Hello Phil, I thought I would let you know that you may post the pictures of “God Speed” the Passage 42 I sent you that burnt a while back. The owner has settled with the insurance company as a total loss, and a salvage company in Florida has bought the boat. As I understand it, the investigator would not agree in total that the fire was started by and at the point the shore power plugs into the boat under the steps. My personal feelings are that is where it started. It was hot during that period, (Mid 90s +) and the AC units had been running for days. Here is the way I see the numbers. With both units running and the compressors on (I don’t they went off in that heat) that circuit is pulling approx. 25 or so amps. There is 50’ of 10/3 rated @ 30 amps feeding the boat. If you don’t have a good clean connection at either point (shore or boat) you are going to have an increase in resistance which will result in an increase in heat, which will result in an increase in resistance which will. Well you get the point. After seeing what happen to that Passage 42, I ran back to my Passage 42, and felt the cable and plug at the point it enters the boat. It was a bit warm. Hum! I wonder if I was on to something? I removed the plug, turned off the power (of course) and cleaned the connection as best I could, and that seemed to help. Not being satisfied, I pulled the receptacle and looked at the 10/3 in the back going into the boat and they look good. I have since replaced the 50’ 10/3 power cable with a new one, but I did give some though of running a special made 50 amp 8/3 to the AC units only to give it a cleaner feed. I feel the any boat owner pulling high current should check and give some thought to the power requirements and how well the boat is being fed those requirements. Chuck Vincent Eagle’s Nest II Passage 42 Lafayette, La.
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Many Thanks Chuck
We often run the who boat off 1 power cable; A/C refrig, freezer, battery charger. So, we are really testing the limits of the 30 amp cable, plus and sockets. We will now check all as you have done. Also have read article at the Yacht Survey web site on electric wiring, which makes many of the points you have made. Many thanks. Brad Cavedo S/V Surprise Passage 42
We often run the who boat off 1 power cable; A/C refrig, freezer, battery charger. So, we are really testing the limits of the 30 amp cable, plus and sockets. We will now check all as you have done. Also have read article at the Yacht Survey web site on electric wiring, which makes many of the points you have made. Many thanks. Brad Cavedo S/V Surprise Passage 42
On my boat
On my boat the a/c is split off the main side of the house. I don't use alot of a/c in the summer but in the winter I have to run 2 heaters. I did fry a 30 amp cord last winter but it was all ready going bad. Great one more thing to worry about. I will go home today and check everything out.
On my boat the a/c is split off the main side of the house. I don't use alot of a/c in the summer but in the winter I have to run 2 heaters. I did fry a 30 amp cord last winter but it was all ready going bad. Great one more thing to worry about. I will go home today and check everything out.
fire hazard
In February, I was sitting on my 42 one particularly cold night in Dallas when the A/C units suddenly stopped. I rean the genset the rest of the evening because I thought the shore power must have failed. When I started checking the next AM I found that the plug, receptacle and the wiring from the plug to the external switch had burned up. The wiring from the receptacle to the switch was laid bare and the end of the power cord was completely fried as was the receptacle itself. This summer, I found the cord end and the receptacle again fried but not the internal wiring. I think occassionally, the voltage from shore drops causing an even higher current draw. This is a point of failure that needs constant monitoring.
In February, I was sitting on my 42 one particularly cold night in Dallas when the A/C units suddenly stopped. I rean the genset the rest of the evening because I thought the shore power must have failed. When I started checking the next AM I found that the plug, receptacle and the wiring from the plug to the external switch had burned up. The wiring from the receptacle to the switch was laid bare and the end of the power cord was completely fried as was the receptacle itself. This summer, I found the cord end and the receptacle again fried but not the internal wiring. I think occassionally, the voltage from shore drops causing an even higher current draw. This is a point of failure that needs constant monitoring.
Power Cord
I fried a power cord last winter. I was in the middle of replacing my holding tank. It was blowing 40 mph with gust to 50. WM had just closed so there was no getting a new cord. I called my daughter on the cell phone and she said we could come and spend the night. A friend who has apowerboat had a 50 amp cord made with 30 amp ends. He used to burn alot of cords before doing that. WhenI burned the cord I think I also burned the ground wire where it goes into the inverter.
I fried a power cord last winter. I was in the middle of replacing my holding tank. It was blowing 40 mph with gust to 50. WM had just closed so there was no getting a new cord. I called my daughter on the cell phone and she said we could come and spend the night. A friend who has apowerboat had a 50 amp cord made with 30 amp ends. He used to burn alot of cords before doing that. WhenI burned the cord I think I also burned the ground wire where it goes into the inverter.
