Blue Sea Systems 8361 Installation Manual

Marine Electrical Prod

ucts

AC Rotary Switch Panel

3 Positions + OFF, 3 Pole

Features

• Switches 3 - 120/240 V AC Sources

• Compact solution when circuit protection is provided elsewhere

• Allows connecting one of three different AC sources to one circuit

• Heavy duty industrial rated switches

• Intuitive function - One handed operation

• Green power available LED indicators

• Red reverse polarity LED indicators

• UL listed switches

Specifi cations

Voltage Rating: Panels are rated for 120/240 volts AC
Amperage Rating: 65 amp maximum service
Panel Material: 0.125” 5052-H32 Aluminum Alloy
Primary Finish: Chemical Treatment per Mil Spec C-5541
Final Panel Finish: Graphite color 2 part textured Polyurethane
Maximum Wire Size: 6 AWG
Minimum Wire Size: 12 AWG
Terminal Recommended Torque: 40 lb-in.

Inches Millimeters

Overall Dimensions: 5-1/4 x 3-3/4 133.35 x 95.25
Mounting Centers: 4-7/16 x 2-15/16 112.71 x 74.61
Mounting Depth: 5.39 136.9

PN 8361

WARNING

@ It is not possible within the scope of these instructions to fully acquaint

the installer with all the knowledge of electrical systems that may be
necessary to correctly install this product. If the installer is not
knowledgeable in electrical systems we strongly recommend that an
electrical professional be retained to make the installation.

@ If either the switch front or back is to be exposed to water it must be

protected with a waterproof shield.

@ The switch must not be installed in explosive environments such as

gasoline engine rooms or battery compartments as the switches
are not ignition proof.

@ The vessel’s shore power cord must be disconnected form shoreside

power before installing this electrical switch.

@ If an inverter is installed on the vessel its power leads must be

disconnected at the battery before the panel installation. Be aware that
many inverters have a “sleep mode” in which their voltage potential
may not be detectable with measuring equipment.

@ If an AC Generator is installed aboard it must be stopped and rendered

inoperable before the switch is installed.

@ Verify that no other AC or DC source is connected to the vessel’s

wiring before the switch is installed.

Guarantee

Any Blue Sea Systems product with which a customer is not satisfi ed
may be returned for a refund or replacement at any time.

Document 6631 Rev.B

Installation

1. Disconnect all AC and DC power

Disconnect all AC power originating on or off the vessel. This includes
inverters, generators, shore power attachments and any other device
capable of supplying AC power to the ship’s circuits.

Disconnect the main positive DC cable from all batteries to eliminate
the possibility of a short circuit and to disable the inverter while
installing the switch.

2. Select mounting location and cut opening

Select a mounting location which is protected from water on the front
and back of the switch and is not in an area where fl ammable vapors
from propane, gas or lead acid batteries accumulate. AC rotary
switches are not ignition protected and may ignite such vapors.

Using the panel template provided, make a cut out in the mounting
surface where the distribution panel is to be mounted. Do not yet
fasten the panel to the mounting surface.

3. Install source 1, source 2, source 3, and output wires

Install the feed wires from AC Shore Power and AC Generator. Install
the output wires. Refer to the wire sizing chart to select the minimum
wire size. Connect the black AC hot, white AC neutral and green AC
safety ground as shown in the illustration. To avoid excess wire
temperatures when cooling may be limited, we recommend using at
least 12 gauge wire for 30A and 8 gauge wire for 50A.

Do not confuse the neutral current carrying wires (sometimes called
ground) with the green normally non-current carrying wires (sometimes
called grounding). These two wires must be connected only at the
source of power, nowhere else.

An appropriate circuit breakers must be installed within 10 feet of the
shore power inlet, ahead of this switch. The measurement is made
along the conductors.

Blue Sea Systems Inc. Phone [phone]
425 Sequoia Drive Fax [phone]
Bellingham, WA 98226 USA E-mail [e-mail]
www.bluesea.com

The switch provides switching, but does not provide circuit protection.
It is not a substitute for a main circuit breaker.

Wire sizing chart

Use the wire sizing chart below to determine the minimum branch and

feed circuit wire sizes.

4. Testing Connections

It is very important that wiring be connected according to the diagram.
The hot lines and neutral from each source must be identifi ed and
grouped together so that the switch selects all of the lines from the
same source and does not accidentally select lines or neutrals from
more than one source. Verify the connections and see that each
connection is securely tightened, including the terminals for the
jumpers installed on the switch where no wires are attached.

If you are using this switch for other purposes, such as voltage tap
selection on a transformer, please review your installation diagram and
devise a suitable test plan to verify your connections.

Installation (continued)

It is possible to verify most connections using an ohmmeter before
power is applied. These procedures take a little time, but are
recommended, especially if some elements of a previous installation
might not have been clearly or correctly labeled or follow the expected
color codes.

There are many possible sources that may be selected using this
switch, and they may be arranged in any order. The following test
instructions are generally suitable for shore and generator installations.
The third source may be another shore power inlet
or an inverter or other specialized source.

