec ? http://bluesea.com/category/5/21/productline/overview/378
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • Dapdan
    Dapdan Solar Expert Posts: 330 ✭✭
    #7
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    Re: Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

    hey mike,

    that fuse does ook quite neat. My understand with the 58V is that it could be used for systems 12v - 48v, at least that is how my circuit breaker works. As for the value of 58V i am not sure about its significance. i am not sure how the experts SG, boB, niel, BB etc feel about using these products in off-grid type systems.

    Damani
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
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    Re: Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

    recharge/EQ for 48V is about 60V, which knocks out the 58V spec.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • Dapdan
    Dapdan Solar Expert Posts: 330 ✭✭
    #9
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    Re: Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

    Ok Mike,

    You are right, so we can only use it on agm batteries. it still look pretty niffty!
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #10
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    Re: Marine rated circuit breaker/disconnect

    i wouldn't use that cb/switch on a 48v system. voltages will exceed 48v no matter what batteries you are using. most likely it will have a derating on its capacity at higher voltages until it's near a failure voltage area. you don't know at what point over 48v and with what current it will fail at. the cb/switch would've been fine for smaller battery banks like 24v. get cb/switches rated to at least handle the max voltage that they will see.
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