Electric shorts out

[Amy]

I am a new sailboat owner and live aboard. Occasionally my electricity shorts out. It is a random occurance with no common denominators. After several hours of being off it just comes back on. I have tried unplugging the shore power cord and re-plugging it in in another outlet. The other boats around me continue to have power. I have also tried the reset button. Could it just be a faulty shore power cord that takes a dive when it feels like it? Or more internal electrical issues? I have a 1995 Hunter 29.5. Any suggestions before I spend big money?

 

[Steve Dion]

as an electrical idiot, what I would recommend...

Amy:As an electrical idiot, what I would recommend (if you cannot do the testing that Terry mentioned) is to borrow a 30 amp cord from some one else. Maybe the marina has one that you can try. These 30 amp cords can be found on sale for $40 - 50 for the Marinco Delux.How often is this happening? Every other day, weekly, monthly?

 

[Brian D]

Shore power conection wire terminals

My boat was doing similar then the conector burned,It was the wires were loose where the shore power conector on the boat is attached to the main wire in the boat , the screws were loose.Burnt up the 70.00 connector and the brand new shore power cord, luckly I was aboard at the time, could have burnt the boat.

 

[Bill Burch]

Don't procrastinate.

Whatever you choose to do, do it quickly. Considering you mention nothing about strange noises or smells, I think it is at one end of the plug or the other. The lack of your mentioning flickering also makes me think it might be one end of the plug or the other. If you are going to live aboard and you don't know much about electricity I'd start now. Find a book and a friend and this would make a great crash course to go after immediately. Best of luck!