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Subject: Re: TWL: Re: major shore powercord issue
From: Frank Burrows (fburrows@XXX.XXX)
Date: Wed Dec 05 2001 - 09:26:09 EST
We had an instance in a marina where I kept my boat years ago that a dog
jumped or fell off a dock and the owner went in to get him. The boat in the
next slip was out and the shorepower cord was still hot and laying on the
dock. Apparently while the owner was in the water, the cord either fell in
or he tried to use the cord to help get up on the dock and was electrocuted.
In my current marina I there is no breaker at the dock and I had one added
at my slip so I can disconnect the power before I remove the cord. I think
a lot of the regulations we are subject to are silly but I am a big
believer in disconnecting the power on those cords. The electrician used a
conventional small outdoor enclosure for the breakers and added a outside
GFI 15 amp at the same time.
My boat has a feature that Arild may be referring to that causes the boat
breaker to trip if you unplug the cord while the power is connected. There
is an extra coil on the main breaker that causes this to happen. If you
look at the end of the plug you will notice that one of the prongs is
longer than the other and if I remember correctly if the neutral is
disconnected ahead of the hot the breaker will trip. Viking was unable to
explain the circuit. The only people that understand this circuit that I
could ever find was Wards Electric in Fort Lauderdale. This feature still
causes an arc at the connector that is removed first. It is a huge pain if
you try and hook up an extension cord while the boat is out of the water
for the refrigerator. If someone moves the plug then the breaker trips and
there goes the refrigerator.
Frank Burrows Destiny Piney Narrows Marina 1979 43' Viking
> > Does anyone have a good design for a breaker on the
> >dock post that we plug into?
> >
> >Plan B would be a design for a switching device which will throw the main
> >relay in the boat. I have found the relay but not the switching device.
> >Any suggestions on this one?
>
>Regarding Plan B
>As far back as 4 years ago, Carver had a main disconnect breaker that
>tripped when the power was interrupted.
>You had to manually reset the breaker after plugging in the shore cord. I
>was told this was a new safety feature then.
>
>Check Airpax, Carlingswitch, Heinenmann and Blue seas to see who supplies
>them.
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