Adding Shore Power to an Oday 23-2

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Seeking advice and experience (good/bad) installing shore power.
Specifically location of inlet and panel etc.
This is what I have just ordered.
30A Smartplug inlet and cordset with dual configuration
Paneltronics 3 Position Breaker Panel & Main with LEDs
Pro Mariner ProSafe Failsafe 30 amp Galvanic Isolator
marine grade 12/3 wire to run to ac GFCI marine grade outlets
Marine grade 10/3 wire to run from smart plug inlet to panel
So not sure of best location for inlet and panel. Pictures, advice, mistakes, warnings, success stories all welcome.
(Posted also on the Oday Forum)
Thank you and Godspeed in the New Year Scott

 

[Dennis Kitchen]

Hi Scott,
Sounds like you have a very good start on this, judging by your materials list. I don't have an Oday so accept my comments as being general in nature.
* To meet ABYC standards your inlet (Smart Plug) should be located within 10 feet of your main breaker. If you wish to keep your wire runs and panel backs hidden in the boats voids you'll have to plan accordingly.
* Unless you are sure the panel backs will never come into contact with reaching fingers or loose equipment, install the protective covers for the backs. They are expensive I know. For your small panel you could probably get away with using a 1 or 2 lb hamburger tray, or cheap food storage tray; something of appropriate dimension.
* Use the blue plastic boxes from your local home center to house the outlets.
* Use a GFCI outlet as the first one in each run of circuits.
* If you don't want big holes in your cabin liner to house the panel, build a mahogany or teak box for it and mount it over a hole just large enough for your wiring.

Good luck! You'll enjoy having a proper access to AC power.
https://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/DIY-Shore-Power

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Hello Scott! It's good to see you on board again.
It seems that you followed us down to Barnegat Bay? Or perhaps we followed you! We'll have to get together at an anchorage next season. I upgraded both AC and DC panels last winter and started this thread that may be helpful to you.

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/ac-circuit-confusion.183117/

I don't see any mention that you will be adding Equipment Leakage Circuit Interrupter (ELCI), which you may want to consider. Because I changed from a panel with fuses to breakers, I decided to build an entire new panel box that I mounted to the sidewall and bulkhead as shown in the photo. I also included a GI and new 30 A Sterling charger. I have an AC port on the rear coaming on starboard side, so my panel position is within 10' of the port.
All of my panel equipment is Blue Seas, but I imagine you will find similar components from Paneltronics. I installed ELCI adjacent to the branch panel for 4 outputs. I'm only using 3 at this point for water heater, charger and outlet boxes. The cabinet that I built fits over the opening where my old panel cover used to be and provides plenty of room for all the upgrades and wiring.
You are a cabinet maker, so you should have no problem making an attractive cabinet for your panel! My photos show an incomplete installation of a cabinet for the VHF & stereo. I didn't like the front cover so I am re-making it this winter. The little cubby is were I will keep items that are being re-charged such as phone, kindle, handheld radio, etc.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Good to hear from you as well. We just made the jump last season, we could not take sailing around the lake any longer. We trailer ed it up to Maine for two years which was great. Now we are at Cedar Creek Sailing Center on Cedar Creek in Bayville. Very happy there.
Thank you for the pictures and advice, you are doing some nice work yourself there. I have great spots for the AC outlets inside and easy runs for the wires, but the panel is to thick (thus requiring a box or frame) and yes I am really not sure were I wish to mount the power inlet. Preferably in the coaming facing out. The ELCI will be next year when I plan to upgrade the battery charger, we also need a new mainsail this year and are rebuilding our old 1980 Johnson motor. Pretty much blown the BOATousand three times over this winter. Godspeed in the new year. Scott

 

[Ron20324]

No one said if the inlet-to-breaker is over 10 feet, ABYC calls for a 30-amp breaker on both Batt and neutral. There is s special one made for this purpose, in a housing.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

The main breaker has to be double poled for both the white and black, in case you purchased something differently. There should be a GFCI near any sink and the rest of the outlets can be down the tree so to speak so if there is any reason to have a short, the GFCI will pop regardless of the the other outlet. If you are installing a wired in battery charger, you should have a breaker for that as well and you can just get a main breaker to accommodate the shore power source itself and another breaker for the charger. Everything is pretty easy to wire because it is color coded (if you are using marine quality material) - white, black and green (ground).