Blue Sea 8690 e-Series Dual Circuit Plus Panel

The Blue Sea Systems 8690 e-Series Dual Circuit Plus, part number 5511e, has a 100A main breaker and two 15A push button thermal breakers for 24-hour circuits.

Two protected always-on circuits is the entry point in this family, and for many twin-engine boats it is the honest number. Bilge pump and bilge alarm, with everything else switched. Where the list runs longer, the Plus 2 versions add a third and fourth circuit.

The panel isolates the engine circuit from the house circuit so each bank discharges on its own, and a drained house bank still leaves the boat able to start. An emergency cross connect is there for when that goes wrong anyway, since the arrangement makes that situation rare rather than impossible.

Keeping the two sides separate also shields electronics from the sags and spikes that cranking pushes through the system. Battery switch operation is simpler than a conventional arrangement, and adding an Automatic Charging Relay automates charging across both banks. The 4218 and 4140 label sets are included. Explore more marine electrical panels.

• Two 24-hour circuits, the entry point in the family
• Bilge pump and alarm, with everything else switched
• Plus 2 versions add a third and fourth
• Engine and house banks discharge independently