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Review on Enhance Your Marine Experience with Blue Sea Systems BelowDeck Panels: Dual USB Chargers, 12V Sockets, and Mini OLED Monitors by Jamie Rogers

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Definitely not waterproof or resistant!

I ordered a Blue Sea 4356 panel with USB sockets, 12V socket and voltmeter. It sat on a shelf for about 6 months until I finally put my boat back together. Overall I would say this was a great product. The USB ports seemed to charge almost every device. The backlit switch felt sturdy. The voltmeter reads up to hundredths of a volt and the display is bright and clear enough to read in all conditions. However, this is where the positives end. The jumper cables were of poor quality but easy to replace. The biggest problem is that judging by its IP66 rating, the voltmeter is absolutely not waterproof or even waterproof. The second day the boat was on the water, we had rain twice. The open panel seemed untouched until I turned it back on the next day. The voltmeter read 16+ volts (at 12v deep cycle) and started creeping. After about 10 seconds it showed just over 20 volts and went black. Battery voltage tested 13.01V with a Fluke multimeter. The display has not yet turned on. Further examination of the meter revealed the presence of water under the front panel, which is undoubtedly the source of the problem. Now I'm stuck with a voltmeter that doesn't work after only two days of use, with a hole that can't be used for another voltmeter (none of them are the same size 1 1/8'') and I' I'm afraid to replace the meter with another 1733 ($45-$50) to find that it had the same problem.

Pros
  • Free for educational purposes
Cons
  • Ugly packaging