Newmar Power DC distribution panels

[grahamdouglass]

I am thinking of replacing my old Perko DC distribution panel with a new panel.
It has an difficult dimension. 22 circuts in a footprint of 15"H X 9 1/8" wide.

Newmar Power out of California has a panel that is 15" x 10", 22 circuts, 100amp main breaker, volt & amp meter.

Has anyone had any experience with Newmar?

 

[Comodave]

I don’t have any experience with Newmar. I replaced mine a couple of years ago with a Blue Seas panel. However their are mostly horizontal panels and my previous panel was vertical. It was inside a cabinet so I added a small hinged cabinet front to allow me to use the horizontal panel. Basically I removed the door to the cabinet and put the new cabinet in front ot the door opening. The really nice part is that it hinges open so when I am working on the back of the panel it is simple to get to.

 

[caltexflanc]

I have used a variety of NewMar products. They are absolutely top quality, and customer service is excellent long after the sale. Pricey at first, but always worth it in the long run.

 

[jungpeter]

Hi Grahamdouglass,

There are a bozillion custom panel manufacturers out there. No need to jam an off-the-shelf panel into an existing space. Paneltronics (https://www.paneltronics.com/Technical.php?op=FAQS#bookmark2) for one, Blue Seas (https://panelwizard.bluesea.com/) for another, New Wire Marine (https://newwiremarine.com/custom-marine-switch-panels/) and I'm sure a Google search will turn up many more.

Have only decades-old experience with Newmar. They were state of the art in those days, and probably just fine to date. But I don't know how responsive they will be about manufacturing a panel to fit YOUR space and requirements.

If you're not up to the design/build/install/wire cha-cha a new DC distribution panel will require, you might chat up a professional ABYC-certified marine electrician. While not brain surgery, it ain't childs play either.

Regards,

Pete

 

[mvweebles]

Hi Grahamdouglass,

There are a bozillion custom panel manufacturers out there. No need to jam an off-the-shelf panel into an existing space. Paneltronics (https://www.paneltronics.com/Technical.php?op=FAQS#bookmark2) for one, Blue Seas (https://panelwizard.bluesea.com/) for another, New Wire Marine (https://newwiremarine.com/custom-marine-switch-panels/) and I'm sure a Google search will turn up many more.

Have only decades-old experience with Newmar. They were state of the art in those days, and probably just fine to date. But I don't know how responsive they will be about manufacturing a panel to fit YOUR space and requirements.

If you're not up to the design/build/install/wire cha-cha a new DC distribution panel will require, you might chat up a professional ABYC-certified marine electrician. While not brain surgery, it ain't childs play either.

Regards,

Pete

I went the custom panel route. I looked closely at Blue Sea and Paneltronics. Neither had good solutions for my space. BSS has a decent panel builder application on their website.

A custom builder in the US will almost certainly use BSS breakers and gauges.

While a new panel looks snazzy, the magic is literally behind the panel. I can't find a picture of my panel, but attached is the back plane for my main panel. A backplane is a well labeled bus bar that mirrors your panel. Connections are made-up here, not directly to the panel. A panel builder will connect the panel to the backplane with a loom of wire. Allows a very neat and orderly installation and makes hinging the panel much easier. Power distribution to the panel from an integral battery/selector switch is already made up and ready to go - no heavy cabling to the panel. To my thinking, it is the #1 reason to go with a custom panel builder vs DIY from BSS or Paneltronics.

This is a deceptively expensive project. Adding a couple decent meter/gauges and a power source selector switch can push a panel into a few thousand bucks.

Good luck. Would be interested to see what you decide.

Peter