Darwin Contestant Shore Power Lead

[bikerbill]

The trouble is that one on ebay is plug to plug, the one I use is pug to socket, the socket being the bit you connect to the boat or caravan input.

I was referring to the 2nd image Maxi, it's when you mentioned 'socket' the penny dropped and confirmed by Salty John who made me look at mine. Once again, please accept my apology'

I think everyone's on the same page now - let's all hope the purchaser of the thing recognises the danger.

Yes, the first image is a potential killer.

The seller has been told, i asked him to with draw it or at least cut the wire flex

Looks like he didn't withdraw and the buyer could have got a correct brand new one for the same price

 

[VicMallows]

Are we perhaps jumping to conclusions? The buyer paid £4.70 (inc postage) for TWO 16A plugs, a 13A plug, and a bit of cable. Not a terrific bargain, but reasonable enough if you want them for the convenience. If the seller had chopped the cable off each end (nearly) everyone would have been happy. (It does also look likely that the winning bid was from a sniping engine.).

 

[PilotWolf]

I'm trying to think as it'd been a couple of weeks since I did it (plugging in!) but I am pretty certain our shore power leads are all male plugs... and the labels warn to unplug shore side first and plug ship in first.

W

 

[Momac]

I'm trying to think as it'd been a couple of weeks since I did it (plugging in!) but I am pretty certain our shore power leads are all male plugs... and the labels warn to unplug shore side first and plug ship in first.

W

The socket ashore is eactly that - a socket. Your cable has the fitting whch is the plug - with the three prongs.
The fitting on the boat has three prongs and the fitting on your cable is the socket.

If its not like that it is incorrect. There must never be an arrangement where the prongs can be exposed and live.

A friend fitted a splice connection, using a waterproof plug and socket , in a cable. He got it the wrong way around. So when the splice was not joined together the prongs were live. He had a shock off it when he pulled the connection apart while the shore power was still connected. So it is a real danger.


.

 

[nigelmercier]

I'm trying to think as it'd been a couple of weeks since I did it (plugging in!) but I am pretty certain our shore power leads are all male plugs... and the labels warn to unplug shore side first and plug ship in first.

If they are all male, you need to change them. The warnings are standard RYA advice to prevent sparks on the boat.

 

[Salty John]

OK, for the avoidance of doubt, see sketch:
View attachment 36822

Socket one end, plug the other. With such a cord and assuming the marina and boat plugs and sockets have been professionally installed you can't get it wrong. The boat takes a socket (the prongs are on the boat) and the marina fitting takes a plug - so there are no live prongs on the dock fitting.
Where Heath Robinson has been at work, there lies the danger. Plug/plug on the cord is wrong and dangerous.

 

[CreakyDecks]

The sale was just "two hook up line plugs". I suspect he found that bit of flex that he cut off an old toaster in the same kitchen drawer and poked it in to make the picture more interesting (or cause people on internet forums to direct others to his auction )
My ex used to do stuff like that, leaving plugs with cut-off cords attached lying in drawers to kill the unwary! I have no idea why, I mean when was the last time anybody needed to buy a plug?

 

[nigelmercier]

I mean when was the last time anybody needed to buy a plug?

I bought 10 last week. And I keep old moulded plugs on leads, but I take the fuses out.

 

[CreakyDecks]

I bought 10 last week. And I keep old moulded plugs on leads, but I take the fuses out.

Well now you have a good stock I hope you throw those old ones away

 

[nigelmercier]

Well now you have a good stock I hope you throw those old ones away

No, they are much better. Tinned pins and less likely to get damp inside.

 

[PilotWolf]

The socket ashore is eactly that - a socket. Your cable has the fitting whch is the plug - with the three prongs.
The fitting on the boat has three prongs and the fitting on your cable is the socket.

If its not like that it is incorrect. There must never be an arrangement where the prongs can be exposed and live.

A friend fitted a splice connection, using a waterproof plug and socket , in a cable. He got it the wrong way around. So when the splice was not joined together the prongs were live. He had a shock off it when he pulled the connection apart while the shore power was still connected. So it is a real danger.


.

If they are all male, you need to change them. The warnings are standard RYA advice to prevent sparks on the boat.

As I said I can't remember for sure but it's unlikely the company will change it's set up on [my] say so based on the postings here!

Decisions to change 8 ships and 3 shore facilities in a 30 year old company is a little above my pay grade.

W.

 

[nigelmercier]

....it's unlikely the company will change it's set up on [my] say so based on the postings here!

How about it being a public hazard, you would be liable for any accidents.

 

[PilotWolf]

How about it being a public hazard, you would be liable for any accidents.

No public access to them - crew only. They're disconnected long before the public get close and re connected long after they leave. Not sure about the liability towards staff though.

As I said I maybe wrong from memory but I am pretty sure that is the reasons for the signs say to plug in ship end first.

W.