Shore power problem

[Lucky Duck]

Plugged in the shore power this morning and all was well until actually tried to use by for switching on the battery charger. As soon as I draw any real load the 'power on' light at the circuit breakers goes out until you switch the offending bit of kit off!

I Had this problem a couple of years back and changing the shore power lead solved it but not this time. Any ideas as to how this can be fixed this time?

 

[VicS]

Plugged in the shore power this morning and all was well until actually tried to use by for switching on the battery charger. As soon as I draw any real load the 'power on' light at the circuit breakers goes out until you switch the offending bit of kit off!

I Had this problem a couple of years back and changing the shore power lead solved it but not this time. Any ideas as to how this can be fixed this time?

I take it nothing actually works. but mcb and RCD do not trip?
Sounds like a very poor connection somewhere. Dodgy pontoon supply, Plug & socket at either end of lead , (Defective lead ), Poor connection on board.

 

[KellysEye]

It could be a short on the shoreside lead plug or the boat lead plug, take the plugs apart and check the wiring. Failing that there could be short on the shoreside power point or a short in the battery charger. Also check that both plugs are pushed in properly.

 

[nigelmercier]

What breaker is dropping out: RCD or MCB?

 

[Lucky Duck]

What breaker is dropping out: RCD or MCB?

It's on the far left, the light dims then goes out - nothing trips. I have swapped leads and shore power points so I suspect the problem is on board.

Thank you everybody for you help so far

 

[nigelmercier]

It's on the far left, the light dims then goes out - nothing trips. I have swapped leads and shore power points so I suspect the problem is on board.

A bad connection or perhaps a tired breaker. Can you get a close-up?

Does the light come back on if you remove the load?

 

[FullCircle]

Simon, I have a socket/circuit testing plug, tells me the story.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/240V-UK-M...-Tester-Wiring-Safety-Check-13A-/150757510856

I thought I had a problem in various marinas hook up, but keep it on board, its a fiver with post.

I found in Bridgemarsh that I was only getting 168v sometimes because of the length of the supply line, which increased the required amps to make the Watts.....(but that blew circuit breakers).

 

[Lucky Duck]

A bad connection or perhaps a tired breaker. Can you get a close-up?

Does the light come back on if you remove the load?

The light comes back on when the load is removed.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Simon, I have a socket/circuit testing plug, tells me the story.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/240V-UK-M...-Tester-Wiring-Safety-Check-13A-/150757510856

I thought I had a problem in various marinas hook up, but keep it on board, its a fiver with post.

I found in Bridgemarsh that I was only getting 168v sometimes because of the length of the supply line, which increased the required amps to make the Watts.....(but that blew circuit breakers).

Hopefully I will be able to borrow one over the weekend, in the meantime I will look for loose connections

 

[FullCircle]

Hopefully I will be able to borrow one over the weekend, in the meantime I will look for loose connections

You can get them in B&Q...... or Maplin

 

[fireball]

Hopefully I will be able to borrow one over the weekend, in the meantime I will look for loose connections

You can get them in B&Q...... or Maplin

I don't think he wants any more loose connections!

Simon - sounds like you've eliminated the shoreside connection - but you could do a final test if you have a 15amp to 13amp socket lead - I have one on board for when I don't want power inside or want to isolate the onboard electrics completely but still have power.

 

[Lucky Duck]

It looks like the main switch wasn't "seated" properly or one of the connections was a bit loose as everything seems to be OK for the moment (fingers crossed), thank you everybody for you replies.

 

[VicS]

It looks like the main switch wasn't "seated" properly or one of the connections was a bit loose as everything seems to be OK for the moment (fingers crossed), thank you everybody for you replies.

Be vigilant esp with an high wattage equipment in use. If they are any slightly loose connections or bad switch contacts they will soon get warm or even dangerously hot!

 

[KellysEye]

>Be vigilant esp with an high wattage equipment in use. If they are any slightly loose connections or bad switch contacts they will soon get warm or even dangerously hot!

We had experience of something similar two days out from St Lucia, we were running the generator and somehow the plug had worked it's way out a bit, the socket melted and we were very lucky it didn't cause a fire.

 

[William_H]

An electric heater toaster kettle etc tend to be high current devices which can be tried to confirm you do not have a problem with the charger. These devices will exacerbate any problem. It would be worth while checking for warmth switches plugs sockets etc as KellysEye says a bad connection that works sometimes is a recipe for burning. Not a thing you can hope will come good.
good luck olewill