Palma based Reliable marine electrician who omitted the word mañana from the daily vocabulary

[meracus]

Hello
Is there a proven reliable 0% BS marine electrician that you can recommend in Palma de Mallorca
We have a couple niggling bits we need to handle …
I’m all ears !
Thanks guys

 

[jrudge]

To fix what ?

 

[meracus]

Well , everytime we put the shore power on … we trip the fuse in the marina … we thought to do other tidying up as well .. have a victron charger that performs so so and wanted to add a extra domestic battery … we want to change a couple of gauges and look into bits and bobs
And finally establish a relationship with someone that could come and do a yearly once over … we don’t even mind someone from the UK … we can put them up etc …. In essence a serious person with a fairly basic concept of a calendar / understands that tomorrow is the immediate day that follows today that’s sort of thing

 

[jrudge]

Try Tom at total marine santa Ponca ( also on here as aquatom) but he is busy and they only take on boats if they have capacity.

I would be careful with “ with a fairly basic concept of a calendar / understands that tomorrow is the immediate day that follows today that’s sort of thing”. Mallorca has lots of supply but also huge demand and particularly around Easter time when the world and his dog wants their boat that has done nothing for the last 6 months and now x does not work shouting you want it done tomorrow may backfire. They have no shortage of customers.

 

[meracus]

Thanks … I have been waiting for said sparky for more then 2 months
Ideally want it done soon … otherwise … October … so long as it’s done and can work with the same reliable person all the time
Thanks , will reach out

 

[oldgit]

I would be careful with “ with a fairly basic concept of a calendar / understands that tomorrow is the immediate day that follows today that’s sort of thing”. Mallorca has lots of supply but also huge demand and particularly around Easter time when the world and his dog wants their boat that has done nothing for the last 6 months and now x does not work shouting you want it done tomorrow may backfire. They have no shortage of customers.

Once invited to go with a chum who kept a Targa in a noisy moped and all nite disco infested marina near Nice airport, wanted a second A/C unit fitted to his boat, just needed a quick lift and hold to install the hull fitting , decided a long weekend would do the trick.
Why not go down and watch the operation and have the following day out on the boat before flying back home.
Flights arranged from the 7th circle of Hell known as Stanstead along with expensive car parking et al .
Prior lift arranged with marina and staff booked to drill hole ready for later installation of A/C.
Arrive to find boat on blocks and ready to go.
Fly home on the Sunday after spending two days standing around waiting for somebody to drill a hole.
The hole was drilled eventually.
You can get this sort of service at home* without flying 1200 miles .

*But also probably get some sleep at night ?

 

[Portofino]

Ask a boat dealer or broker . Who did you buy it off ?
In the SoF I developed a good relationship with Sunseeker .Fr .
Even with the Itama there techs were on hand .Or alternatively your yard .Yards usually know .

Here in Italy on the marinas they have boat fixers in shops .If they can’t do it they know some one who can .

On the OG point Sunseeker France use ( I have posted this previously) an Italian sparky who s on call 24/7 .
Carries spares in the van .So an Italian plated van running round the CdA .He’s keeping the charter fleet running .

I used him to retro fit a shed load of Aircon ( inc drilling holes ) .This was after in desperation I had the usual French shrug shoulder treatment when they eventually arrived and local folks not turning up .

Rare I know .


So as well as installing the AC , I had him look at a fridge that only worked on shore power = fixed it .Install a induction hob , a marine RV one , mindful of the geny output.Replace the charger with a up to date all singing + dancing .Gen like you go through the boat from a sparky pov .

Just seems odd it takes folks to cross the border to basically back fill the voids the locals create .
I know being stuck on an island that’s not so easy .

Speaking to my Italian MAN agent based in Liguria he ( and his son ) travel over to the CdA as well .There are four agents within a 20 mile radius of Cannes anyhow .To be fair the French MAN agents are pretty good they do get back to you .So there s bit of U.K. ( or is it American , drifted across the Atlantic? ) customer service in France albeit at the embryonic stage …….but room for improvement.

 

[ChromeDome]

Hello
Is there a proven reliable 0% BS marine electrician that you can recommend in Palma de Mallorca
We have a couple niggling bits we need to handle …
I’m all ears !
Thanks guys

The bit that comes with Spanish tourist trap culture isn't easy to change. When you find one treat him well,- especially when the cost to you is low (like taking his advice (when valid), cold snacks and a smile even on days he don't deserve it).
Just be a little more attractive than his average customers.

BTW found colleagues in our Madrid entity very professional indeed, before I retired.

