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Electrical Dummy needs help

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mlally
Deckhand

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USA
11 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/13/2009 : 13:48:59

I find the electrical discussions here very confusing.

I have an 85 Standard Cat 25, it has a 30 amp outlet that hooks up to shore power.

Shouldnt all i have to do is turn on the AC switch after connecting the 30 amp cord to power up the entire boat?

I just replaced the the switch breaker and still nothing, should I call a boat electrician?

Salem Mark

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2009 : 14:13:36

Is there a breaker at the shore power source that might have tripped? Check with the marina to be sure that the power source you're using is actually hot. If it is, then you'll have to start chasing wires cus something's disconnected or corroded or wired backwards. If you can check with the PO, ask him if the power was OK when he last tried it.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2009 : 14:41:43

You can call an electrician, but see my new post on your other thread. It really is straightforward. The PO (not a DPO) of Pearl didn't want shorepower around his kids, so he disconnected the wiring on the back of the S/P receptacle. I think he told me that, but I had forgotten; I crawled into the dumpster to start testing and immediately found the problem.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2009 : 14:45:01

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Is there a breaker at the shore power source that might have tripped? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That was my demon last time I had trouble with the ac power on the boat!

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2009 : 16:45:32

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">power up the entire boat?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Please disregard if I'm stating the obvious here; just want to cover all bases. You do realize that the DC (12V direct current) and AC (120V alternating current) circuits are separate entities? Shore power should only be available at a few locations such as receptacle outlets and hardwired equipment like a battery charger. The majority of your lights, etc. will be powered by your battery (DC).

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2009 : 21:29:31

A visual inspection and cleaning may find your problem, but a volt ohm meter will find your problem. The circuit is very simple, but you must check each section progressively. Wires can break inside their sheaths and connectors can break inside their housings. You may find something visually, as I did with Pearl, but checking resistance after connecting the two pins with a jumper will find it if you don't. If the S/P breaker tripped, you would know because you would have to re-set it every time you connected. So go buy a meter (more versatile) or a voltage probe and a continuity checker and go to it. You can add a new skill set to your bag.

Edit: Check resistance between the two flat (not L shaped) pins on your S/P receptacle to be sure that you don't have a short that trips the S/P breaker on the dock, the resistance should be very high (infinite). You can also check your S/P cable with the meter, just check for near zero resistance from one pin to one slot in the female end. Eliminate the S/p breaker by checking voltage at the female end of the power cable, flip the onboard circuitbreaker on and off, disconnect the power cable without shutting of shore power and check for voltage again.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 11/13/2009 21:49:08

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2009 : 05:50:16

Call an electrician before you kill yourself.
Your life is worth way more than the few dollars you'll spend on the electrician. Doesn't ahve to be a marine electrician either, any of them can figure out a problem.
Electricity is a dangerous thing if you don't know what your doing.

Edited by - Happy D on 11/14/2009 05:50:58

Tom Gauntt
Navigator

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204 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2009 : 07:55:19

mlally,

Happy D makes a very good point. I also made a similar point in the other thread, "electricity can kill you very dead, even quicker around water." Perhaps because I've worked with electricity for years, wiring everything from houses to hospitals, I have an understanding of the principles and most importantly, the safety precautions, that minimize the risk. Randomly poking multi-meter test leads into live circuits WILL invariably lead to a spectacular, and likely very dangerous conclusion for the neophyte.

If you are not "sure" of what you are doing, stop. Ask for help for someone nearby. Ask for help from someone at the yard. In my zeal to help on this forum, I am guilty of assuming we all have the same basic knowledge, experience, and tool box. In fact, I've written several comments in reply to this post to offer troubleshooting tips. I've deleted them before posting them because it involves testing live circuits with specialized equipment. Some of the tips, tricks , and ideas offered here will probably find your problem(s), but without basic electrical theory and understanding, you are entering the risk matrix much higher than is prudent.

If you haven't already, get Don Casey's book "Sailboat Electric Simplified" or "Illustrated Sailboat Manual" and start here at his web page on the BoatUS site: http://www.boatus.com/howto/howto_lib.htm

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2009 : 08:06:08

Pardon me for 'piling on'...but the adage I always keep in mind is "electricity is not your friend". I also think this decision is a little like reefing - the time to do it is when you first think of it - if you are thinking about calling a electrician, then you should.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2009 : 09:42:53

Exactly why I recommend, except for verifying power at the shore cable, continuity checking. 120 AC can kill, 6,9, or 12 DC won't. !0 minutes with anyone with very modest skills or, if nobody is available, a little practice on your own and you can be reasonable competent to do continuity checking, and confidence that simple skill can prevent much future aggravation.

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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2009 : 11:03:02

Maybe before calling an electrician, buy a book about boat electrical systems. Don Casey wrote a good simple book, there are a bunch out there.

While we haven't heard back from the original questioner, it appears that there is much merit to the post that he needs to understand the difference between AC and DC first.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2009 : 06:06:45

Mark, when you plugged in the shore power in the dock box at your slip, did you twist the plug to make sure it is locked in and then flip on the on-off switch at the box, to ON? I ask you you did not mention these items initially but you are correct that all should work.
Steve A

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