Shore Power

[iainmillett]

I'm thinking that I'll run a lead from a point in any marina that we visit this year into our boat and plug into a small light to provide better illumination than currently we enjoy from various oil based lamps etc

All I expect to add is a circuit breaker to the cable - but is there more needed than this for what is just used for occasional purposes?

I would not like to fry when I turn on the light so to speak or worse end up in a shower of sparks.........

 

[LadyInBed]

is there more needed than this for what is just used for occasional purposes?

Yes, a small (low wattage) electric travel kettle (from Argos page 463).
I used this system for years on my last boat.
Note that the French pontoon mains outlets have a breaker built into them.
Normally either 3 or 5 Amp and you pay no extra for their use. In U.K. you pay extra.

 

[claymore]

Agreed, I did too.
Just make sure that your extension cable is long enough and thick enough and has a tough rubber socket on the inboard end.
js

 

[coliholic]

You're undoubtedly safer to use a proper RCB and a good way to buy a complete kit is from a caravan dealer. One I've used in the past for this type of thing is Discount Towing in Sheffield. Go to http://www.discount-towing.co.uk. Look under Electrical then Mains. They do a complete kit for under £50 with full instructions

 

[iainmillett]

Have contacted Discount Towing and ordered one of their kits.
Many thanks.

 

[boomer]

I hope this kit includes a polarity tester/corrector. The French are no more to be trusted in this respect than any other!! In Deauville recently we found that some pedestals were +- and others -+. Not a problem with just lights and other simple bits but..............

 

[vyv_cox]

Polarity check

Buy one of these new gizmos that detects the live wire through the insulation. Not only useful for polarity checks but loads of other uses also. Don't know the cost (mine was a present) but it can't be a lot.