mystery - electrical connector

[Lemsteraak]

I've never encountered one of these before and don't know the purpose.



Not a fuse, look how it is wired, appears to be a terminal connector or bus bar but I don't get it. This is the main line from the battery selector switch to the electrical panel.

I want to reroute and hide this wire as it runs exposed in the interior of the boat. It was wired by an amateur but he used quality parts.

[tkeithlu]

Welcome, Lemsteraak.

I could not find a picture. Could you try again at getting it included in your post?

--Tim.

[Wotname]

Welcome aboard Lemsteraak, likewise I can't see the picture. Looking forward to seeing what the device is.

[Kelkara]

Something is screwy with your picture ... maybe this will show it...


It says "Blue Sea" on it ... it looks like one of these:
https://www.bluesea.com/products/500...r_-_35_to_300A
I think it is was a fuse ... but it has been re-purposed with the fuse removed so that it can act as a pair of studs for joining the two lengths of wire together.
Why, is another question altogether.

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by Kelkara

Something is screwy with your picture ... maybe this will show it...


It says "Blue Sea" on it ... it looks like one of these:
https://www.bluesea.com/products/500...r_-_35_to_300A
I think it is was a fuse ... but it has been re-purposed with the fuse removed so that it can act as a pair of studs for joining the two lengths of wire together.
Why, is another question altogether.

That's a pretty good guess (well, a fuse holder). Don't install a fuse in it.

[Lemsteraak]

Thank you guys, yes I'm a newbie and sorry for the picture problems.

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one thinking something wasn't quite right and I'm not missing something.

I have an old gaff rigged Bristol Channel Cutter I'm rebuilding and can certainly use your expertise.

Rich

[smac999]

if you want to fix it probably. replace the whole wire with a single one long enough. otherwise not a big issue to have a covered terminal. terminal blocks are super common to join wires. though as mentioned above that's a ANL fuse holder re purposed as a terminal block. which is fine. as most terminal blocks don't have covers. so it's a good use of it...

[deblen]

Originally Posted by Lemsteraak

I've never encountered one of these before and don't know the purpose.



Not a fuse, look how it is wired, appears to be a terminal connector or bus bar but I don't get it. This is the main line from the battery selector switch to the electrical panel.

I want to reroute and hide this wire as it runs exposed in the interior of the boat. It was wired by an amateur but he used quality parts.

You say that these wires are a "main line from battery selector switch.. to panel".
From the pics,the wire doesn't look all that heavy. What gauge is the wire & is it sufficiently large to carry the current required by the elec. panel?
Is the + fused at the battery switch?
Just something to check / Len

[BlackHeron]

Looks fine to me. ANL fuse holder used as a heavy-duty shielded terminal block. I would replace the missing zip tie on the lower wire for support. Wire labels would be nice too.

[Sailing Drummer]

It looks like it will work fine EXCEPT it's a serious accident waiting to happen. It will work great as a terminal block UNTIL someone (other than you) sees that it's made for a fuse and they put one in! I would replace it so each wire is terminated without a chance of a big mistake.

[BlackHeron]

Dead short? Fuse would blow. End of story.

[Jim Cate]

The fellow putting the fuse in would get lots of practice!!

But if the thought bothers you, you could remove some or all of the bits that actually accept the fuse, but leave the stud terminals. Or simply saw it in half...

Jim

[BlackHeron]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

The fellow putting the fuse in would get lots of practice!!

But if the thought bothers you, you could remove some or all of the bits that actually accept the fuse, but leave the stud terminals. Or simply saw it in half...

Jim

Not possible.



The studs themselves are all that hold the fuse.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by BlackHeron

Not possible.



The studs themselves are all that hold the fuse.

Quite right, you are! But, with the fuse gone, there is really nothing that suggests that this is a fuse holder, at least for the ignoramus that we were worrying about.

Jim

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by BlackHeron

Not possible.



The studs themselves are all that hold the fuse.

Is possible.

Cut in half, separate the two halves by say half a inch or more and remount. Fuse will no longer fit between the studs.