Today I’m swapping out a switchable 70-amp breaker on the boat. When we first got her, the electrical protection was pretty thin, so I used leftover RV parts, including a Tokas brand unit that had been running the solar feed, plus the macerator and propane alarm, through a small fused panel.
I like Blue Sea Systems better for marine work because the construction feels heavier, the rubber boots are thicker, the studs come with lock washers, and the whole thing is ignition-protected and waterproof. Out on the water, you can’t just walk away if something goes wrong, so the extra cost is worth it.
The new Blue Sea 285-series breaker is bidirectional, so I don’t have to worry about which stud is source and which is load. The Tokas one is marked battery and load, and that can get confusing when current is flowing both ways. The old breaker never failed me, and I used the switch plenty of times, but this one matches the other Blue Sea units already installed and gives me a bit more peace of mind down in the engine room.
