Marina Power question

[OldDedHed]

Here's a dumb question from a first time slip renter. The power pedestal at my slip has no 110v receptacles. They all look like 220v receptacles with the round slot pattern. The two big motor cruisers on either side of me are using these receptacles with huge power cords.

Is 220 power at the slip common, or are they just using these monster plugs for 110? I can't imagine why a boat would need 220 at the slip, but I'd rather look dumb here than in person at the marina thanks

 

[Calif. Ted]

110 volt shorepower connections use the 3-prong circular "twist-lock" design. See link
http://shop.catalinaowners.com/detail.htm?group=966&cat=3316
The boat end is always a twist-lock, the marinas can and will use either that or a regular 110 so adapters are sometimes needed.

 

[KD3PC]

be careful with "always"

there is new shorepower equipment is now out that uses a square plug with blades...on the boat side....looks good, but have not tried it, will likely - when my current receptacles fail

http://www.smartplug.com/

 

[Ross]

These are 30 amp and 50 amp plugs. You can't connect a 30 amp plug to a 50 amp socket and vice versa.

 

[Benny]

In Europe marine shorepower is 220V but here in the US the standart is 120V with 30 and 50 amps supply outlets with twist lock design. If you require a standart 15 amp connection you may purchase an 15/30 adapter at West Marine or any other chandlery. To this adapter you may connect a regular extension cord to bring power into your boat but realize you will only have a maximum capacity of 15 amps and you will hanve no circuit breaker to protect the boat other than the one that may be at the power pedestal. There are some power strips that have overload and GFIC breakers that you couls plug your fixtures into it for added protection.

 

[larryw]

You likely have 30 amp service on a smaller slip for a 22; above 40, they're usually 50 amp. Many have no screw-on collar and can come loose. Rig up some kind of keeper with zip ties.

 

[Steve Dion]

Many marinas have both 30A & 50A recepticles on the same box.

 

[zeehag]

if the service is 50 amp, there are Y adapters that will do the trick---find out what kind of service you have-i found the best way is to look at the power source or to go to the office and ask-they will tell you what you need for your boat-----goood luck ...

 

[Glenn17467]

It is becoming common around our area for the power to be 250v/50a. We need 125v/30a for the boat. The 250v/50a is a 4 wire, 125v/30a is 3 wire. We got a Marinco 110A pigtail to get 125v from the 250v pedistal. The larger boats are most likely using the 250v/50a, on some older piers they combine two 125v/30a outlets for their power.