Matt wrote:

Hi,
I'm re-doing the control panel in my boat and can't make any sense as
to what items should have a switch on CP. eg AM/FM, vhf,sounder have
dedicated switch on CP yet also have their own on/off switches and fuse
protection. Cabin lights and water pump circuits don't have any
switches on CP.
All circuits go to breakers and or have fuses.

Can anyone enlighten me on this.


The main battery switch should kill all lighting circuits except for
emergency/ repair / anchor /boarding lights and bilge pumps.

Use one big switch to feed power to all the accessory group on the
dashboard, get rid of unneccassary secondary dashboard power feed
switches. Fuse the main feed to suit all accessories at once, use
the inline fuses for each device to protect the individual devices
from fire.

With this plan, any manual 'bilge pump on' switch will possibly feed
power to all the accessory group. A diode might prevent this.

Use twisted pair feed to prevent dc from affecting any nearby compass.

Less is more, eh?

Terry K