Marina Power

Stu Jackson · Mar 5, 2013

Did it work properly for you before? Or is this all new to you?

If it worked OK before, then it's the dock side.

onecoolair · Mar 5, 2013

BCDurbin said:
I have a power problem! 2003 B393 with 2 30 amp shore power inlets, one for running the electric panel/battery charger, the other for running the heat/AC.
Each individual 30 amp inlet, when plugged directly into the 30 amp outlet on the shore side, work fine. So I can either charge batteries or switch it and run the heater!

I have a 50 amp 125/250v straight adapter with a 50 amp 125v outlet, then a 50 amp 125v splitter with 2/30 amp outlets for each plug on the boat.
My problem is when I plugged it all in today, into the 50 amp 125/250v outlet of course, I got two red lights on each panel for Reverse Polarity!
Is the problem on the boat side, in the splitter, in the adapter (50 amp 125/250v to 50 amp 125v) or the shore side 50 amp outlet? - BCD

I would first...Check the power cord ends for arching on the ends.....The white neutral connection is first to heat up and usually the first to go. Power cords may be fine look new but plug ends go bad first especially the factory molded cord sets....Check the splitter too... If the white neutral as shorted in plug then you will either trip breaker on boat or get a reverse reading. Then separate the "A" side from the "B" side .... Load up the "A" side first try both cords on that side and see what happens. Then do same on the"B" side...If it show bad with either cord set then it more then likely is improper wiring at the dock. I have found it rare for both cords to go bad at same time , but it can happen. Now be-careful what my seem okay at first with no load can fool you and show good until you place load on the system. On my boat the nav area needs to be darkened so you can get a good read on leds intensity because they will look okay in broad day but in the dark its another story. If its really bad then they will be very bright even in broad day light. I have had everything looking and be working fine all day until you flip on that extra a/c unit or maybe its just a just lamp before I get a hint of a reverse polarity problem. If you and your crew remember to keep a close eye out you can sometimes catch it with the first flicker of the reverse polarity light. And then have time to fix it...Sometimes just a good cleaning of plug will get you buy for a night then get cord replaced or replace a bad end fitting on the cord. Now do not rule out the main shore power connections on boat and connections behind main breaker panel.
Thats why you always turn off the breakers at dock before plugging in... If I am plugging in some place new and can not kill the dock power I will kill all the power on boat and recruit some one to observe electrical panel below keeping and eye on the reverse polarity light.
I have a probe but sometimes nothing bad will show up until you load up the circuit.

onecoolair · Mar 6, 2013

Two Legs

Forgot to mention.....Things to keep in mind...
Is dock side 50 amp 125/250 ?? if so it should have two legs coming in.....If dock side power is just a 50 amp 125 then its single leg...
#Next a 50 amp 125/250 splitter will be set up for two legs , one leg goes to one of the 30 amp female plugs and the other 30 amp female carries the second leg.
#Next a 50 amp to two 30 amp 125 splitter takes one leg and splits in to two 30 amp females.
#Next a single 50 amp 125/250 to single 30 amp adapter takes only one leg to the 30 amp female.
The 50 amp 125/250 wiring may not be the same on all single adapters nor dock side power outlets. So single adapter may not work in all 50 amp 125/250 dock side shore power boxes.
Once on a buddy cruise with friends My single 50 amp 125/250 nor would my 50 amp 125 work in my slip shore power outlet. Slip had both types of 50 amp outlets and my friends in next slip had the same same problem ....We discovered his worked in mine and mine work in his...So we traded adapters for the night.

Marina Power

BCDurbin

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Stu Jackson

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BCDurbin

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onecoolair

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onecoolair

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BCDurbin

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