MontyMariner
Well-Known Member
Just to comply with the original purchase survey.
Mains power
- Thread starter PabloPicasso
- Start date
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
But why, it's a nonsense comment from the surveyor ?
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
I must admit, having a plug and cable in plain sight helps a bit with the "oh sh!t, we forgot to unplug the shore power" problem.
My cable is bright blue so it doesn't blend in with the mooring ropes, and it is routed next to the throttle lever on it's way to the boat socket, which is odly placed on the cabin side, just forward of the cockpit. At least I notice it when I go to start the engine.
When I bought my last boat it had a fixed, white cable in the starboard cockpit locker which relied on the cockpit locker sealing and the bump-stops to prevent the locker lid from crushing it. I decided this was sub-optimal and put a socket on the stern.
IMO it's up to the OP to have a think about it, and decide on a course of action. The surveyor maybe assumed standard household untinned cable. Cables always end up in the water at somepoint, and when stowed may drip or dribble salt-water into the connections. Maybe the lazarette lid closes on the cable crushing it? or maybe there's something else. If the surveyer didn't give a reason then use common sense or ask him/her.
If deciding on a socket, Marinco doesn't have the best reputation, so go for the blue EEC and always use tinned cable, at least for the boat-side connections - it will corrode unseen and lead to overheating of the connection. The cable side can be regularly inspected and if it ever feels warm, then it needs investigating.
My cable is bright blue so it doesn't blend in with the mooring ropes, and it is routed next to the throttle lever on it's way to the boat socket, which is odly placed on the cabin side, just forward of the cockpit. At least I notice it when I go to start the engine.
When I bought my last boat it had a fixed, white cable in the starboard cockpit locker which relied on the cockpit locker sealing and the bump-stops to prevent the locker lid from crushing it. I decided this was sub-optimal and put a socket on the stern.
IMO it's up to the OP to have a think about it, and decide on a course of action. The surveyor maybe assumed standard household untinned cable. Cables always end up in the water at somepoint, and when stowed may drip or dribble salt-water into the connections. Maybe the lazarette lid closes on the cable crushing it? or maybe there's something else. If the surveyer didn't give a reason then use common sense or ask him/her.
If deciding on a socket, Marinco doesn't have the best reputation, so go for the blue EEC and always use tinned cable, at least for the boat-side connections - it will corrode unseen and lead to overheating of the connection. The cable side can be regularly inspected and if it ever feels warm, then it needs investigating.
MontyMariner
Well-Known Member
I agree, but that wasn't what the O/P was asking about.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
I wrap the mains lead around the throttle controls, so driving off without unplugging would take some ingenuity.Been there, done that, got the t-shirt
OTOH I do have something of a reputation for being ingenious ...
Alan S
Well-Known Member
Two reasons why I have an inlet plug/socket..
1. The boat came with it.
2. I didn't need to fit a transfer switch when I bought an inverter.
Otherwise I agree, just another failure point and risk of someone dropping a live socket in the water.
1. The boat came with it.
2. I didn't need to fit a transfer switch when I bought an inverter.
Otherwise I agree, just another failure point and risk of someone dropping a live socket in the water.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
This matter of dropping live socket into water ... I make it a point of myself or anyone who goes to connect my boat ... connect boat first - then take other end of cable to shore power ...
2 reasons : a) person is then not carrying a live power cable on a pontoon ... b) if cable falls into water - it not live.
2 reasons : a) person is then not carrying a live power cable on a pontoon ... b) if cable falls into water - it not live.
KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
Most boats have a plug and socket shorepower like this:
I would regard it as rather unsafe to be without one.
As far as I see from OP's description, "my boat has the mains shore power cable wired directly to the consumer unit", there could be 30 meters of cable and a plug wired directly to the consumer unit.
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dunedin
Well-Known Member
Why pray is that any safer than the installation that the OP has - and we have - which eliminates the (prone to corrosion) socket in the stern, but takes the cable directly into a stern locker and connects directly into the circuit breakers ?Most boats have a plug and socket shorepower like this:
I would regard it as rather unsafe to be without one.
