OK to wire a single phase to a 3 phase adapter?

markc

markc

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As title says, is this OK. I'm sat in Nice Lympia and the only power option available is to use 3 Phase sockets. Marina have given me a 3 phase plug and suggested I wire earth, neutral and one of the 3 lives on my shore power lead. Sounds logical, but I don't fancy frying me or the boat. Any expert advice? Cheers!
 
I carry all kinds of adaptors for all the different systems that we come across.
A couple are three phase (red) plugs with two single phase sockets wired to them.
Each socket is connected to one of the phases in the red plug connector.
This gives me two separate single phase supplies on the boat.
Be careful though because the two phases have 480v between each live terminal.
In fact this configuration is normal for our home berth because each of our home berth blue connectors is wired to a different phase.
 
markc said:
As title says, is this OK. I'm sat in Nice Lympia and the only power option available is to use 3 Phase sockets. Marina have given me a 3 phase plug and suggested I wire earth, neutral and one of the 3 lives on my shore power lead. Sounds logical, but I don't fancy frying me or the boat. Any expert advice? Cheers!
Click to expand...
That’s exactly correct. Doesn’t matter which of the 3 phases you pick.
 
Hurricane said:
I carry all kinds of adaptors for all the different systems that we come across.
A couple are three phase (red) plugs with two single phase sockets wired to them.
Each socket is connected to one of the phases in the red plug connector.
This gives me two separate single phase supplies on the boat.
Be careful though because the two phases have 480v between each live terminal.
In fact this configuration is normal for our home berth because each of our home berth blue connectors is wired to a different phase.
Click to expand...
But if you are going to have two outlets please wire both lives to the same phase. Phase to phase at 400 VAC can seriously damage anything rated for 230 v, especially a human, or a human nearby when the short occurs.

I am surprised a Marina would give the advice they did to a non electrician. Getting this wrong has a very severe penalty.
 
In the few times I have ended up on a red 3 phase berth the marina have sent an electrician who’s done an adaptor for our 32 A foc
It’s not something I would want to fiddle about with .
I,am very surprised they let you have a go !
 
superheat6k said:
But if you are going to have two outlets please wire both lives to the same phase. Phase to phase at 400 VAC can seriously damage anything rated for 230 v, especially a human, or a human nearby when the short occurs.

I am surprised a Marina would give the advice they did to a non electrician. Getting this wrong has a very severe penalty.
Click to expand...

You can't do that on a three phase plug - there are only four wires - three phases and neutral.
If you put two on the same phase, you would overload that phase.

The marina don't advise anything - it is just that each electrical tower on our marina has three phases and to balance the phases, they put the blue (single phase) plugs on different phases.

Yes - I agree that it can be dangerous but boat manufacturers take this into account.
For example our two supplies are completely split - one supply for the A/C - and a second supply for everything else.

This is just how it is.
I know the dangers - I suspect that others don't.
 
superheat6k said:
But if you are going to have two outlets please wire both lives to the same phase. Phase to phase at 400 VAC can seriously damage anything rated for 230 v, especially a human, or a human nearby when the short occurs.

I am surprised a Marina would give the advice they did to a non electrician. Getting this wrong has a very severe penalty.
Click to expand...

I'm with H on this and disagree. As long as you are absolutely sure that you have a neutral on each outlet then it's best to have a different phase live on each.
2 lives by mistake and you will probably need to go shopping to replace fried stuff.
 
On the subject of marina electrics.
I was caught out in the early days when we were given a supply and told that it was 220v - it turned out to be 380v.
Caused a lot of damage - battery charger etc.
Since then, I religiously check the power at EVERY marina that I visit.
I have made up a short wire with a 32a plug on the end - same size and sex as my main power leads.
I put a UK socket on the other end of the short wire.
A UK socket like this
rubber_1g_trailing_socket.500.jpg



Then all I need to do is plug in one of these to check a marina supply BEFORE plugging the boat in.

ae235


I also have one of these that I can plug in separately.

kewcheckr2.jpg


Then it is easy to plug a multimeter tester into the three sockets to test - Ground to Live (220/240v or near) - Live to Neutral (220/240v) - and Neutral to Ground (0v or near).

AND I DO THIS TEST EVERY TIME WE VISIT A NEW BERTH.
 
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Mark,

Are you enjoying Nice? We have stayed there twice and enjoy the port. There are some great little shops, bars and restaurants really close. If you would like some recommendations let me know.

Two quick ones are a bar called Rosé - guess what their specialty is! 2 The fishmonger who is just up the hill on the street parallel to the port.

Enjoy!
 
mcanderson said:
Mark,

Are you enjoying Nice? We have stayed there twice and enjoy the port. There are some great little shops, bars and restaurants really close. If you would like some recommendations let me know.

Two quick ones are a bar called Rosé - guess what their specialty is! 2 The fishmonger who is just up the hill on the street parallel to the port.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Yes, we're certainly having fun. I spotted the fishmonger last night and this morning found a good greengrocer and a boulangerie in the same street. We're going to explore the old town this morning until the kids force us to take them to the beach!
 
That green grocer also has a very good selection of rosé!

There is a small beach near leplongeoir.com so you can drop the kids and then relax whilst they play!

Don’t forget there is a small electric pontu that rams across the port so you don’t have to walk around it and the port office has bikes you can use also.

Dull, but factual the laundry below the port office is good and inexpensive. You get token from the port office and if you join the Riviera Ports VIP club(free) they will give you tokens for a free wash and dry.
 
mcanderson said:
That green grocer also has a very good selection of rosé!

There is a small beach near leplongeoir.com so you can drop the kids and then relax whilst they play!

Don’t forget there is a small electric pontu that rams across the port so you don’t have to walk around it and the port office has bikes you can use also.

Dull, but factual the laundry below the port office is good and inexpensive. You get token from the port office and if you join the Riviera Ports VIP club(free) they will give you tokens for a free wash and dry.
Click to expand...

We're moored on the quay right next to the little ferry and yes, it's very useful. Laundry good too, used it yesterday. Thanks for the beach tip, I'll check it out!
 
Quite a few of us anchored at Lerins tomorrow (well, 3 boats) so feel free to join:encouragement: Kids as well as adults. Seabobs all charged up. :D
 
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