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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts
Initially Posted - 04/29/2006 :  13:28:31  Show Profile
Cuold some one please tell me what the polarity switch is to the port side of the switch panel above the sink on my boat is for. it says if the light comes on to disconnect from shore power. If the light is on when i am on the hard will this hurt anything? This may be a silly question but i am electricly challenged. Thanks for any help'
John
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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts
Response Posted - 04/29/2006 :  16:00:31  Show Profile
Reversed polarity = you are at greatly elevated risk of electric shock on your boat. I'd disconnect the power and get an electrician to check and correct the problem.

A very simplified description follows:

Proper AC power has a 'hot' wire (where voltage is present) and a 'neutral' wire which should have no voltage.

A reverse polarity light means that there is voltage present on the 'neutral' wire. This is bad. Hot neutral = danger.

Here's why. [I'll use an ordinary screw-in light bulb socket for an example].

The HOT (dangerous) wire is connected to the little 'button' down at at the bottom of the socket. It is designed this way because the 'hot' contact is hard to touch, you've got to reach down inside the socket to get a shock.

The neutral (safe) wire is connected to the threaded part of the socket that the bulb screws into. (it is very easy to touch)

However, if the polarity is reversed, you can now get a shock by touching the threaded part of the socket... which is easy to do. Danger.

This generalized situation can be replicated in other electrical equipment. Things that are normally safe to touch can have instead have voltage present and be dangerous.



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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1766 Posts
Response Posted - 04/29/2006 :  16:14:29  Show Profile
That is an excellent explanation, Bruce ... thanks for putting it in terms that we electrically-challenged sailors can understand.
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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts
Response Posted - 04/29/2006 :  21:50:53  Show Profile
Thank you for your explanation. I will get an electrican to look over the problrm. I guess the problem is not with the boat but with my building wireing.
Thanks again for the advice.
jdk
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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts
Response Posted - 04/30/2006 :  15:16:57  Show Profile  Visit Champipple's Homepage
Call me crazy, but can't you just go switch the wires on the connection?

With the power disconnected of course
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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts
Response Posted - 04/30/2006 :  20:25:14  Show Profile
"Call me crazy, but can't you just go switch the wires on the connection?"

Depends. If his house has a live neutral he should get it checked/fixed.
Other possibilities are a mis-wired extension cord (if it is home built), an incorrectly wired adaptor from the cord to the boat receptacle, or a mis-wired boat.

With any of the above, since John said he was inexperienced, I wasn't going to advise him to attempt his own repairs.
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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts
Response Posted - 05/01/2006 :  08:32:20  Show Profile
Well guys it was a mis- wired extension cord. I had built a pig tail to go form my shore power plug to a regular extension cord and i guess i had the wires wrong. Thanks for the help.
John
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.