LadyG Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 I'm upgrading and modernising my electrics, the existing mix of gauges, displays, dials, buttons, switches, toggles auto/domestic, are driving me crazy. Once there is some logic to the array, I'd like a nice "engineered" display , I call it a dashboard. Properly done, with cutouts and "etched" labelling. who does this sort of thing. Thanks in anticipation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 did you mean "Who does this sort of thing?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 (edited) 7 minutes ago, LadyG said: I'm upgrading and modernising my electrics, the existing mix of gauges, displays, dials, buttons, switches, toggles auto/domestic, are driving me crazy. Once there is some logic to the array, I'd like a nice "engineered" display , I call it a dashboard. Properly done, with cutouts and "etched" labelling. who does this sort of thing. Thanks in anticipation https://www.brianwards.co.uk/services/control-panels-2/ Edited July 17, 2019 by Alan de Enfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batavia Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 There are many companies who can produce Traffolyte front panels and one which specialises in industrial, rather than marine, panels will probably be cheaper. However, be warned - one off panels of the kind you want won't be very cheap! Chris G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 Phone a couple of hire companies such as ABC or Napton Narrowboats and ask where they get theirs - I presume that they buy standard ones in bulk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 I am probably being thick but what is wrong with a sheet of aluminium or steel and a selection of metal hole saws, drills and files? You will have to do the layout to give to another company whatever you do so doing it direct to the metal sheet is no more work. Once you check everything fits as it should you can paint it or maybe even vinyl wrap it. On the hire fleet we used Formica glued to plywood for the instrument panels and did all the hoes ourselves.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paringa Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 Missing a L there Tony... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulJ Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 (edited) Have a word with GS controls https://www.gscontrols.com/ They did my 12v/230v distribution panel and made me a matching engine panel both labelled to my specs at a very reasonable price. Edited July 17, 2019 by PaulJ Spelling/grammar correction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 1 hour ago, LadyG said: I'm upgrading and modernising my electrics, the existing mix of gauges, displays, dials, buttons, switches, toggles auto/domestic, are driving me crazy. Once there is some logic to the array, I'd like a nice "engineered" display , I call it a dashboard. Properly done, with cutouts and "etched" labelling. who does this sort of thing. Thanks in anticipation Lady G, if it were me I would purchase a standard type board from a mariniser such as Beta for one. They do basic and bells and whistles that include gauges, that way a decent leccy bloke can wire it in for you. You need a seperate consumer board for the 12 volt domestics anyway and a third if you have mains aboard. These are all buyable off the peg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detling Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 Piece of 6mm perpex, carefully cut holes to fit instruments (it cracks) then get labels printed and placed on the bottom side, you need 'backwards' print so you can read it. Then cover the whole back with sticky back vinyl, gold looks like brass, and silver looks like polished steel. Cut the holes in the vinyl, after stretching flat, with a scalpel. Mount with a bevel edge (look at picture frame) moulding, put instruments in holes and wire up, your done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted July 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Detling said: Piece of 6mm perpex, carefully cut holes to fit instruments (it cracks) then get labels printed and placed on the bottom side, you need 'backwards' print so you can read it. Then cover the whole back with sticky back vinyl, gold looks like brass, and silver looks like polished steel. Cut the holes in the vinyl, after stretching flat, with a scalpel. Mount with a bevel edge (look at picture frame) moulding, put instruments in holes and wire up, your done. I might give that a try, could be a prototype if it does not work out, first time. I'll be doing a cardboard mock-up anyways. Do I need special blades/jigsaw etc. I assume I need power tools. Neighbour has loads of tools, lol. It is currently split in to six panels, I could make that a feature, though hopefully it won't need to be opened up once the work is done. ... Edited July 17, 2019 by LadyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 2 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said: https://www.brianwards.co.uk/services/control-panels-2/ They look real quality Ball-park figure for costs for a one-off from a supplied dimensionally accurate drawing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 3 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said: https://www.brianwards.co.uk/services/control-panels-2/ I was going to suggest Brian Ward, I had work done by them and was very happy with it. Mine was engraved black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve hayes Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 I use an online company for work and also used them for our electrical panel on Bluemoon. you design it online, get the price and place your order. https://www.schaeffer-ag.de/en/ sorry very duff photo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Williams Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 This must be what they call progress. All I had was a charge/discharge ammeter, an engine hours counter and a fuse box on a piece of plywood. Jaguar had an oil pressure gauge that always read 25 lbs, even without the engine running. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Marshall Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Chris Williams said: This must be what they call progress. All I had was a charge/discharge ammeter, an engine hours counter and a fuse box on a piece of plywood. Jaguar had an oil pressure gauge that always read 25 lbs, even without the engine running. I've got an ammeter, small block of circuit breakers, a headlight switch and the manual switch for the bilge pump. That's it. Quite enough. Edited July 17, 2019 by Arthur Marshall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 4 hours ago, ditchcrawler said: I was going to suggest Brian Ward, I had work done by them and was very happy with it. Mine was engraved black. What kind of cost, DC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Williams Posted July 17, 2019 Report Share Posted July 17, 2019 6 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said: I've got an ammeter, small block of circuit breakers, a headlight switch and the manual switch for the bilge pump. That's it. Quite enough. Ah, yes, I forgot the headlight and the hooter. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 11 hours ago, steve hayes said: I use an online company for work and also used them for our electrical panel on Bluemoon. you design it online, get the price and place your order. https://www.schaeffer-ag.de/en/ sorry very duff photo I've done something similar to this for a couple of friends boats, but did the CAD design myself and got a local company to engrave and cut the panel for a reasonable price. If you can design something and make a drawing, then most cities will have one, or more places that can make one. Here is one of my designs below. One day I'll do one for my own boat! Jen 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 11 hours ago, WotEver said: What kind of cost, DC? It was 20 years ago when Brian was still on the counter, said he was to old to crawl around boats. I think his daughter took it over. so price, well it probably wouldn't buy 2 pints today, even up north 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dccruiser Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 These are pretty good for instrument panels ... although personally i am making a new external engine panel from a piece of perspex so i can add temp and oil pressure guages where i can see them when cruising. http://www.dragonmarinesystems.co.uk/instrument-panels.html I have one of these as my AC/DC distribution panel, superb bit of kit as you can specify all the fuse rating for your circuits. https://www.axoncontrol.co.uk/panels/ac-and-dc-components/14-Way-AC-DC-Switchable-Carling-tech-circuit-breaker-panel-with-meters-RCD Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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