Existing 30 amp main panel upgrade to 50 amp panel

[Straycat22296]

Hello,

I have a 1999 Catalina 36 with a OEM 30 amp main panel.

When I have the battery charger, heater and coffee pot on, it trips the main breaker.

I do not believe that this is unexpected with a 30 amp breaker.

I am toying with the idea of upgrading the main panel to 50 amps.

I realize I will need to upgrade the power cord, boat power inlet, 2 main breakers and upgrade the wiring from the boat inlet to the main panel.

Has anyone done this before?

Anyone have advice, ideas, experience doing this?

I realize the upgrade may not be worth the investment.

 

[jssailem]

You might start by adding up the amperage’s for each of the systems you are using to see if they exceed 30 amps.
You might also check (be sure to shut down the power before taking this step) all of the connections to assure they are clean and properly tightened.

Beyond those steps, the Smart action is to hire a marine electrician to install the required wiring and panel. You’ll then need to connect to a power source in the marina that can supply 50 amps.

 

[colemj]

What jssailem said, but also consider just adding a second 30A inlet and splitting the panel breakers among them. A lockout parallel switch/breaker could be added to combine them back together when using just a single inlet. This may be less expensive and provide more options than a single 50A. A 50A power cord alone is $500 more than a 30A.

Mark

 

[dLj]

You should also consider where you sail. Not all shore power pedestals have a 50 amp service. If you mostly have your boat where 50 amp is available, that could work. But if you travel to other places, they may not have a 50 amp service or you may have to pay a premium for slips that do have the 50 amp service. I've found that a few times.

If you do travel, in addition to the 50 amp cord you may need a 30 amp to 50 amp converter so you can still plug your 50 amp cable into a 30 amp plug. Not sure how that affects your power needs in that case. I have a 50 amp to 30 amp converter in case I hit a pedestal with 50 amp service that I have to plug my 30 amp cord into but I'm not sure about the other way around. You may be tripping the pedestal breaker.

dj

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I’m in the -add a second panel - court. Much easier and cheaper than a complete replacement.

 

[marcham]

If you add a 2nd panel, get one that has 2 power sources. One for shore power and the 2nd one to parallel bus A and bus B when only one 30A outlet is available.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Not all shore power pedestals have a 50 amp service.

And if your home slip only has 30A then all that work will be useless. It is not a great idea. Just turn your battery charger off or your heater down when you make coffee. This is a power management issue, not a power supply issue. Glad to have helped saved you wasted expense.

 

[Johann]

Another option which may work is adding a Victron Multiplus inverter/charger to power your outlets. You can set an input current limit and it will use battery power to assist if the limit is reached. I am assuming you run the coffee pot from a 15A outlet breaker. You could install the multiplus before or after this breaker and limit the input to the multi to perhaps 9 or 10A (an additional breaker will also be needed). This will take some load off the main breaker and the multi will use battery power to supplement the additional power needed to run the pot. I think a 12/1200 or maybe even a 12/800 would work.

Victron Energy pure sinewave inverter chargers for 120 volts AC and 12 volts DC

 

[thinwater]

And if your home slip only has 30A then all that work will be useless. It is not a great idea. Just turn your battery charger off or your heater down when you make coffee. This is a power management issue, not a power supply issue. Glad to have helped saved you wasted expense.

This is the reason (when I had my cruising cat) that I looked at power economy instead of a bigger entrance. Many places I visited did not have 50 amps, so what's the use of having a boat that needs 50 amps? I had heat, AC, and charging, but ran off 30 A no problem, by watching what I did. For example, surely you have heat that runs on fuel for when you are not at the dock?

 

[Johann]

This is the reason (when I had my cruising cat) that I looked at power economy instead of a bigger entrance. Many places I visited did not have 50 amps, so what's the use of having a boat that needs 50 amps? I had heat, AC, and charging, but ran off 30 A no problem, by watching what I did. For example, surely you have heat that runs on fuel for when you are not at the dock?

We worked both sides of the power equation as well. We changed the two aircons to high efficiency variable speed and swapped the 1500W heater elements for 1000W. That and the Multiplus 3kVA on the shore input and we are able to run everything on our 38’ cat off a single 30A.

 

[Straycat22296]

My wife likes to be warm while I am making coffee and using the toaster

We are getting older (but not old) and my wife likes her comforts when tied to the dock otherwise she is a champ when anchored out.

I do have 30 amp and 50 amp power at my home marina but as stated I may not have that option everywhere.

I currently practice load conservation as a habit and already have for many years.

It would be well within my capability to do the work myself but I really did not want to go to the expense and work of upgrading for what is mostly for the winter months. But to appease my wife…………..

All the information / advice given is appreciated and about what I expected. It was worth reaching out anyway just to be sure that I might be missing something.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[Johann]

We are getting older (but not old) and my wife likes her comforts when tied to the dock otherwise she is a champ when anchored out.

Do you already have an inverter then for coffee when anchored out?

 

[mermike]

Bear in mind that 50A service is usually spilt phase, which will require an appropriate panel, and, as others have mentioned, a method to separate or combine inputs. Before doing anything, I would verify the state of the input power plugs and receptacles. Checking the wiring from the receptacle to the panel for corrosion and correct size. Check all connections for corrosion and torque. Only once this has been done should you consider any modifications.

I would second the suggestion for an inverter/charger that will boost the current to meet loads in excess of shore power capacity.

All much simpler and as effective as a service upgrade.

 

[Maine Sail]

30A should never be used last any more than 24A / 80% unless you want a boat fire. Coffee pot, typical 1500W, elec heater, typical 1500W with these two items alone you are beyond 24A. A boat is not a house with 200A service..

 

[mermike]

You might also consider installing a diesel heater instead of electric. Far less power consumption and much more useful at anchor and underway. I'm writing this in the cabin in a t-shirt and it's 43° outside. The admiral says it is the best upgrade I've done on the boat. Or maybe the windlass. Depends on when you ask her .

There are ways to improve the situation with equivalent boat bucks without tearing into the panel. There be dragons.

 

[JoeWhite]

Why not an extension cord connected to the shore power socket with a power splitter placed inside the boat for the heater, since this is a temporary condition.

 

[boatnick]

Check to see if your wiring from the shorepower inlet to electrical panel main circuit breaker is 10/3 (10awg). The wire gauge is embossed or printed on the flat triplex cable. I've seen older Catalina 36s with 12/3 for the panel feed. 12/3 is only rated for 20 amps. Also check connections on the OEM yellow terminal strips where the 120V attach behind the panel. Look for bad connections. When this undersized wiring is overloaded it can damage connections. Please be safe. Unplug and disconnect shorepower before, and test to confirm power is off. If you're not confident hire a marine electrician.

 

[Straycat22296]

All good advice and possible options.
I will need to mull over all the information and then decide if any work will be worth the time and money and give me the benefits that I am looking for.
Thank you all.

 

[leo310]

I installed a
AC Current Voltage Amperage Power Energy Panel Meter LCD Digital Display Ammeter Voltmeter Multimeter with Split Core Current Transformer CT AC 80-260V 100A (AC 100A Meter) from amazon this will tell me the amps being used just like a battery monitor.

 

[Straycat22296]

I ordered a Power Energy Panel Meter. I will install it and see what I have going on.
Thank you for the suggestion.