Electrical power connection at Marinas

I

I DONT RECALL

New Member
May 29, 2013
11
michigan
Boat Info
1999 380 sundancer all electronics GPs,Auto -Pilot etc. Raytheon
Engines
454's Horizons
I have a 1999 380 Sundancer. When I plug the boat in at a newly built marina that my wife and would love to relocate to. I can't get power. It trips at the post or it trips all of the post on that side of the dock. When I plug up at any other marina it works fine. Anyone heard of this ? Any suggestions ?
 
Newer equipment may be more sensitive to an issue that you were able to get away with at other (older) marinas. If your boat has an isolation transformer, that's where I would start looking, as well as ensuring all your bonding connections are clean.

Also if you've only tried from one pedestal, maybe try a pedestal in another shed or dock, in the off chance there is a neutral / ground crossover issue on that pedestal.
 
When does it trip the dock power? Here is my process, where in this process does it trip?
1) with everything off on the boat, and the pole off, make connection with shore power cord.
2) flip breaker on pole
3) flip breaker On above/near shore power Inlet
4) turn on shore power breaker On inside boat (still should be zero load)
5) check to make sure ac voltage is 120, and the reverse polarity light is not on
6) turn on something with low load, like battery charger (mine is labeled AC converter)
7) turn on the AC breaker (AC comes in a few seconds later automatically)
 
Code requires new docks to have GFI protection. I've heard of DIY inverter installs causing problems. Do you happen to have an inverter?
 
You have current leaking to the grounding/bonding somewhere.
Could be a wiring issue or could be a fault in something like the water heater.
Like Todd320 says - turn everything off on the boat right to the main circuit breakers and one by one bring the power back up until the ground fault trips - that will be your culprit.
 
ZZ13 said:
Yup. OP, reading this might help find the issue on your boat.

https://shop.pkys.com/Dock-Ground-Fault-Breaker-Trip-issues.html
Click to expand...
n
bobeast said:
Newer equipment may be more sensitive to an issue that you were able to get away with at other (older) marinas. If your boat has an isolation transformer, that's where I would start looking, as well as ensuring all your bonding connections are clean.

Also if you've only tried from one pedestal, maybe try a pedestal in another shed or dock, in the off chance there is a neutral / ground crossover issue on that pedestal.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much ! I'll keep you updated.
 
ttmott said:
You have current leaking to the grounding/bonding somewhere.
Could be a wiring issue or could be a fault in something like the water heater.
Like Todd320 says - turn everything off on the boat right to the main circuit breakers and one by one bring the power back up until the ground fault trips - that will be your culprit.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I'm going try that process tomorrow. Ill keep you informed.
 
ttmott said:
You have current leaking to the grounding/bonding somewhere.
Could be a wiring issue or could be a fault in something like the water heater.
Like Todd320 says - turn everything off on the boat right to the main circuit breakers and one by one bring the power back up until the ground fault trips - that will be your culprit.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot ! I'll let you know how it goes.
 
quality time said:
Code requires new docks to have GFI protection. I've heard of DIY inverter installs causing problems. Do you happen to have an inverter?
Click to expand...
No DYI Inverter . Thanks for the info.about the codes and the GFI's. I'll keep you informed.
 
Todd320 said:
When does it trip the dock power? Here is my process, where in this process does it trip?
1) with everything off on the boat, and the pole off, make connection with shore power cord.
2) flip breaker on pole
3) flip breaker On above/near shore power Inlet
4) turn on shore power breaker On inside boat (still should be zero load)
5) check to make sure ac voltage is 120, and the reverse polarity light is not on
6) turn on something with low load, like battery charger (mine is labeled AC converter)
7) turn on the AC breaker (AC comes in a few seconds later automatically)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help. Going to try and get in to it tomorrow.
 
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