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Electric Panel repair

1.8K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  guggech  
#1 ·
Hi, I have a 1980 vintage Gecco 39 sailboat that has an electrical panel that has some ground connector corroded. It seems that the only way to replace them is to slide them out which would be difficult. Attached is a picture. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank You,
Charles
 
#2 ·
It is hard to tell, but that looks like a shunt. Do you have an ammeter or SOC indicator somewhere aboard?

I would extend the wires, and move the device from this location.
 
#3 ·
Looking at the picture again, I suppose that could also be your boat's DC negative bus. It is hard to say from that pic... (It would be AWESOME if everybody stopped embedding pictures into posts and, instead, linked to images hosted elsewhere)

Remove and replace with a BusBar and adhesive lined heat shrink crimp connectors.
Image
 
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#4 ·
The part that is is shown with a screw is something that can move up or down when the screw is lose and a wire can be inserted under. The bar shown is the ground for the connections.
Maybe the easiest way would be to mechanically remove the 2 bad parts, drill a hole and thread and replace with a screw for connection.
Thanks,
Charles
 
#5 ·
Are those solid conductors? The attachment looks like something you would find in a residential panel. Go with Eherlihy's suggestion that's some pretty work there. Solid conductors are BAD if they are, if not probably the wrong connector or at least one you need to look at real good. I have a lot of spades in my panel, I don't like them, I will go with a bar like E posted when I do a complete rewire, for now I replaced probably 1/3 of the spades because they would pull right off or not crimped right.
 
#8 ·
#9 ·
I suspect that if you first use a Scotchbrite pad, as best you can, or a Dremel tool with a wire ball, to remove whatever corrosion you can, and they spray the rest with PBlaster (not WD-40) you will find a lot of the corrosion goes away. PBlaster can be used, left 1/2 hour repeated two more times, and all sorts of rusted parts come apart literally as if they were new bare metal. There are other similar products like Kroil, but PBlaster is the one you'll find in retail stores. Even the big box stores now.