Fried two power cords
Over the years on two different boats I have had power cords burn up at the connector in the boat. Each time I had left the electric furnace running while I was away, it obviously had to do with low voltage at the shore power stanchion. I have learned my lesson well - "shut down the power before I leave or just leave low consumption heat on in key areas". Even though I have split the load with two shore power cords (30 amp each) the one running the furnace takes the biggest hit (25+ amps). The connector in the boat always seems to be the weakest link....
Over the years on two different boats I have had power cords burn up at the connector in the boat. Each time I had left the electric furnace running while I was away, it obviously had to do with low voltage at the shore power stanchion. I have learned my lesson well - "shut down the power before I leave or just leave low consumption heat on in key areas". Even though I have split the load with two shore power cords (30 amp each) the one running the furnace takes the biggest hit (25+ amps). The connector in the boat always seems to be the weakest link....
Burnt Power Cords.
I've also burned melted a couple of shorepower cords where the cord is plugged into the boat. This shouldn't be caused not by an overload, (which should cause a ckt breaker to trip. emphasis on "should"). It's usually caused by corrosion at the cord to boat connection itself. Corrosion will cause a high resistance connection which acts just like a heating element. It creates heat which in turn melts the plugs and everything else if your not lucky. The current drawn by the heaters only triggers the problem. It isn't the problem. Ron B SV Merlin
I've also burned melted a couple of shorepower cords where the cord is plugged into the boat. This shouldn't be caused not by an overload, (which should cause a ckt breaker to trip. emphasis on "should"). It's usually caused by corrosion at the cord to boat connection itself. Corrosion will cause a high resistance connection which acts just like a heating element. It creates heat which in turn melts the plugs and everything else if your not lucky. The current drawn by the heaters only triggers the problem. It isn't the problem. Ron B SV Merlin
Checked my wiring
I just checked my wiring. I replaced the plug-in on the house side. The 2 breakers across from the plug-is had been cut. Do you need the breakers if you have a breaker on the panel? What do those breakers do?
I just checked my wiring. I replaced the plug-in on the house side. The 2 breakers across from the plug-is had been cut. Do you need the breakers if you have a breaker on the panel? What do those breakers do?
external breakers on 42
It's a pretty good run from the recept. to the main power panel so I think the external breakers are a good insurance measure. That being said, it didn't break when my cable burn't up. That would lead me to believe that it got hot enough without exceeding 30A. I don't think I'd remove them. It's kind of a pain to re wire them so maybe the previous owner just didnt want to mess with them once he burn't them and forgot to tell you. Do you know if running 30A through a 50A connector would provide any additional saftey margin. At the marina we are moving to, they have only 50A service, split to 2 30A cables, at each slip. Each slip does have a home run to the main transformer so there should be no voltage problems.
It's a pretty good run from the recept. to the main power panel so I think the external breakers are a good insurance measure. That being said, it didn't break when my cable burn't up. That would lead me to believe that it got hot enough without exceeding 30A. I don't think I'd remove them. It's kind of a pain to re wire them so maybe the previous owner just didnt want to mess with them once he burn't them and forgot to tell you. Do you know if running 30A through a 50A connector would provide any additional saftey margin. At the marina we are moving to, they have only 50A service, split to 2 30A cables, at each slip. Each slip does have a home run to the main transformer so there should be no voltage problems.
eletric overload fire
what, in someones view that knows more about this than I, are the 5 things to do to prevent this from occuring..a collective view from you guys would be helpful for some one who is a liberal arts grad.... jim trammell
what, in someones view that knows more about this than I, are the 5 things to do to prevent this from occuring..a collective view from you guys would be helpful for some one who is a liberal arts grad.... jim trammell
The fire that almost was
My boat caught fire last year due to corrosion on the shore power receptacle. I was drawing a lot of current from the dock power and next thing I know, black smoke fills the boat, lights go out and I can see flames inside. The AC wiring loom from the shore power receptacle to the breaker panel melted and caught fire, fiberglass started to burn as did other things. Before the fire, I remember the AC power going out for what I thought was no apparent reason (many times over many months) and I just put it down to "bad" shore power. In hindsight, it was probably due to corrosion on the receptacle causing heat, resistance, and finally enough resistance to prevent the flow of current. Guess the warning signs were there all along had I known what to look for. When I think of the number of times my girlfriend was on the boat alone and told me "the heater went off again last night" I get a cold chill all over. I would just dismiss it as "bad shore power" when all along it was a disaster waiting to happen. Luckily when it did, I was aboard and alone and managed to save the boat. As a side note, had I not had smoke detectors and had I been asleep I wouldn't be writing this today. PLEASE install smoke detectors on your boat especially if you live aboard, it may save your life one day.