As far as I see from OP's description, "my boat has the mains shore power cable wired directly to the consumer unit", there could be 30 meters of cable and a plug wired directly to the consumer unit.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
This 'prone to corrosion' nonsense ....
I've had caravans ... boats ... sheds ..... with Blue connections and it takes many years to have corrosion problem with them ...
As I said before ... how often do marinas change the mains blue connectors that are sitting out there on pontoons year after year .. in all weathers ??
I've had caravans ... boats ... sheds ..... with Blue connections and it takes many years to have corrosion problem with them ...
As I said before ... how often do marinas change the mains blue connectors that are sitting out there on pontoons year after year .. in all weathers ??
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Not sure about your marina, but ours doesn’t tend to have salt water spray going over the pontoon bollards - whereas the transom and cockpit plugs on many boats do often get salt spray.
But the point is - why cut an existing cable and insert extra connections and plus / socket which are unnecessary?
PS And our marina does periodically replace the bollard connections - not least as many seem to get a bit of abuse.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
Put the blue socket somewhere a bit sensible, and you won't have any problems. I wouldn't trust any sort of electrical connection where it's going to get soaked in seawater. If there's nowhere outside, put it in a locker and sort out a run for the cable so it doesn't get pinched when you close the lid
Refueler
Well-Known Member
I would question your assumption about the salt spray on pontoon etc ... even the fact that the air is salt laden is enough ....
I agree that if the setup on board works and can be lived with - why cut. I have not advocated cutting.
But I do point out that for literally as long as electric has been available to boats .. plug and scket cables have been common .. without problems.
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
That's a Marinco plug/socket, the very worst shore power connection there is.Most boats have a plug and socket shorepower like this:
I would regard it as rather unsafe to be without one.
https://www.tugnuts.com/threads/shore-power-cord-burnt-first-time-i-used-heat.16927/
https://www.google.com/search?q=sho...yAs&bih=737&biw=1380&client=firefox-b-d&udm=2
So it's actually safer to have the cable go directly to the consumer unit. Of course, this isn't convenient for every boat.
Could be, but again, how is that less safe that have a connector on the boat and 30 metres of cable with another connector ?
What danger do you perceive ?
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
I've been called out to plenty of shore power cables/socket/plugs that have failed for various reasons, corrosion being just one of them. Those blue connectors are barely splash proof.
KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
I apologise for grabbing the first picture of a plug and socket that I found, and for my failure to examine it closely. I am well aware of what you write here and assumed that everybody knew to use the international standard blue (IEC?) plugs and sockets.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
I am sure you that will agree that many so-called 'proof' connectors are far from it and actually a connector that allows any moisture / water etc to drain off can be better than those ...
The power cable from my house to channel for the boats has to have an exterior garden sealed connection - so power can be used halfway down garden occasionally ... I have just had to replace both plug and socket connectors of that connection again .... each year literally I have to. But the 'Blue' RV connectors that we use on boats (I have 'blue' power socket at the house outside in all weathers and fitted to the boats and Guest caravan down there) - are still the same as many years ago when fitted ...
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
They'd be better than the Marinco style ones, although there are even better ones available, i like the Ratio ones Energy Solutions | Ratio Stainless steel shore power inlet. 2P+E. 240v 16A
Very similar to the blue style ones, but IP56 rated.
But, there is still nothing wrong with having the cable going straight to the consumer unit, the lack of additional connections (plug/socket) make it safer, less failure points.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
having inspected many boats over the years .... the odd ones that installers failed to understand principles of water !!
Power connectors mounted 180 deg wrong ... so water collected in them instead of running over and off ..... cables without the loop down to have drips fall off ..... etc.
Power connectors mounted 180 deg wrong ... so water collected in them instead of running over and off ..... cables without the loop down to have drips fall off ..... etc.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
... and impossible to drop a live cable into the sea. No idea at all how I might know about this...
