No shore power - any advice?

Agreed! Am going to try the cable and await a professional. I really don't have any understanding of boats or electrical installations!

If you never hear from me again - I touched the wrong thing.
 
If the test buttons flip the switches to off then there is good power reaching the trip, if not then the problem is before that point.

Looks like my idea of a switch with/part of the galvanic isolator is a red herring...
 
Saintlysimon said:
Plot thickens - tried running the engine and now the alternator seems like it is not working - there's no charge coming from the engine to the batteries - normally he engine will trickle charge the batteries at a steady rate.

I did some digging and found this compartment under the sofa

http://a68.tinypic.com/20idwf6.
http://a64.tinypic.com/2q9fnrb.jpg

Apologies only had the boat a week and I'm new to boats pretty much

Thanks
Click to expand...

My boat uses mastervolt equipment, but the inverter charger (Blue Victron box) also manages the shore power, so if the fuse in that blows, or it is switched off, the symptoms are similar to whet you are getting. Wouldn't affecvt the engine alternator though......
 
Interesting...I couldn't get any power lights on the big blue box...maybe that's the culprit and the fuse has gone in there...

I will check that.

As my shore power cable is brand new and has been working fine for two weeks. So I'm thinking it must be in the boat. But who knows.

Thanks!
 
Saintlysimon said:
Interesting...I couldn't get any power lights on the big blue box...maybe that's the culprit and the fuse has gone in there...

I will check that.

As my shore power cable is brand new and has been working fine for two weeks. So I'm thinking it must be in the boat. But who knows.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

if you have only had it a week can you not ask the previous owner ,also if the spark can not come for two weeks you need to find some one who will put them selves out as if it was july you need to use your boat and two weeks is a joke ,ps where are u basewd as someone on here may be able to help thats why we are here .
 
Saintlysimon said:
Agreed! Am going to try the cable and await a professional. I really don't have any understanding of boats or electrical installations!

If you never hear from me again - I touched the wrong thing.
Click to expand...

I agree trying a different shore-power lead is probably a good idea. Easy to do!

However looking at your photos:

The blue Victron Energy Phoenix Multiplus in #17 is your charger/inverter. ... I would switch it off, if not already off.

The second picture is your galvanic isolator. It is purely that. No switches.


The first and third photo appear to be of RCDs rather than circuit breakers for over current protection. The third certainly is. The labelling suggests that it protects just the 230v sockets.

Not quite so clear but ITYWF that that the first is also an RCD. Presumably it protects the "whole craft".

Are you saying that both of these can be tripped by pressing their test buttons ? If so I am lost as I dont think they will normally trip if there is no power on.

Stupid question:
but are you sure there is no power .... not just a failed" power on" indicator light
 
The fact that the test trip on the main 230 v panel does nothing when pushed and the fact that the two main lights are not on strongly suggest that you are not getting any 230 v power to this first point. Either a main fuse has gone somewhere or there is a connection fault between the shore power and the main 230 v panel on the boat
 
Bigplumbs said:
The fact that the test trip on the main 230 v panel does nothing when pushed and the fact that the two main lights are not on strongly suggest that you are not getting any 230 v power to this first point. Either a main fuse has gone somewhere or there is a connection fault between the shore power and the main 230 v panel on the boat
Click to expand...

The OP did subsequently clarify that the test buttons did correctly operate the trips.

To the OP - I imagine the location of the fault would be easy enough to find with a meter - where are you located, might help with recommendations?
 
In the first photo all 3 240 volt circuit breakers are in the off position so I wouldn't expect 240V to any of the mains powered equipment.

Unplug the heater and anything else like kettles etc.

Switch the 3 breakers from "0" to "1".

Then just to make sure flip the trip rocker switch to the left of the 3 breakers down, then back up again.

Henry :)
 
So with all breakers on, and the Victron box switched on with the inverter running, do you get any power then? My Mastervolt version has a remote panel for switching shore power on/off, charger on/off and inverter on/off, but yours appears to use the switch on the box itself. I'm working on the basis that if the Victron box is OK, then the inverter should supply power without the shore power lead connected. If not, and your batteries are charged and not flat it would indicate that there is an issue with the box since neither the shore power, or battery power are getting through to, or being processed by the Victron box. PS. Im as crap as you with this stuff!
 
Stupid phone deleting my posts...

The fact that you have an inverter suggests that the 240v outputs are not directly connected to the supply, and explains why the polarity lights are on but the main supply light is not. It also suggests that your supply and cable is OK, and that the issue may be with the inverter.

All power used in the boat, based on the above, would go through the inverter i.e. charging, heater, etc.

According to your inverter's manual, it will stop working if the fuse is blown or the batteries are low.

I note that there is a red square next to fuse on the inverter. It may be that the heater you were using, combined with other load, exceeded the 16A fuse rating, and it needs resetting. This is the most likely reason.

Also, it may be that you have been using the boat in inverter only mode, if you only had it a short while. With the 240v switches off, the batteries would now be depleted - especially if using a fan heater. If so switch all 240v switches to 1 - there may be a seperate one for charger somewhere - and switch inverter to charger only, and check if lights on it come on.

Next, I would trace / measure voltages but I do not suggest you do this unless you are OK with doing this...
 
I dont know the boat but lets get back to basics.

Electric flows

- from the shore power box
- to the socket on the boat
- via one or more breakers ( my S65 has some hidden breakers in a panel in the crew cabin as well as a very obvious one )
- to a distribution board
- to the appliances

A multi meter is about £10 from Maplin and you just need to trace it through confirming you have power at each stage.