My boat caught fire last year due to corrosion on the shore power receptacle. I was drawing a lot of current from the dock power and next thing I know, black smoke fills the boat, lights go out and I can see flames inside. The AC wiring loom from the shore power receptacle to the breaker panel melted and caught fire, fiberglass started to burn as did other things. Before the fire, I remember the AC power going out for what I thought was no apparent reason (many times over many months) and I just put it down to "bad" shore power. In hindsight, it was probably due to corrosion on the receptacle causing heat, resistance, and finally enough resistance to prevent the flow of current. Guess the warning signs were there all along had I known what to look for. When I think of the number of times my girlfriend was on the boat alone and told me "the heater went off again last night" I get a cold chill all over. I would just dismiss it as "bad shore power" when all along it was a disaster waiting to happen. Luckily when it did, I was aboard and alone and managed to save the boat. As a side note, had I not had smoke detectors and had I been asleep I wouldn't be writing this today. PLEASE install smoke detectors on your boat especially if you live aboard, it may save your life one day.
Connector Burn Out
Have beenreading some of the comments, and thought my experience of the past two days relevant. Boarding the boat last Sunday, mywife and I turned on the heat, refer., and vacuum in addition to what was already on. All things stopped and a rank odor spread through the boat. Inspection disclosed that the "hot" and "neutral" had burned off just inside the hull. Looking at the "ground" which was undamaged, I found that the terminal clamp had been tightened with about 1/8 inch of insulating cover included. If the others had been installed the same, even a "tight" connection would be loose. I have disconnected the second cord until I can inspect its connections.
Have beenreading some of the comments, and thought my experience of the past two days relevant. Boarding the boat last Sunday, mywife and I turned on the heat, refer., and vacuum in addition to what was already on. All things stopped and a rank odor spread through the boat. Inspection disclosed that the "hot" and "neutral" had burned off just inside the hull. Looking at the "ground" which was undamaged, I found that the terminal clamp had been tightened with about 1/8 inch of insulating cover included. If the others had been installed the same, even a "tight" connection would be loose. I have disconnected the second cord until I can inspect its connections.
Smoke Detector 40.5
I installed $10 smoke detectors from Walmart on a 40.5, one in the forward cabin and one in the aft. They work so well we have to close the aft cabin door whenever we cook to keep from setting it off! EVERY boat with a bunk needs one. Several boats in our marina have reported melted and burned shore power cords & connectors at the boat end. Be sure to keep the plugs on both ends clean and tighten them by turning them clockwise after insertion. Make it a habit to give them a pull to make sure. And check ALL of the AC terminals as suggested by others. Mickey
I installed $10 smoke detectors from Walmart on a 40.5, one in the forward cabin and one in the aft. They work so well we have to close the aft cabin door whenever we cook to keep from setting it off! EVERY boat with a bunk needs one. Several boats in our marina have reported melted and burned shore power cords & connectors at the boat end. Be sure to keep the plugs on both ends clean and tighten them by turning them clockwise after insertion. Make it a habit to give them a pull to make sure. And check ALL of the AC terminals as suggested by others. Mickey
Power Cords
I am seeing several postings on this article related to power cords/failures, etc. You might check out my posting on 9/26 titled H450 Power Cables. Seems like everyone is having similar problems on different models.
I am seeing several postings on this article related to power cords/failures, etc. You might check out my posting on 9/26 titled H450 Power Cables. Seems like everyone is having similar problems on different models.
Salage company is asking...
Just bought a copy of the Florida Sailboat Trader and the Salvage company in St. Augustine is asking $42,000 for that Hunter 42. Ad says some cockpit fire damage.
Just bought a copy of the Florida Sailboat Trader and the Salvage company in St. Augustine is asking $42,000 for that Hunter 42. Ad says some cockpit fire damage.
They can keep it
For what they are asking and what it will take to fix the boat they can keep it. Just to replace the mast, steering and toe rail will cost you 30k. When my 37.5 burned it was est. to cost 122k to fix and it was not as bad as the 42.
For what they are asking and what it will take to fix the boat they can keep it. Just to replace the mast, steering and toe rail will cost you 30k. When my 37.5 burned it was est. to cost 122k to fix and it was not as bad as the 42.
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