Shorepower in Holland/Netherlands

[Jonrob]

Hi Can anybody help?
I have taken my boat across to Holland & I am based in a small Marina about 20 miles
from Rotterdam.
I have a problem with shorepower in as much as I can only turn on a table lamp with bulb rated
at 40w without tripping the breaker, even the battery charger (which I admit is charging 3 banks
of batteries) will trip, therefore I have no chance of boiling a kettle (at 1800 w) or using the microwave
(800 w running not starting).
I have bought a 2kw Inverter which I have yet to install (going back out on Wednesday this week)
but if I cannot even turn on the charger, it's not much good without running engines, which defeats the
object of having shore power.
The breaker by the way is in the distribution box on the pontoon to which I have no access (I have to get the
marina manager out to reset)
Has any one any ideas? I had no problems in UK, I have only been there a week so not had the opportunity
of trying elsewhere. I plan to stay for a couple of years, so do not want to put up with this.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

What supply does the marina say they give?

 

[Jonrob]

They tell me it can take 17 amps but I'm not convinced

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Netherlands is 230v, right? So 17A would be 3910w, theoretically? In other words - your kettle should be fine, if there was no fault. Have you put a clamp meter on your incoming supply so that you can see if there's an excessive load from something on the boat? Did it work ok in the UK? Have you tried it on a different shorepower supply in the marina where you currently (see what I did there? ) are?

 

[RAI]

You may have one of those earth leakage current issues. The resident experts will advise.

 

[Jonrob]

Sorry about lack of info JtB, but as I say, I've only been there a week, I had no probs. in UK
and I could actually have Kettle, charger & immersion heater regularly operating (although I generally
turn off one of these to be on the safe side). Is there a method of having say an inline breaker on the boat
with less value than the shoreline, so that trips first, it's the annoyance of go getting the marina guy all
the bl** dy time

 

[Jonrob]

Thanks RAI But the boat was OK a week ago but as you say someone will advise

 

[IDAMAY]

We spent several weeks last year travelling through Netherlands on our way to/from Scandinavia. We stopped in many marinas and rarely found that shore power gave more than 10 amps and often less. We have a 800 watt kettle against these possibilities. Takes a while to boil. We also have a system that can enhance shore power via the inverter but obviously at the expense of battery power.

If our experience is anything to go by, I would be very surprised if your marina supply is anywhere near 17 amps which seems an odd value in itself.

Best of luck.

Richard.

 

[Jonrob]

I don't mind using my inverter providing I can keep the batteries topped up with the charger.
I can operate most appliances like that if used one at a time. I am beginning to be suspicious
of the supply. Thanks for your input, much appreciated Richard

 

[piratos]

shorepower

Hi Can anybody help?
I have taken my boat across to Holland & I am based in a small Marina about 20 miles
from Rotterdam.
I have a problem with shorepower in as much as I can only turn on a table lamp with bulb rated
at 40w without tripping the breaker, even the battery charger (which I admit is charging 3 banks
of batteries) will trip, therefore I have no chance of boiling a kettle (at 1800 w) or using the microwave
(800 w running not starting).
I have bought a 2kw Inverter which I have yet to install (going back out on Wednesday this week)
but if I cannot even turn on the charger, it's not much good without running engines, which defeats the
object of having shore power.
The breaker by the way is in the distribution box on the pontoon to which I have no access (I have to get the
marina manager out to reset)
Has any one any ideas? I had no problems in UK, I have only been there a week so not had the opportunity
of trying elsewhere. I plan to stay for a couple of years, so do not want to put up with this.

Suggest you check the plugs a) from the cable and if all fine b) at the boat.
It happens that moistore cause poor connection.

regards

 

[jfm]

You need to buy a clamp meter (or use a good quality meter is installed on the boat) and measure the current that is tripping the dock breaker. If it is much less than 17 amps (I agree, an odd number) then complain

You don't say what size your batt charger is but if say it is 100amp at 12v battery charger that is only pulling about 5 amps @240v, so it feels like you are tripping the dock at less than 5 amps. That's ridiculous. The marina needs to fix this for you. Next time the guy comes to re-set the breaker why don't you read the nominal trip current of the breaker? It will be written on it. If it's 5 amps then the 17amps claim isn't true. If it's 15 or so amps and is tripping with your battery charger, then the breaker is faulty and the marina must replace it - you can prove that just by plugging into someone else's shorepower

 

[Jonrob]

Thanks jfm, I will check tomorrow when I go back out, the charger is 24v it was a new charger a couple of years ago now charging all
3 banks together, so I don't know how many amps it's drawing, I am leaning toward the 17 amp figure being false.