Next message: Wayne B: "lv-ab: Re: Gary, Garmin GPS Connector"
In a message dated 05/06/2001 2:09:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:
>
> High current removable connections, particularly in corrosive environments
> like boats, MUST be thermally protected to be safe. It is for that reason
> that you want cartridge *fuses* (which protect by thermal action even
> in an overcurrent situation) in your shore-power entry box, and why a
> shore-power entry receptacle mounted directly on a bulkhead or piece of
> fiberglass (instead of in a metal box with said fuses) IS NEVER SAFE.
>
> Walk the docks and see how many builders sin in this fashion. The list is
> long and distinguished, and is THE reason why you have electrical fires
> on boats dockside.
>
> If your boat's builder so sinned (and, sadly, most have), fix it.
>
> Until you do, DO NOT leave heavy loads on your shore system when you're not
> physically there. Leaving an AC system running while you're not on the
boat
> is a good way to find out that your connection stinks - the hard way.
>
>
Karl,
I agree with your view completely.
You may recall that I do not, (and never did) have a shore power receptacle
on my boat. My shore power line was hard-wired to my breaker box from the
start to eliminate that troublesome shore power connector and I have never
regretted it. When I made the shift from marina to on-the-hook living I
simply cut the shore power cord at a point just before it went out the 2"
deckplate in the side of my saloon and installed ring terminals on the end of
each cut wire. So now on the rare occasion that I am docked, and want to
hook up to shore power, I simply slip some rubber hose over the wires and
connect them up with short 1/4-20 bolts, pulling the hose over them and
securing it with a spiral clamp for insulation. With a drip loop and some
duct tape to keep the rain out it works just fine and there is never a shore
power receptacle problem.
BTW, I have a range plug (big three-lug plug made for electric ranges) on the
shore end which I use with an assortment of various shore power plugs
attached to range receptacles to provide the type plug needed. I got the
idea of using the range plug simply by copying the shrimpers of South
Carolina where I built the hull.
Norm
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