Shore ac power inlet

S

spaarks

New Member
Joined
10 Apr 2006
Messages
2
Visit site
I need to replace a burnt shore inlet receptacle. The existing one is a Hubbell (I understand it is a U.S. product), looks the same as Marinco. Would there be any advantage in fitting an inlet of a different type such as the 16A CEE type (as in Marina power pedestals) or the Ratio MP—which looks like a variant of the CEE type.

http://www.power-store.com/view-item.asp?itemid=1360&id=22
http://www.shorepower.eu/en-uk/

Is there a "standard" type of power inlet?

thanks
 
<<<Is there a "standard" type of power inlet?>>>

'Some' marinas insist on certain types or brands, you should check this before you purchase one they won't let you use.

If no restrictions, try a local caravan fit out store.

Hope this helps.

Avagoodweekend......
 
In Oz while we use different type power plugs for appliances the plug used on boats and caravans is a male version set into a mounting often with a closing cover. This means that a normal extension cord albeit often a slightly elongated one will plug into the mounted plug.
Or put another way your lead from the jetty can plug into the boats system or any single appliance. I really expected this system would be used in UK. Certainly it is a bit silly having a different standard of plug requiring a peculiar connector for your boat. Whatever you use you must have the male pins on the receiving end or the enclosed socket at the power coming in end.
Our marina requires a peculiar lug to go into the jetty fitting which has a big locking screw cover to hold it in place even though an ordinary plug will work. olewill
 
Doesnt really matter what you have at "your" end of te cable, the boat. The marina end is a different matter, with diifferent types in different places, I think the uk has one type, but the meddy has many.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Doesnt really matter what you have at "your" end of te cable, the boat. The marina end is a different matter, with diifferent types in different places, I think the uk has one type, but the meddy has many.

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
It makes a BIG difference what you have at your end! If the boat has a socket as the fixed part then the shore power cable is LETHAL ( I edited out the 'potentially' before lethal ) . It means that the cable from the marina post has live pins sticking out for fingers to touch. Not necessarily your fingers, those of a child, crewman or stranger unaware that the cable lying on the jetty is live.

Sorry for the strong response but in my opinion anyone who allowed this arrangement to continue would be grossly negligent and would deserve to be sued or locked up in the event of an accident.

My boat came rigged like this, I know because I touched the live pins once. Luckily I just got a wake up call rather than a fatal shock.

Yes, the marina end can be a pain with different sockets about but you simply need to have a 1 metre long adaptor made up to go from a marina pole to your plug. A bit like going to Europe on business, you just have an adaptor for your laptop cable, you don't buy a new power supply!
 
Before you bite my effin head off, I meant doesnt matter what type of socket as in make of external socket!! I am neither stupid nor suicidal, sorry if I wasnt clear, but jeeze!!!!

I was not advocating the use of a domestic socket with a plug on the end of the cable, that's not what he has now! and never mentioned it!!
 
The one shown in your first link, from the 'budget range' is the type fitted to my motorhome. It seems perfectly adequate for this duty, fitted to a vertical surface. My own opinion is that I would not fit it to my boat, as it is far from being failsafe water resistant, in that the flap lid needs to be positively closed.

The yellow one shown in the second link looks OK but is not the standard type of fitting, so you may run into compatibility problems.

My own preference is to stick to the standard blue types, as in the 'standard' range from Merlin. Mine is a bulkhead mounted one that offers the connection at something like 45 degrees from the vertical. This can face downwards if you have space, although mine faces upwards under a locker lid. The cap over the connector sockets is spring loaded and there is an O-ring seal, so it is reasonably water resistant.
 
Just need to fit what I call a blue euro fitting, 16 amp? can see where the concerns are coming from, you can buy the fittings from a caravan shop or a trade electrical shop (cheapest) buy the ones with screw tabs attached at the sides and screw it to an inside locker wall. Point that was made about pins being live is valid, but if you fit one of these http://www.essentialsupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_16A_Inlets___Mounted_Sockets_141.html
then you will have a female at the end of your wanderlead and no probs.
stu
 
I would suggest that for use on a boat an inlet water proof to say IP 55 or 66 would be a wise choice . The budget flush mounting one from Merlin is not but the surface mount ones in both the "budget" and "standard" range is dust and water proof to IP56.

Would not know what the specs of the caravan ones are, but they are less than half the price .

I think if you have not already done so you should establish the reason for the old one being burnt. If you are frequently at near the maximum rating you would be wise to go for a good quality product rather than a cheap one.

The connector on the cable may well be burnt and in need of replacement with one of the same quality as the inlet.
 
IMHO caravan products may not be designed for SW environment - but given that they are designed to be used in a far more HS&E controlled environment than average coastal boat - then I cannot see the argument for using high priced equivalents. OK if you go for full enclosed waterproof jobbies - then accepted. But for majority of users they do not need that level, waterprotected / splash-proof is enough.
I would also suggest that many available via marine Outlets like many other items could possibly be same but re-labelled.

As to plug burnt - is it burnt really or corroded ? I have had to replace 1 inlet socket and 1 supply plug in over 15 years of having shore power to my boats. All plugs / sockets used were same as I used for years on caravans - still use today in fact. The replacements were due to corrosion. Not bad in 15 yrs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top