Electrical outlets replacements

Calif. Ted · Jul 14, 2014

When a GFCI outlet is used as the first one in a circuit it acts as a GFCI breaker for all the outlets on that circuit.
If you wish the outlets to have the plug configuration like the GFCI outlet you can use regular outlets, just the first one has to be a GFCI. Hope that isn't more confusing.

Joe · Jul 14, 2014

I'm far from being an electrical authority... but it is my understanding that you can only have one circuit breaker per circuit. That would explain the present configuration.

Stu Jackson · Jul 14, 2014

Those two prong outlets look suspiciously like "electric razor" outlets rather than regular receptacles.

While the advice about GFCIs being first in a circuit are correct, they may not apply at all here.

kentobin · Jul 14, 2014

you can use gfci's in all your outlets

As Calif. Ted mentioned if the first outlet, also called the upstream outlet, is a gfci outlet the other outlets on the same circuit will be protected if they are wired in correctly. The wiring is not complicated but must be done correctly.

A friend of mine is a boat surveyor for 30+ years and I asked him about using gfci's in my boat. He recommended that I just replace all my outlets with gfci and not deal with any wiring issues.

Joe · Jul 15, 2014

Here's an excerpt from this Don Casey article on shorepower: http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/safe-shorepower.asp

Ground Fault Interrupt

Regular circuit breakers are essentially fire-protection devices and offer no protection against electrical shock. A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), on the other hand, provides a high degree of shock protection. If you accidentally touch an energized wire or component and you are grounded, the GFCI disconnects the circuit in about 1/40 of a second, too little time for the current to build to a dangerous level.

In recognition of the increased risk of shock in damp environments, many municipal building codes mandate GFCIs in bathrooms and, increasingly, kitchens. Boats are damp environments, and every outlet on a boat should be protected by a GFCI.

GFCIs are inexpensive and easy to install. Simply replace the first outlet on a circuit (counting from the breaker) with a GFCI fixture, and all the outlets on that circuit will be protected. Make sure the terminals marked LINE are connected to the wires leading back to the breaker and those marked LOAD feed the remainder of the circuit. After you install a GFCI fixture, always test it.

Chris Patterson · Jul 15, 2014

I'm like Stu here. I would HAVE to stick a meter into that one "plug" to satisfy myself what it is. Strange socket. Looks 12V. Or something. Try your meter on the 110vac first, less chance of blowing out the meter. If it is 12 volts, whatever, leave it. But I can see little reason for that two prong, or the switch, or the light. In fact, if it is 110V, it's got kill me wrote all over it.

Sailvayu · Jul 15, 2014

The 2 prong outlets look to be Euro 240 volt outlets. This may be left of from euro wiring on the boat. perhaps the boat was used in the islands? Ex charter maybe. Anyway just verify you have 120 volts at them, if so you can replace with 120 volt US outlets. just just your polarity when done. You can use one of those cheap little 3 light testers for that. Good luck and remember to unplug the boat when working on the outlets.

Sailvayu · Jul 15, 2014

ok looking at the pic again I see they fit both euro and US style plugs. So if they are 120 no worries just replace them with GFIC making sure you have the polarity right. like was mentioned thy may be on a GFIC circuit, if you get a 3 light tester with a GFIC test button you can find out. if not just use GFIC outlets. Should be easy swap and if they are on GFIC circuit no need to do anything really if they fit US 15 amp plugs.

Chris Patterson · Jul 15, 2014

Wayne speak great truth kimosabee..

JohnShannon · Jul 15, 2014

I had those outlets on my boat, I think they are dual voltage, they will fit both a US style plug and a Euro (continental) plug>

I had them replaced with GFCI type no problems, well at least not yet.

Bill Roosa · Jul 15, 2014

The "funny" outlet is European 120, if memory serves it has two round terminals that can go in either direction. I'd wonder what would prompt someone to install one on a boat with American plugs and use the Stu method with voltmeter.

Calif. Ted · Jul 15, 2014

I had those outlets on my boat, I think they are dual voltage, they will fit both a US style plug and a Euro (continental) plug

Sounds like a good idea, until you think about it awhile, glad I wasn't the first one to plug his razor into 220 in the dark.

Disregard above, I'm getting confused now.

Chris Patterson · Jul 15, 2014

I would try tweezers personally. I did that a lot as a kid. No permanent brian damage at all..

woodster · Jul 15, 2014

14 ga. on 15 amp...........12 ga on 20 amp.....10 ga on 30 amp

planoron · Jul 15, 2014

If the euro plugs have a smaller gauge wire, they were designed and wired as 220v. If you are going to use 110 v receptacles I would suggest you pull in the correct conductor size to avoid a fire hazard. Breakers are designed and matched with wire sizes to protect the wire only. The use of to small of a gauge results in increased resistance causing heat and melting insulation. The breaker doesn't trip because this has occurred without surpassing rated amperage. Use the old wire as a pull wire and shouldn't be hard. Drag a pull string with it for future.

Ron20324 · Jul 15, 2014

planoron said:
...I would suggest you pull in the correct conductor size to avoid a fire hazard. Breakers are designed and matched with wire sizes to protect the wire only. ....

Or just change the breakers to match the wire size you have, if that will allow whatever you intend to use the outlet for.

Electrical outlets replacements

.

Attachments

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.