Question about Shore Power Cables

[FootballFan]

I am playing around with an idea - looking for some insight. In short thinking about buying some additional 50 Amp shore power cables.

Started with convenience (West Marine), then quickly gravitated to other sites including Amazon which are generally 50% less.

Question:

What differentiates shore power cables? (50 AMP, 250 Volt)

Looks like most I have seen are using 6ga wire, is that pretty standard?

Anything I should watch out for?

Thanks

 

[ranger58sb]

#6 wires are common.

If you have an isolation transformer, you probably want 3-wire 50A/250V cable, no (correction: neutral) wire. Four works, though; it's just heavier. We carry an older 4-wire version, left over from a previous boat, for an extension.

-Chris

 

[ttmott]

#6 wires are common.

If you have an isolation transformer, you probably want 3-wire 50A/250V cable, no ground wire. Four works, though; it's just heavier. We carry an older 4-wire version, left over from a previous boat, for an extension.

-Chris

Chris - There's no Neutral (white) wire needed with an Iso Xfmr.
Tom

 

[ranger58sb]

Chris - There's no Neutral (white) wire needed with an Iso Xfmr.
Tom

Oops, thanks. I knew that, had a keyboard phart. Corrected.

Cheers, -Chris

 

[quality time]

Myself and a few dockmates bought the cheaper cables off of Amazon. We found that they were tough to mate with other plugs probably due to looser tolerances. I ended up replacing both ends with Marinco plugs which negated any cost savings in the end. I'd just stick with the well known brands.

 

[FootballFan]

Myself and a few dockmates bought the cheaper cables off of Amazon. We found that they were tough to mate with other plugs probably due to looser tolerances. I ended up replacing both ends with Marinco plugs which negated any cost savings in the end. I'd just stick with the well known brands.

Excellent feedback. I have looked at some of the cheaper cables - you just pointed out a differentiator. Thanks for posting the heads up.

 

[Pirate Lady]

 

[Pirate Lady]

Ya, real, FB group I belong to. Nobody sure if guy is serious or joking.

 

[bfernald0]

Go with a Smart Plug. Easy install on an existing cord and on the boat, and no more charred plugs.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Speaking of… today at boat i plugged a shore cord into outlet behind boat on outside of workshop to charge batts prior to launch. It matched up to the Marinco plug on boat but refused to provide juice to the shore panel. I ‘borrowed’ it from a boat the yard was scrapping. It said Charles Marine on end.
so i took it off and tried my new last summer Marinco cord and got juice to the panel. I no electrian but dont get how the prongs matched the Marinco plug on boat but supplied no power and no visible damage to anywhere on the cord. I guess its going in trash.

 

[Blueone]

For the dock I needed a 60’ 50 amp….I just wanted to leave it under the dock. The price was crazy expensive. I went to my local contractor electrical supply and they hooked me up with everything to build my own….. it was a third the price

 

[bbwhitejr]

For the dock I needed a 60’ 50 amp….I just wanted to leave it under the dock. The price was crazy expensive. I went to my local contractor electrical supply and they hooked me up with everything to build my own….. it was a third the price

I have done the same and saved a ton of money.

Bennett