Shore Power
Moderators: Tim Bosma, Tom Elsen
Shore Power
My boat isn't equipped with shore power. Does anyone have it? Where did you mount the port on your boat? Drilling the hole is a big commitment.
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reidmefirst
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2020 2:49 am
Re: Shore Power
Mine came with a shore power receptacle in the lower cockpit on the port side, forward of the lazarette hatch. A previous owner put a 120v breaker panel on the port side of the engine bay, and ran some 120vac wiring to a few outlets around the cabin. I'll snap a few photos the next time I'm up at the boat, if you're interested.
Re: Shore Power
Shore power on my boat is mounted in the cockpit, starboard side, just aft of and a few inches below the traveler. Power goes to a charger mounted on the bulkhead above the battery.
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reidmefirst
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2020 2:49 am
Re: Shore Power
Here's where my shore power connects to the boat.
A romex line runs from the shore power/lazarette, into the engine bay (if you have an outboard, this is the empty compartment under the stairs).
A little 120v distribution panel sits in the engine bay on the port side. It's not my favorite thing in the world, I did lean on it once while on shore power (running a big AC fan so I could keep cool-ish while I was replacing my alternator). I think I shouted "YEOW! I'M AWAKE!"
From here there are two lines that leave the power distribution. Double-lugged, of course
. One goes under the port settee, the other goes across the engine bay to the starboard settee.
The line under the port settee goes under the galley. The wire goes up the metal post that sits between the galley counter, and the cabinet.
The starboard settee line just hooks up to an outlet on the settee itself. The outlet is on the bottom part of the settee, next to the door to the head. Its location is convenient for keeping a battery tender on my batteries (very helpful when I didn't have a working alternator).
A romex line runs from the shore power/lazarette, into the engine bay (if you have an outboard, this is the empty compartment under the stairs).
A little 120v distribution panel sits in the engine bay on the port side. It's not my favorite thing in the world, I did lean on it once while on shore power (running a big AC fan so I could keep cool-ish while I was replacing my alternator). I think I shouted "YEOW! I'M AWAKE!"
From here there are two lines that leave the power distribution. Double-lugged, of course
. One goes under the port settee, the other goes across the engine bay to the starboard settee.The line under the port settee goes under the galley. The wire goes up the metal post that sits between the galley counter, and the cabinet.
The starboard settee line just hooks up to an outlet on the settee itself. The outlet is on the bottom part of the settee, next to the door to the head. Its location is convenient for keeping a battery tender on my batteries (very helpful when I didn't have a working alternator).
Re: Shore Power
Reidmefirst
Is your wiring really romex? If done right it should be duplex or something like that. House wire wrapped in the white sheath looks just like that but it is solid copper wire. A boat should have stranded copper wire if done properly even tinned wire to avoid corrosion, but not necessary.
If you grab the wire and try to flex it, it will bend in your hand then flex back. It will take two hands to bend a solid copper wire (Romex). Also i lose track of colors because I work on my truck and my boat but the wire color for 12v and 120v should be different. Not that I would change it if it was otherwise the right wire but on a bigger boat I would.
If the wire is correct, I would consider swapping out the open 120v connector. That does not look kosher. I can't really help you there as I don't have much experience with 120v in a boat, except that it should all be protected by GFCI. If that is not installed I can help you out with that. I just don't know about proper 120v distribution in a boat.
Is your wiring really romex? If done right it should be duplex or something like that. House wire wrapped in the white sheath looks just like that but it is solid copper wire. A boat should have stranded copper wire if done properly even tinned wire to avoid corrosion, but not necessary.
If you grab the wire and try to flex it, it will bend in your hand then flex back. It will take two hands to bend a solid copper wire (Romex). Also i lose track of colors because I work on my truck and my boat but the wire color for 12v and 120v should be different. Not that I would change it if it was otherwise the right wire but on a bigger boat I would.
If the wire is correct, I would consider swapping out the open 120v connector. That does not look kosher. I can't really help you there as I don't have much experience with 120v in a boat, except that it should all be protected by GFCI. If that is not installed I can help you out with that. I just don't know about proper 120v distribution in a boat.
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reidmefirst
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2020 2:49 am
Re: Shore Power
Yeah it's all romex (although, it's really only like: a few feet from the cockpit to the panel, another few feet to each of the outlets).
Kinda goofy, and I'll rewire it before doing any big trips with the boat. The lake I'm on is fairly small, so never gets big waves...I'm not terribly worried about the goofy wiring coming loose at present. But, yeah, something I'll have to fix long-term. Sigh, boats! =).
Kinda goofy, and I'll rewire it before doing any big trips with the boat. The lake I'm on is fairly small, so never gets big waves...I'm not terribly worried about the goofy wiring coming loose at present. But, yeah, something I'll have to fix long-term. Sigh, boats! =).
Re: Shore Power
As I have read it, it is the non flexible wires becoming brittle over time from being flexed. I would not be too worried but the exposed 120v wires would scare me. I have wired my own house and have been zapped a few times, once this past summer. I like to avoid that as much as I can.