Temporay mains on Board

[davidpbo]

Normally we have no access to mains electricity on our boat except via a 150W inverter which we use very rarely and we do not have a permanent mains installation.

Whilst we were crusing the Clyde a few weeks back we did use shore power occasionally to run our cool box and laptop via an extension lead. I do not currently have a an RCCD trip on the extension lead but did test the one on the pontoon each time.

I only use laptop computer, coolbox and 240V/12V inverter to power it, rechargeable electric drill and possibly occasionally a battery charger for a limited time (Battery disconnected from boat electrics). Everything is double insulated.

I recognise the need for my own close protection RCCB/MCB device on board but am iinterested to know how far the forum think I should go with earth bonding. The extension socket is earthed via the xtension cable.

Should I bond everything within the boat for very occasional use?

The boat has an outboard, keel and mast and sink other than the electrics everything is pretty much electrically isolated.

 

[LadyInBed]

Should I bond everything within the boat for very occasional use?

No, if you are using an o/b, that will have an anode on it. I assume you don't have an extra hull anode.
If you start bonding everything together you will then need a hull anode for the bonding to be effective. The problem will then be that you can start generating 'Earth loops'.
As things stand, using an extension lead to shore things plugged into it are earthed.
It would be a bit like using an electric lawn mower and hammering into the lawn a separate ground spike.