Contacts in the lead corrode, breakers pop ( or go faulty) etc - it just takes a little time but you will learn about the boat as you go.

Try calling the dealer - is there a hidden breaker? On the S65 unless you knew where it was I feel confident in saying you would not find it. Mine tripped, no power, called dealer, instant answer - head to crew cabin, remove panel, look right, flick switch!
 
Saintlysimon said:
Plot thickens - tried running the engine and now the alternator seems like it is not working - there's no charge coming from the engine to the batteries - normally he engine will trickle charge the batteries at a steady rate.

I did some digging and found this compartment under the sofa

http://a68.tinypic.com/20idwf6.
http://a64.tinypic.com/2q9fnrb.jpg

Apologies only had the boat a week and I'm new to boats pretty much

Thanks
Click to expand...

The Victron inverter charger includes an automatic transfer switch. This switch automatically senses when there is shore power available and then passes the shore power through to the boat. It looks like there could be a problem with the Victron, look for a thermal fuse that might have tripped. I had a similar issue with a Mastervolt charger inverter combo. In my case the internal transferswitch had failed.
 
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After a bit more thinking , which is possibly not a good thing, I wonder if the fan heater may have overloaded the Victron as the 1600VA printed on the case suggests its capacity would be exceeded if the fan heater was 2kW on full power ?
Or, as suggested, the batteries may have been drained in which case the inverter would cut out.
Unplug the fan heater.
Try switching the switch on the Victron to the off position, wait a few seconds and switch it back on but in the battery charger only position. I think this may re-set the Victron and may cure your fault.
Might not work but worth a trying anyway.
.
 
Hello all

Thanks for the replies.

So today I went back to the boat - which is based at Saul Marina, in Gloucestershire - I did the following;

Bought a brand new cable. Tried it - and nothing happened.

I checked the two trip RCD units - the two shown in the first pictures, and have found the following to be correct;

The one which states AC Power - with the polarity lights - This trips when I press the test button.
The second - this DOES NOT trip when I press the test button

I telephoned another sparky today - who was busy for the next four weeks (! hell of a trade to be in) - he said if the first was tripped under test, but the second was not, then its likely as fault RCD unit.

So I shall await the arrival of one of these electricians!

Until then - its candles and a wind up radio....

Thanks guys
Ss
 
Saintlysimon said:
Hello all

Thanks for the replies.

So today I went back to the boat - which is based at Saul Marina, in Gloucestershire - I did the following;

Bought a brand new cable. Tried it - and nothing happened.

I checked the two trip RCD units - the two shown in the first pictures, and have found the following to be correct;

The one which states AC Power - with the polarity lights - This trips when I press the test button.
The second - this DOES NOT trip when I press the test button

I telephoned another sparky today - who was busy for the next four weeks (! hell of a trade to be in) - he said if the first was tripped under test, but the second was not, then its likely as fault RCD unit.

So I shall await the arrival of one of these electricians!

Until then - its candles and a wind up radio....

Thanks guys
Ss
Click to expand...

Is your 'second' breaker the one labelled 'sockets live'? If you're prepared to have a go with a meter then you could test to see if there's any voltage at the input to this breaker. That would tell you if the fault is at the breaker, or somewhere before it. Where does this breaker get its power from?

Have you tried speaking to the prev owner about the wiring architecture of the boat?
 
Yes, I think so. From what the sparky said today - if the polarity lights are coming on, at the first breaker, and if its tripping when pressing test, then power is getting to it - buit something inside is going wrong if the then second breakers does not trip when pressing test - i.e its not making far enough to reach the second.

If he is right, then the problem seems to be with the first?

I dont have details for the previous owner, but could try the broker. or the builder of the boat.

But thus far - I think the issue is with this unit?
 
MartynG said:
After a bit more thinking , which is possibly not a good thing, I wonder if the fan heater may have overloaded the Victron as the 1600VA printed on the case suggests its capacity would be exceeded if the fan heater was 2kW on full power ?
Or, as suggested, the batteries may have been drained in which case the inverter would cut out.
Unplug the fan heater.
Try switching the switch on the Victron to the off position, wait a few seconds and switch it back on but in the battery charger only position. I think this may re-set the Victron and may cure your fault.
Might not work but worth a trying anyway.
.
Click to expand...

Those were my earlier thoughts as well, probably supported by the red indicator next to the fuse label on the Victron. Does anyone know if the Victron's indicator is normally red, or only if the fuse needs resetting?
 
Saintlysimon said:
Hello all

Thanks for the replies.

So today I went back to the boat - which is based at Saul Marina, in Gloucestershire - I did the following;

Bought a brand new cable. Tried it - and nothing happened.

I checked the two trip RCD units - the two shown in the first pictures, and have found the following to be correct;

The one which states AC Power - with the polarity lights - This trips when I press the test button.
The second - this DOES NOT trip when I press the test button

I telephoned another sparky today - who was busy for the next four weeks (! hell of a trade to be in) - he said if the first was tripped under test, but the second was not, then its likely as fault RCD unit.

So I shall await the arrival of one of these electricians!

Until then - its candles and a wind up radio....

Thanks guys
Ss
Click to expand...

Simon, have you tried Allan Stafford at SOS Boat Services. He is local to Gloucester and on 07711 320522. Top bloke in my experience.
 
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