@ Test Shore Connection to Switch

Disconnect the shore power cord from the shore power source

and bring the shore plug aboard to a point close the switch panel.
Connect the other end of the shore cord to the boat’s power inlet.
Turn on the shore power circuit breaker between the inlet and the
selector switch. Set the selector switch to OFF.

a. Use an ohmmeter to check for continuity from the shore

ground plug to the green wire at the electrical panel.

b. Check for continuity from the power cord plug neutral

pin to the white wire for this source at the selector
switch.

c. Check for continuity from the power cord plug L1 pin to

the L1 connection for this source.

d. Check for continuity from the power cord plug L2 pin

then L2 connection for this source. Generally the
assignment of L1 and L2 is arbitrary and they may be
interchanged.

e. Check that there is a high resistance (> 1000 Ohms)

between the neutral conductor and the grounding
conductor. There may be indicator lamps in this circuit,
but nothing more than that with the switch in the off
position.

@ Verify Switch Selects Shore Input

With the shore cord still disconnected from the shore and

available onboard, and the generator set still not operating, set
the load circuit breakers to OFF, so there is no load at the output
side of the selector switch.

a. Verify that the there is a high resistance between

the line and neutral of the load side terminals of the
selector switch. Again, there may be indicator lamps
in this circuit but the resistance should be greater than
1000 Ohms if the indicators are LED or small lamps.

b. Set the selector switch to the position corresponding to

this shore inlet. The ohmmeter should still indicate a
high resistance.

c. Short the line 1 pin to the neutral pin of the shore plug

and verify that the line 1 to neutral at the load side of
the selector changes to a low resistance. Short the
line 2 pin to the neutral pin of the shore plug and verifl y
that line 2 to neutral connection at the load side of the
selector has changed from high to low resistance.

@ Verify the Generator Wiring

Turn the generator circuit breaker to OFF and set the selector

switch to the generator position. All load circuit breakers should
still be off. Leave the shore input circuit breaker in the on
position.

a. Verify that there is a high resistance (>1000 Ohms)

from each line to neutral.

b. Verify that there is a low resistance from the neutral to

ground at the load connections.

c. With the generator still not running, close the generator

circuit breaker at the generator. Verify that there is
now a low resistance from each line to neutral where
the generator windings are now connected across the
circuit.

d. Verify that there is still a high resistance from neutral

to ground and neutral to each line at the shore power
plug.

@ Test the third soucre in a similar manner.
@ Set the Selector switch to OFF, turn the shore power breaker

to OFF, and leave the load panel circuit breakers in the OFF
position. Complete the mounting of the switch.

5. Apply circuit labels and mount panel

Apply a label for the circuit form the 10 basic labels provided. If the
appropriate label is not included individual labels are available form
Blue Sea Systems for specifi c applications. Refer to the label order
form included with the panel for a complete listing of individual labels.

Fasten the panel to the mounting surface using the panel mounting
screws supplied with the panel.

6. Testing Performance

Set your multimeter to volts.

@ Test Shore Power

Connect the shore power cable to the shore power source. Turn

on the shore source to make power available to the boat.

a. Turn the selector switch to SHORE. No Reverse

Polarity lights should be lit, and power available should
be indicated. If any red Reverse Polarity lights are on,
turn off the shore power circuit breaker and disconnect
the shore cord at the shore source. Either the hot and
neutral or hot and ground wires have been reversed.
Starting at the distribution panel, trace the connections
as far back as necessary to locate the error.

b. If there are no indications of reverse polarity, check to

see that power is available. If the electrical distribution
panel has a meter, verify that shore power is available
and at the proper voltage. If there is no meter, turn
on the load circuit breaker for an AC circuit powering
a convenience outlet and use a voltmeter to verify
that power is available from line to neutral at the plug.
Verify that there is no voltage between ground and
neutral.

@ Test Generator System

Turn the circuit breaker at the shore source to OFF. Set the

selector switch to OFF. The shore power available lights should
all be off. Start the generator and turn the generator breaker to
ON.

a. If there are power available lights for the generator

output, they should light.

b. There should be no power available indication at the

shore power circuit breaker.

c. Set the selector switch to GENERATOR. Power

should be available at the power distribution panel. If
the electrical distribution panel has a meter, verify that
power is available and at the proper voltage.

d. There should be no power available lights indicating at

the shore circuit breaker.

@ Test the third soucre in a similar manner.

The Purpose of the AC Main Source Selector Panel

Alternating Current (AC) power changes polarity 60 times per second in
the US, Canada and Latin America and 50 times per second in Europe.
This is the frequency of the power and is referred to as Hertz (or the now
outdated term “cycle”). Because of this alternating nature of AC power,
two live sources of AC power, such as shore power and inverter power,
or shore power and a generator, cannot be electrically connected. The
AC Main Source Selector panel is designed to connect two sources of
AC power to a common circuit while preventing both sources from being
connected to the circuit simultaneously.

Related Products from Blue Sea Systems

• High Amperage Fuses and Circuit Breakers for positive feed wires

• High Amperage Battery Switches

• Terminal Blocks and Common Bus Connectors

• AC Distribution Panels

• DC Distribution Panels

• AC and DC Digital and Analog Voltmeters and Ammeters

Useful Reference Books

Calder, Nigel, 1996: Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual,
2nd edition, Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books, Inc.
Wing, Charlie, 1993: Boatowner’s Illustrated Handbook of Wiring,
Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books, Inc.