dgadee
Well-Known Member
Just back out at boat in Italy and brought a socket tester. It says shore power live and neutral are reversed. In practica l terms, what does that mean? Should I make up a lead to swap them from the supply box?
Live neutral reverse
- Thread starter dgadee
- Start date
Catalina36
N/A
Yes.
Yngmar
Well-Known Member
After you've confirmed the problem is at the supply box and not in your own shore power wiring, yes 
Beneteau381
Well-Known Member
Yes.
179580
Well-Known Member
You will find everything will work ok. No prob. BUT the problem is that you probably have single pole breakers so if the polarity is reversed the breaker is not switching the hot cable. do not do any leccy work without disconnecting the shore cable. Either make up a reverse polarity lead or fit an isolating transformer.
dgadee
Well-Known Member
Thanks.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Not being an electrician .... but when I had to wire up various stuff out here .... I was warned about ENR ..... Earth Neutral Return still used in some areas ...
This will show same error on tester - as they told me ...
This will show same error on tester - as they told me ...
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
Best idea is to have a short lead with reversed wiring and plug and socket to fit your onboard shore power connection point. Label it and connect it at the boat end when needed. If you fit an adapter cable like that at the shore end you may well find that it grows legs and walks!
HissyFit
Well-Known Member
I've not experienced this yet, but I've seen it recommended to keep a correction lead (as suggested above) on hand before. Is it true that this error can cause anodes to corrode faster in marinas?
wallacebob
Well-Known Member
In common with caravans ; this is only an issue for older UK boats with single pole switches. If it has twin pole it’s safe. If it’s a continental boat with Shuko type sockets, it will be fine. A lot of UK people obsess about it, or don’t!
Solent sailer
Well-Known Member
It wont stop anything working and you will only be aware of it if you test it, But all your mcb's are in the line (L) conductor so if one trips and you have reversed polarity the item will stop working but will still be live and could still electricute you .
As said before make up a short lead to correct it or put an isolating transformer on the boat as this will correct it automatically.
As said before make up a short lead to correct it or put an isolating transformer on the boat as this will correct it automatically.
snowbird30ds
Well-Known Member
An rcd should still cut out ok with it reversed in the event of an issue but mcb's are a different matter, best test is a multimeter set to ac 0-400v and check between live-earth and neutral-earth, which ever gives the highest reading is live, neutral should only show a few volts at most if any.