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From: Bob Goth (no email)
Date: Sat May 12 2001 - 17:02:46 EDT
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Cc: <>
Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2001 8:06 AM
Subject: lv-ab: Dockside fires
> Subj: Re: lv-ab: Keeping Your Cool
> Date: 04/22/2001 3:38:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time
> In summary, fires can occour even when the current in the line is below
the breaker or fuse rating. It happens often ashore, especially in the
wintertime.
My wife and I acquired a small amount of wisdom one night just recently on
this particular topic.
At three a.m. we were disturbed by the random beeping of the charge alarm on
our cellular telephone. When going to investigate we discovered a fairly
comfortable bonfire was blazing on our aft deck. Needless to say this was a
bit disturbing. The flames were fairly easy to extinguish and only left a
hand print size blemish in the teak deck. During the event all the breakers
and systems remained on. The cause of this fire was the adapter that stepped
the 15 amp available at the outlet to a 30 amp twist-lock.
For a long time we have known that heat build-up due to corrosion in the
plugs was problematic as we frequently had to replace melted plugs and
adapters.
The reason that the breakers doesn't break is increased resistance due to
the defective connection reduces the current in the circuit causing dimming
of lights etc. As the breaker is designed to detect increased current (lower
resistance in the circuit )it does not trip.
This new wisdom has prompted us to hard wire all portions of our 110 volt
input and dispose of all adapters. We now install a new plug head on the end
of the cable that is the correct plug for what ever source is available. The
only occasional exception to this rule would be a 30 amp twist lock
connected and thoroughly wrapped until watertight with electric tape when we
require a longer extension cord than the 50 ft hard wired to the boat.
We hope to not gain any further wisdom on this topic .
Bob & Rina
sv/Windquest
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