 

[Portofino]

Well , everytime we put the shore power on … we trip the fuse in the marina … we thought to do other tidying up as well .. have a victron charger that performs so so and wanted to add a extra domestic battery … we want to change a couple of gauges and look into bits and bobs
And finally establish a relationship with someone that could come and do a yearly once over … we don’t even mind someone from the UK … we can put them up etc …. In essence a serious person with a fairly basic concept of a calendar / understands that tomorrow is the immediate day that follows today that’s sort of thing

What have you done thus far ?
Have you opened up both plugs to check the wiring ? They are notorious for “ pulls “ and high resistance at the contacts ?
unplug it btw and sit it on the cockpit table while checking this .Both ends facing you while you open them .

Also has it ever worked in your ownership? Thinking you have moved berths and it’s a reverse polarity thingy .
But you have not given a lot of info .eg have you borrowed a neighbours lead ? - to eliminate it’s your lead or marina unit ? Ie it’s your boat ?



They say and I believe this 1/2 of the pleasure with boats is actually fixing / DIY ing / learning about stuff related to running it , and the other 1/2 is the sailing side .

 

[meracus]

Hello
Yes moved cable to other berth …same in the hard … nothing in boat trips on except when engaging shore power
Have a few dials to change … wanted to add a battery .. so may swap for a larger victron …
Always been super courteous … it’s just that we have been given the run around for last 2 months and now everyone we call is too busy
Not really fussed if this season we don’t use it … so long as we can hook up with someone reliable who can visit us after the madness
Obviously better if sooner … but hey ho … been shouting since April

 

[Seastoke]

Are you handy with tools as we could talk you through it

 

[jrudge]

Shore power is east to diagnose. Everything on the boat off. Connect it. Does it Pop?

No. It is on the boat. Turn on each in turn and see what trips it. Solved.

It does pop.

Is there an isolator next to the shore inlet ? Many boats have then. Turn that off also. Turn on shore power.

Still pops. Cable or back or socket.

Does not pop.

Cable is ok as is socket so you have at least got an area to look at.

There are two types of fault that cause things to pop. Over current ( short ) and earth to neutral.

Earth to neutral will still show even when all kit is off ( typically only live is Switched).

The most common device for earth neutral is the ice maker ( water and electric don’t mix ). Disconnect it totally ( all wires ) see what happens

You can also remove the earth wire in the shore cable FOR TESTING ONLY - and see what happens. It must just be for testing as current is leaking somewhere and you must have somewhere for it to go

Finally does it work on the Generator ok? If so it is likely an earth / neutral fault

 

[MapisM]

Well , everytime we put the shore power on … we trip the fuse in the marina

No such thing as a fuse, in dock pedestals.
Typically, there should be an RCD device (usually one per pedestal, upstream of all sockets), plus a thermal breaker for each socket.
If you can tell us what exactly is tripping when you connect the shore cable, the possible diagnostic steps that should follow are different.

PS: ref. the thread title, hoping to get rid of mañana in the marine vocabulary is a perfect definition of what wishful thinking is all about.
We boaters must get used to the mañana lifestyle, not the other way round!

 

[Seastoke]

The first question is are you able to reset the marina trip or do you need one of the staff.

 

[Hurricane]

For me, the biggest culprit has always been the hot water immersion heater.
The element breaks down and eventually causes a leak to ground which trips the shore power RCD

However - go through jrudge's list of tests first and establish what it is that is blowing the RCD
It HAS to be something so start with everything on the boat switched off at the boat's distribution panel.
Hopefully it won't then trip the RCD.
If so, gradually switch on at the boat's distribution panel.
I bet that when you switch on the hot water, it will trip.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Ben Clay 00 49 176 727 19 131 without a doubt.

 

[Seastoke]

Ben Clay 00 49 176 727 19 131 without a doubt.

Was he based in Dover once.

 

[Clancy Moped]

​

 

[Portofino]

Hello
Yes moved cable to other berth …same in the hard … nothing in boat trips on except when engaging shore power
Have a few dials to change … wanted to add a battery .. so may swap for a larger victron …
Always been super courteous … it’s just that we have been given the run around for last 2 months and now everyone we call is too busy
Not really fussed if this season we don’t use it … so long as we can hook up with someone reliable who can visit us after the madness
Obviously better if sooner … but hey ho … been shouting since April

Open up both ends and redo the connects .
As I said with both ends on the table simultaneously.

You need to try a neighbours lead .If that works it’s your lead .

 

[Chris H]

If the boat is protected via an RCD, switching things on/off may not find the problem, it could be a few items on your boat that are giving small leakages to earth, that when enough of them are switched on, the leakage is enough to trip the RCD, it could be any combination of equipment that trips the RCD……..I do this for a job and it’s ball ache finding the piece of equipment that is starting to age and putting more electricity to earth.