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DIY Marine Breaker Panels

A marine breaker panel is a series of switches that control different electrical functions of the boat, such as headlights, interior lighting or heating system. Installing the breaker panel box is not difficult, but it does require some basic knowledge of electric wiring. Never touch wires when electricity is flowing through the wire to prevent electric shock. Depending on the size of the boat, you can have anywhere from two to over 12 different wiring connections leading to the same breaker box.

Things You'll Need

Pencil
Jigsaw
Insulated wire
Wire cutters
Plastic wire caps
Power screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Trace the outline of the breaker panel onto a section of the boat̵7;s dashboard or wall near the battery or other power source.
- 2
  Cut out the outline of the panel from the wall with a jigsaw. Make sure you don̵7;t cut any wires or other important pieces inside the boat walls.
- 3
  Cut two wires long enough to reach the battery from the hole in the wall. Attach one wire to the positive side of the battery and the power line of the panel. Use plastic wire caps to hold the wires together.
- 4
  Connect a second wire from the negative side of the battery to the ground wire of the panel box.
- 5
  Attach the other wires to the appropriate electrical objects in the boat, such as headlights or interior lighting.
- 6
  Fit the box into the opening. Screw the box in place with the enclosed screws. Screw the face plate over the top of the box.

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