Blue Sea 285-Series Circuit Breaker – Surface Mount Marine DC Protection

Protect your boat's electrical system with the Blue Sea Systems 285-Series Surface Mount Circuit Breaker, a marine-grade, manually resettable thermal circuit breaker designed for DC electrical installations.

The Blue Sea 285-Series combines circuit protection and manual switching in a single compact unit. Designed for medium-duty marine electrical applications, it provides overcurrent protection for correctly sized wiring and connected equipment.

Featuring a maximum operating voltage of 48V DC, weather-resistant construction, a visible reset lever and ignition protection meeting SAE J1171 requirements, this circuit breaker is suitable for appropriately designed electrical systems aboard yachts, launches, fishing boats and other recreational vessels.

The 285-Series is also designed as a replacement for Blue Sea Systems 185-Series circuit breakers, making it a practical option when upgrading or maintaining existing marine electrical installations.

Available online from Barton Marine NZ, the Blue Sea 285-Series Circuit Breaker provides dependable circuit protection for compatible 12V, 24V and other DC marine electrical systems within its specified ratings.

Key Features

• Genuine Blue Sea Systems 285-Series Circuit Breaker

• Surface-mount design for convenient installation

• Available in multiple amperage ratings

• Maximum operating voltage: 48V DC

• Thermally responsive bi-metal blade protection

• Manual reset following a trip

• Trip-free design prevents the breaker from being held closed during an overcurrent condition

• Visible reset lever indicates an open circuit

• Combines circuit protection and manual switching

• Weather-resistant construction

• Ignition protected to SAE J1171 requirements

• Suitable for appropriately designed installations aboard petrol-powered boats

• Designed as a replacement for Blue Sea 185-Series circuit breakers

• M6 terminal studs accepting compatible 1/4-inch ring terminals

• Interrupt capacity of 3,000A at 48V DC

• Suitable for marine DC electrical distribution and equipment circuits

Technical Specifications

Important: Select the amperage rating that is appropriate for the wiring, connected equipment and electrical installation. Not every rating listed above is necessarily available in every stock selection.

Available Amperage Ratings

The Blue Sea 285-Series is manufactured in a range of current ratings to suit different DC circuit protection requirements.

Choose the correct breaker rating from the available product options before ordering.

Reliable Marine Circuit Protection

Marine electrical systems operate in demanding environments where vibration, moisture and changing temperatures are common.

The Blue Sea 285-Series Circuit Breaker is designed to provide overcurrent protection in appropriately engineered DC electrical systems.

If excessive current flows through the protected circuit for sufficient time, the thermal mechanism trips and opens the circuit.

This helps reduce the risk of overheating caused by overloads or electrical faults.

The breaker must be correctly selected and installed to provide effective protection.

Manual Reset Circuit Breaker

Unlike a disposable fuse, the Blue Sea 285-Series can be manually reset after it trips.

The visible reset lever allows the operator to identify when the breaker is open.

Before resetting a tripped breaker, investigate and correct the cause of the fault.

Repeated tripping may indicate an overloaded circuit, damaged wiring, a faulty electrical component or another problem requiring attention.

Never repeatedly reset a breaker without addressing the underlying issue.

Trip-Free Safety Design

The Blue Sea 285-Series features a trip-free mechanism.

This means the breaker cannot be forced to remain electrically closed when its protective mechanism trips.

The design provides an important safety function by preventing the reset lever from overriding the thermal trip mechanism.

This feature is particularly useful in marine electrical systems where circuit protection must operate independently of the manual control position.

Combines Switching & Circuit Protection

The 285-Series combines manual switching and circuit protection in one unit.

This can simplify some marine DC electrical installations by reducing the need for separate switching and protection devices.

The breaker may be used for appropriate switching applications, provided the connected equipment and electrical load are suitable.

Blue Sea Systems specifically advises against using the 285-Series as a switch where high inrush currents are expected.

For motors, pumps, winches and other equipment with significant starting currents, confirm suitability before installation.

Suitable for 12V & 24V Marine Electrical Systems

With a maximum operating voltage of 48V DC, the Blue Sea 285-Series can be used in appropriately designed lower-voltage marine DC systems.

Common applications may include:

• 12V boat electrical systems

• 24V marine electrical systems

• DC distribution circuits

• Suitable battery-fed equipment circuits

• Electrical accessory circuits

• Marine electronics supply circuits

• Other appropriately rated DC installations

The maximum voltage rating does not mean that every breaker size is suitable for every application. Current rating, cable size, fault current and equipment requirements must also be considered.

Weight - 0.50lb (0.23 kg)