I just purchased a 1990 hunter 30. The spec sheet said 20 amp but the dealer had it hooked up to 30 amp and said the 20 amp reference must have been a typo. Can anyone out there tell me for certain what amp service that boat has? Thanks in advance for any help!
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Todd, I've never heard of a 20 amp marine shore
power cable. The ends can be 20 amp but 10 guage wire is all I've seen, (or larger) and it's 30 amp. The 20 amp twist locks will still flow 30 amps. Internally, they are just as robust. Don't know why the difference.
power cable. The ends can be 20 amp but 10 guage wire is all I've seen, (or larger) and it's 30 amp. The 20 amp twist locks will still flow 30 amps. Internally, they are just as robust. Don't know why the difference.
Conductor size is what counts.
If you have a 30 amp plug the conductors must be 10 AWG. till they reach the next protection device which is the breaker in your electrical control panel. This includesds the wire that runs from the large deck mounted input plug to your beaker.
If you have a 30 amp plug the conductors must be 10 AWG. till they reach the next protection device which is the breaker in your electrical control panel. This includesds the wire that runs from the large deck mounted input plug to your beaker.
Todd, what is the amp rating of the main breaker..
on your boat? That determines what your boat is capable of supporting. Most marinas are set up for 30 amp service, one key reason for the 30 amp plug so common in our waters. No big deal if you have a 30 amp shorepower plug on your cord and a 20 amp breaker on your main panel. If you have a 20 amp breaker I would not change it out for a 30 amp unless I had the boat's electrical system checked out by a marine electrician. It really depends on your amperage draw. As long as it is less than 20 amps, not to worry. Terry
on your boat? That determines what your boat is capable of supporting. Most marinas are set up for 30 amp service, one key reason for the 30 amp plug so common in our waters. No big deal if you have a 30 amp shorepower plug on your cord and a 20 amp breaker on your main panel. If you have a 20 amp breaker I would not change it out for a 30 amp unless I had the boat's electrical system checked out by a marine electrician. It really depends on your amperage draw. As long as it is less than 20 amps, not to worry. Terry
Fred, IMHO if a shorepower cord has a 20 amp...
plug and socket it is a 20 amp cord regardless of the size of wire used. I think the key in Todd's case is the main breaker rating on his boat. I suspect it is 20 amp (he needs to check this out). Our H28 shorepower was hardwired to the panel, which had a 20 amp breaker (I think), with a 30 amp plug because of the marina power pedestal socket. If Todd's boat is set up for 20 amp (I doubt it was a typo) I would leave it alone unless he plans on adding more electrical stuff to his boat; another discussion topic. Most of the marinas around here are set up with 30 amp sockets. So, if he decides to convert his shorepower cord back to a 20 amp plug he will end up purchasing a 20 amp to 30 amp adapter. Terry
plug and socket it is a 20 amp cord regardless of the size of wire used. I think the key in Todd's case is the main breaker rating on his boat. I suspect it is 20 amp (he needs to check this out). Our H28 shorepower was hardwired to the panel, which had a 20 amp breaker (I think), with a 30 amp plug because of the marina power pedestal socket. If Todd's boat is set up for 20 amp (I doubt it was a typo) I would leave it alone unless he plans on adding more electrical stuff to his boat; another discussion topic. Most of the marinas around here are set up with 30 amp sockets. So, if he decides to convert his shorepower cord back to a 20 amp plug he will end up purchasing a 20 amp to 30 amp adapter. Terry
Yep Terry,
And that brings up the question, Why? As Colin says, It's the conductor that counts. 30 amp service is 10 AWG and 20 amp is smaller. Again, why would anyone have a setup smaller than 10 AWG? Todd, check the wire on your boat from the shore-power inlet to the main breaker. If it's 10 AWG your in good shape, no worries. Terry, years ago when I was at the Port Orchard Marina, the service was 20 amps. The molded cables were getting popular. If you didn't make your own from scratch, then you had to used an adapter or cut off the molded 30 amp twist lock. I've still got the cut-off end to the cable of my Hunter. To this day, I have to use adapters. Even on my short bow cable. It's annoying, but only because I haven't bothered to change back. I've been a little busy.
This thread reminds me of Nuavo Vallarta. It was under construction in 92 when we were there. The outlets for shorpower were the inlets used on boats. Everyone of them (hundreds) were wrong. Each yacht had to use a set of three wires cut from nomex to jumper to their power cord. Everyone who arrived would tell the marina of the incompatibility. The response? The office workers just handed us three pieces of wire. The new floats were being wired wrong as we jumpered our cable. Ah, Mexico.
And that brings up the question, Why? As Colin says, It's the conductor that counts. 30 amp service is 10 AWG and 20 amp is smaller. Again, why would anyone have a setup smaller than 10 AWG? Todd, check the wire on your boat from the shore-power inlet to the main breaker. If it's 10 AWG your in good shape, no worries. Terry, years ago when I was at the Port Orchard Marina, the service was 20 amps. The molded cables were getting popular. If you didn't make your own from scratch, then you had to used an adapter or cut off the molded 30 amp twist lock. I've still got the cut-off end to the cable of my Hunter. To this day, I have to use adapters. Even on my short bow cable. It's annoying, but only because I haven't bothered to change back. I've been a little busy.
This thread reminds me of Nuavo Vallarta. It was under construction in 92 when we were there. The outlets for shorpower were the inlets used on boats. Everyone of them (hundreds) were wrong. Each yacht had to use a set of three wires cut from nomex to jumper to their power cord. Everyone who arrived would tell the marina of the incompatibility. The response? The office workers just handed us three pieces of wire. The new floats were being wired wrong as we jumpered our cable. Ah, Mexico.- Status