Installing Shore Power

D

daboss_uk

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Afternoon

Looking for some advise on installing shore power please, boat currently only has 12v running off a couple of leisure batteries + the main starter for the diesel engine. I'm looking at using the mains to run a charger for the leisure batteries and have read conflicting advise regards mixing a 240/12v system and things should be kept separate as they can cause issues with anodes and what to earth the mains setup to. Boat is freshwater use only if that helps.

I've been looking at various camper/caravan units that also have internal 12v chargers but unsure if these are suitable for boat use.

Help appreciated.

Thanks
D
 
daboss_uk said:
Afternoon

Looking for some advise on installing shore power please, boat currently only has 12v running off a couple of leisure batteries + the main starter for the diesel engine. I'm looking at using the mains to run a charger for the leisure batteries and have read conflicting advise regards mixing a 240/12v system and things should be kept separate as they can cause issues with anodes and what to earth the mains setup to. Boat is freshwater use only if that helps.

I've been looking at various camper/caravan units that also have internal 12v chargers but unsure if these are suitable for boat use.

Help appreciated.

Thanks
D
Click to expand...


If you are going to install a permanent shorepower system it should comply with ISO 13297-2012 The latest version of the international standard for AC systems in small craft.

One of the requirements, unless you are using an isolating transformer, is that the shorepower earth is bonded to the DC negative, except when the DC system is totally isolated, and the anodes or in the case of metal hulls to the hull.

This means that if you are marina based and will be leaving the shore power connected , even if not actually in use. a galvanic isolator is essential to avoid corrosion due to "galvanic" currents conducted by the shorepower earth connection.

A simple solution for a " temporary " shorepower connection is a caravan/campsite unit such as

mini-mobile-mains-unit.jpg


or

camping-site-mains-supply-unit-3-outlet.jpg
 
Last edited:
VicS said:
If you are going to install a permanent shorepower system it should comply with ISO 13297-2012 The latest version of the international standard for AC systems in small craft.

One of the requirements, unless you are using an isolating transformer, is that the shorepower earth is bonded to the DC negative, except when the DC system is totally isolated, and the anodes or in the case of metal hulls to the hull.
Click to expand...

At last - excellent to see the Bonding -VE to AC ground connection is now mandatory under the UK applicable standard. The arguments to the contrary are in IMHO a complete nonsense, and show a basic misunderstanding of electrical safety on the water.

Thanks for the reference to the ISO standard.
 
superheat6k said:
At last - excellent to see the Bonding -VE to AC ground connection is now mandatory under the UK applicable standard. The arguments to the contrary are in IMHO a complete nonsense, and show a basic misunderstanding of electrical safety on the water.

Thanks for the reference to the ISO standard.
Click to expand...

Much debated !

The earlier version of ISO 13297 allowed the shorepower earth not to be bonded to the negative, or anything else in grp hulls, provided there was a "whole craft" RCD. An anomaly when compared with other standards etc eg for caravans.
 
Morning

Thanks all for the info, i now feel a bit more *clued* but still not 100% so need to do a little more digging.

I’ve seen a few posts regards an isolation transformer, can anyone point me at a system please? just to keep options open i like the extra safely over a cheaper GI setup.

i’ve found this link showing whats discussed above -

http://www.safeshoremarine.com/diagram for earth wiring.pdf

There is no mention of the type of consumer unit or rcd/mcb to use, can anyone please advise on what i need to purchase please. The shore power is a 32A feed.

Also, if i wanted to use an isolation transformer, looking at the above link, would replace GI and i’d not earth the shore power to the DC etc and they would become separate systems etc?

I did take a camper type unit to the marina but the plug was different so could not use that anyway, marina outlet looks larger the the blue male connecter on the camper setup, i assume as only 16A.

I've a GRP hull for ref :)

Thanks
D
 
daboss_uk said:
Morning

Thanks all for the info, i now feel a bit more *clued*
D
Click to expand...

Basics are described in the Boat electrical notes on Tony Brooks' TB Training website. http://www.tb-training.co.uk/cover.html

It is purely basic classroom stuff rather than a detailed guide for installing a system but may be useful to you. It describes the thery of using an isolation transformer.
Even with a transformer you still have mains voltage electricity on board with very little gain IMHo in personal safety. They are often used on industrial/ construction sites but usually also step down to lower, safer, voltages. Freedom from the possibility of galvanic corrosion due to the shorepower connection is possibly their main merit on a small boat.
They are big, heavy, and not cheap items.

I think the best advice you can be given is to get your shorepower installation done professionally. The risks are too great to attempt DIY if you are not an electrician do not know what you are doing.

Would you attempt to rewire your house ?
 
I did all the wiring in my new self build house and have no electrical qualifications. It's not difficult to do. The electricity company had to test it and issue a certificate before they would connect up so there was a safety check by a third party. Maybe th op could take a similar approach and get a check after installation. BTW thumbs up for tony brookes
VicS said:
Basics are described in the Boat electrical notes on Tony Brooks' TB Training website. http://www.tb-training.co.uk/cover.html

It is purely basic classroom stuff rather than a detailed guide for installing a system but may be useful to you. It describes the thery of using an isolation transformer.
Even with a transformer you still have mains voltage electricity on board with very little gain IMHo in personal safety. They are often used on industrial/ construction sites but usually also step down to lower, safer, voltages. Freedom from the possibility of galvanic corrosion due to the shorepower connection is possibly their main merit on a small boat.
They are big, heavy, and not cheap items.

I think the best advice you can be given is to get your shorepower installation done professionally. The risks are too great to attempt DIY if you are not an electrician do not know what you are doing.

Would you attempt to rewire your house ?
Click to expand...
 
I've added power/lights to a garage using a fused spur off kitchen on a separate RCD and had that checked also ( was simple and all good ) i also repair old Arcade game PCB's so know something about electric's, but being a boat and adding water into the mix does defo require some deep research.

Someone posted on here about using a camping extension type affair for temp power, great but... these are 16a and most marinas use 32a suppliers. You can get an adaptor but then you read things about needing an inline 16A fuse, and guess what :) there are none so one would need to create something.
 
daboss_uk said:
Someone posted on here about using a camping extension type affair for temp power, great but... these are 16a and most marinas use 32a suppliers. You can get an adaptor but then you read things about needing an inline 16A fuse, and guess what :) there are none so one would need to create something.
Click to expand...

Are you sure? The majority of the marina supplies I've seen and used are 16A.
 
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