Main AC breaker

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sunseeker

On a recent overnight at the dock, I used the AC shorepower to run the battery charger, water heater and the outlets (needed to run my CruiseAir). The main breaker on the boat for the AC tripped, I reset and about three hours later it tripped again. I changed out the power cords thinking that may be the problem but the breaker tripped again even without the CruiseAir running. I can't understand why the Main AC breaker on the boat panel would trip and not the one for outlets or water heater or charger separately. Any thoughts?
 
Oct 22, 2005
257
Hunter 44DS Redondo Beach, CA
This would happen because each circuit was within its limits but the sum of the current drawn exceeded the limits of the main breaker.

I've discovered if my batteries are really low I cannot run the water heater and the battery charger at the same time, the main breaker for the boat will trip.
 

timvg

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May 10, 2004
276
Hunter 40.5 Long Beach, CA
Most likely, your main breaker is 30 amps, which is about 3300 watts. On my boat, my water heater is 1500 watts, so I know that if I run an additional total of 1800 watts, it is too much. I usually do a mental calculation of 3000 watts and don't run it over that.

When we first got our boat, the main breaker would pop if I looked at it wrong. I replaced it with a new one and problem solved. Just make sure it is the same amperage.
 
Jun 30, 2004
446
Hunter 340 St Andrews Bay
Water Heater is an amp hog! Take a cold shower or run the motor for some hot water. Shore power may be a little weak for all that too.
 
Mar 29, 2007
49
Hunter 27_75-84 Charlotte, NC
This may be way off, but in my marina each slip is part of a 4 slip circuit. I've been onboard at night when somebody 2 slips over decides to fire up ac or some other device and they blow out all 4 of us at once. Of course this is the dock breaker, but perhaps in your case it's impacting the boat? Just a though.
 
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