Design Considerations

Polaris Custom Marine Panels incorporate the observations, frustrations, and, sometimes, the idiosyncrasies which result from twenty years of marine wiring and troubleshooting. Approaching panel design from the perspective of the panel installer, we strive to facilitate the installation, maintenance, and use of the panels we build.

Consider the following design elements:

Avoid mixing high and low voltages. Panel-makers often combine a 12 VDC panel with a 120 VAC panel. When this is done, it is difficult, if not dangerous, to work on the lower voltage side without de-energizing the higher voltage side, which often leaves one working in the dark. Also, the complexity of the wiring behind a panel increases as the size of the panel increases, the inevitable consequence of a multi-voltage panel.

Negative Bus Bar. Many panel-makers install the negative bus bar on the back of the panel face. We discourage this location because it doubles the number of wires which must be led to the panel, challenging the electrician's ability to make a tidy installation. Polaris Custom Marine Panels are shipped with the necessary negative/neutral/ground bus bars, which we recommend be installed in the panel enclosure but not on its face.

Panel Face. The faces of Polaris Custom Marine Panels are made of 1/8" textured, black, ABS plastic. This is an outstanding material for marine electrical panels because it is non-conductive, non-corrosive, sunlight resistant, and scratch resistant.

Labels. The labels on Polaris Custom Marine Panels are the familiar old-fashioned plastic tags, attached to the panel with old-fashioned stainless steel machine screws. Labels can be custom engraved as desired to add a personal touch to a panel. A sense of humor is encouraged. With screw-on labels, changing the function of a circuit is as simple as turning a screwdriver. One need not "decorate" one's panel with strips of masking tape.

Indicator Lights. Port Townsend Marine Electric discourages the inclusion of an "ON" indicator light for each circuit breaker. Indicator lights are useful only when they are likely to be seen, and should be reserved for circuits such as bilge pumps; lights easily forgotten , such as engine room lights and lazarette lights; and electric clutches. An indicator light should be considered to be a quiet reminder or a silent alarm. Circuit breaker handles are labeled "ON" and "Off", in order to make the position of any breaker readily determined. Also, Port Townsend Marine Electric Panels are arranged such that each circuit breaker is "ON" when its handle is towards its label.

Attractiveness. A panel should be pleasant to see as well as rugged and uncomplicated to use. Port Townsend Marine Electric Panels are designed with an eye towards visual logic and harmony. The standard color of circuit breaker handles is red. Other colors available are white, black, and yellow.

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Port Townsend Marine Electric
PO Box 261 Chimacum, WA 98325
ph: (360) 732-4085 ¶ inthewoods@olympus.net