fuse panel question

fourreins · Post by **fourreins** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:03 am

I am adding some swim platform lights and don't want to overload a breaker. Are the breakers marked with how many amps they are? I believe each of my lights will draw only 4 amps for a total of 12. So I am hoping most of the breakers are 15??? Boat is still under shrink and can't see. Any advise is appreciated.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:11 am

No telling what may have been switched out in the past. Best to check and make sure. Most breakers are labels on the side of the case.

fourreins · Post by **fourreins** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:38 am

BigD, If I find it is a 10 amp can I just witch the breaker to a 15???

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:54 am

Wish it were that simple. Increasing the size of any breaker can be dangerous if the wiring in that particular circuit was designed to handle just over 10 amps. In such a case, pushing 15 amps through it may burn up the wire. Perhaps someone with a similar model boat would know the typical wire size used for most circuits. Having said that, the additional lengths you plan on adding to get lights to the swim plantform would most likely take the circuit wiring beyond it's capacity, especially if you're adding an additional 12 amps. Hooking those up to an existing 15 amp circuit would only leave 3 amps for the other loads on that breaker. You will most likely need to add a separate breaker just for those lights, or try LED lights, they draw much less current.

Vitaliy · Post by **Vitaliy** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:03 pm

i would personally just wait and see what the fuse/breaker has on its label before anything, and yes they should all be labeled, probably on the switch itself