Shore Power

[Craig981]

I'm trying to work the best option for getting shore power onto my Westerly Centaur. Currently it has two batteries and that's it - no usb or other sockets apart from for the navigation and lighting. I won't be using too much power and will only need it whilst on the boat, I was thinking the most cost effective and simplest option is to use shore power when in the marina and solar when out and about. I would like to fit a socket to plug in the mains cable on the outside of the boat to avoid lots of dangly cables. something like this Force 4 Flush Mounted Plug - 16 Amp | Force 4 Chandlery what I would like to know is how it connects inside the boat? is the socket wired up to a fuse and socket inside the boat? I can't get a good picture of the reverse of the plug!

 

[PetiteFleur]

Yes, that's the right socket for the boat end - a caravan dealer may be cheaper.

 

[PaulRainbow]

The socket shown had three x two screw terminals on the rear. It must be connected to a consumer unit which contains an RCD and MCB or an RCBO. A sensible solution would be one of these: British General 5-Module 3-Way Populated Garage Consumer Unit

 

[Aurai]

Following on from Paul, the socket you linked to is pretty common, just make sure it is accessible at the rear and not likely to get knocked. Once you choose where to site it. Accessible, so you can work on it and wire up your cable. Choice of cable is important and heat resistant, stranded cable is usual. As you need the cable, carefully, and securely routed to where you put your Garage Unit. Again locating this unit where you can work on it. Then you can wire from one breaker to a 13A socket and from the other to your battery charger. Clipping and cable tying as you go, plenty of pictures on here for neat wiring. Dead test the wiring fully, before energising the circuits for the first time. Good luck

 

[davidpbo]

I would usually mount the inlet plug (it is not a socket) then pull it foreward and wire it before accessing it down and sealing it. Most surface mount plugs and sockets are designed to do this.

You need to check that there are no exposed contacts where they are at all accessible buying the plug when it is installed.

Since the incoming cable is probably rated at 16a your primary fuse/breaker probably should not be too much higher although the fusing to protect your cable should be provided before the power outlet it is plugged into in the yard or pontoon but you never know.

I would go for double pole.
Rccd (earth leakage protection) is a good idea on the consumer unit inside the boat, you may be able to get a combined MCB (miniature circuit breaker) and RCCD (Residual current device) of the correct rating i.e 16 or maybe 20A current and 30ma earth leakage current (I actually used 10ma) but I would want double pole device that breaks live and neutral. To my surprise many are single pole I think despite having line and neutral running through them.

If the incoming breaker is larger than 16A then maybe fit another breaker at 16A and wire to any sockets in 2.5mm cable. I used HO7 which is s heavy duty rubber flex, one socket straight from the fuse board and another 2 daisy chained and then paralleled to first at the fuse board.