Newsletter, Issue 17

2004 Catalog Now Available

The Blue Sea Systems 2004 catalog is now available.Â . It is also available for download from our website in PDF format.Â

New Catalog Format
Products are now organized by Electrical System Divisions

Previous Blue Sea Systems' catalogs grouped products together by type, leaving it to the customer to determine where in the electrical system their use was appropriate. This often required in-depth study of each product's technical specifications. To eliminate this burden, products in this catalog are grouped according to the part of a boat's electrical system in which they are used. Implicitly, the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Standards divides a boat's electrical system into four divisions:

1. DC Main Power Distribution
2. DC Branch Power Distribution
3. AC Main Power Distribution
4. AC Branch Power Distribution

Although this division is explicit in the Standards only for circuit breakers and uses, it exists in fact for most marine electrical circuit components. An electrical component's amperage and voltage ratings, functionality and physical configuration generally restrict its main uses to one of these four divisions. To assist users of this catalog to understand the four divisions of the marine electrical system and to quickly identify the products appropriate to each, the 2004 catalog presents most Blue Sea Systems' products divided into one of these four Electrical System Divisions, with a technical introduction to each division.

New 120/240 Volt Panels

Blue Sea Systems now offers five 120/240 volt panels. One is a 240V AC main breaker only. The other four panels have 240V AC main circuit breakers, Digital or Analog meters, and 240V AC branch circuits. Two of the panels provide 240V AC source selection for 2 sources. They can function as 240V AC panels with main and branch circuit protection or can be used in conjunction with 120 volt AC panels for 120V AC branch circuit distribution.

The panels have 3 pole main circuit breakers and double pole branch circuit breakers. 240V AC supplies consist of 2 hot lines, one neutral line, and ground. Between the 2 hot lines the voltage measured is 240V AC. Between either one of the hot lines and neutral the voltage measured is 120V AC. This allows each hot line to supply a 120V AC source if needed.

The panels can supply 240V AC branch circuits or 2 120V AC load groups whether they are 2 separate AC branch distribution panels or a panel with 2 separate load groups. An example of this configuration is the Blue Sea Systems 7370 120/240V AC panel supplying two 8480 120V AC panels, see Fig. 1. Another option is to use 7370 120/240V AC panel supplying an 8461 120V AC panel, dividing the 120V AC legs between the 2 columns of breakers, see Fig. 2.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

For details about the installations, please consult the panel instructions. See our new catalog orÂ websiteÂ for our full selection of electrical distribution panels.

New!
High and Low Voltage Alarm on the 8247 AC Multimeter

Blue Sea Systems 8247 AC Digital Multimeter now has a high and low voltage alarm which is both audible and visual. The alarm values are user settable for their needs to warn of under or over voltage situations. The meter will measure from 70-300V DC and 0-150 Amps. The meter includes a high amperage alarm also. The alarms are set by the user for their needed voltage and amperage requirements. Blue Sea Systems digital multimeters also include a scan function which cycles the display between the different items measured.

For more information, pleaseÂ click here.

New Product
Automatic Charging Relay

The Automatic Charging Relay (ACR) will automatically connect two battery banks during the charging cycle and disconnects under discharge. It recognizes both 12V and 24V DC systems without any reconfiguration. The ACR automatically closes when a charging voltage on either battery is present for at least 30 seconds. The ACR opens when the voltage drops below the charging voltage to prevent accidental discharge of an unintended bank.

The ACR has a manual override to cross connect battery banks for engine starting. There is an output for an "ON" indicating LED to remotely monitor when the contacts are closed. When combined with an "ON"-"OFF"-"ON" switch the ACR can be turned off, set to automatic, or manually closed. A sample application is below in fig. 3.

Fig. 3

For more information, pleaseÂ click here.