Marine plugs and sockets

mr_f · Apr 12, 2013

30 amp and 50 amp sockets are different shapes (and I assume 60 amp, if that is really what you have).

onecoolair · Apr 12, 2013

obsailor said:
For electrical power the yard my boat is in only has "marine" style sockets (the kind you plug nice heavy yellow marine extension cords in) available and the 30 amp sockets closest to me are always in use but the 60 amp sockets are free. I need power for a sander or maybe to charge some small electric tools etc, no heavy loads.

Can I plug my 30 amp marine cord into a 60 amp socket without adaptors? If so, I can plug that power into the boat and use the 120v household sockets in the boat for power.

I would just try it but the yard is a few hours away and it would ease my life a lot to know if this will work beforehand or if I need to get an adaptor before all the driving. Thanks

"WARNING" never ever run power tools on a dock or a boat with out plugging into a proper GFI outlet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOW.... Second thing ....
Its called a 50 amp outlet...... But is it a 50 amp 125/250 or is it a 50 amp 125 ?......There is different and you need to find out..... You can purchase a single 50 amp to 30 amp and then plug your shore power into that. Permanently mark it as yours and hopefully there is a way your dock side service supply box has a way to lock the cover so you adapter does not walkaway...:cussing:....They also come in a "Y" splitter version... $$$$$$......1- 50 amp male two , 2-30 amp females....Use your extension cord and then plug into a gfi outlet thats on the boat to run power tools. They do make a 30 amp to 20 amp , but your better off doing the 50 amp to 30 amp to accommodate your 30 amp shore power cord. This way you can make sure you are on a GFI circuit.

Ross · Apr 12, 2013

These adapters are becomming quite common for use with portable generators. A good place to find the one you need is at oe of the big box home stores like lowes or Home Depot or Tractor Supply.

js_jakey · Apr 12, 2013

These adapters are pricey and have a nasty tendency to vanish without a trace, especially in a yard. As Robert mentioned, make sure you get the correct adapter and it'll work fine. I would strongly advise disconnecting it and taking it with you when you aren't using it. In my case, I had my rig shop fabricate heavy cable tethers for every adapter that I can lock to my shore power cable,

Jeff

captcoho · Apr 12, 2013

obsailor said:
For electrical power the yard my boat is in only has "marine" style sockets (the kind you plug nice heavy yellow marine extension cords in) available and the 30 amp sockets closest to me are always in use but the 60 amp sockets are free. I need power for a sander or maybe to charge some small electric tools etc, no heavy loads.

Can I plug my 30 amp marine cord into a 60 amp socket without adaptors? If so, I can plug that power into the boat and use the 120v household sockets in the boat for power.

I would just try it but the yard is a few hours away and it would ease my life a lot to know if this will work beforehand or if I need to get an adaptor before all the driving. Thanks

NO.......... The receptacles are different.
And as far as an adapter, I would not not to have a fault probble with a piece of equipment rated for 15 or 20 amps protected by a 30 amp over-current protection device , much less a 60 amp breaker.

MrBill_FLL · Apr 12, 2013

js_jakey said:
...
I would strongly advise disconnecting it and taking it with you when you aren't using it.

In my case, I had my rig shop fabricate heavy cable tethers for every adapter that I can lock to my shore power cable,

Jeff

can you post a pic?

Thieves :cussing:

Ron20324 · Apr 12, 2013

captcoho said:
...And as far as an adapter, I would not not to have a fault probble with a piece of equipment rated for 15 or 20 amps protected by a 30 amp over-current protection device , much less a 60 amp breaker.

Duh... maybe his inside AC plugs/sockets have a 15-amp breaker protecting it/them?

Ross · Apr 12, 2013

Circuit breakers protect the wiring not the appliance. It is the decision of the electrician to design the circuits for the load, wire size and the breaker rating. You "CAN" connect a 5 hp motor to a 15 amp circuit and it will simply trip the circuit breaker. You can also plug a 60 watt drop light into a 100 amp circuit with no harm.

js_jakey · Apr 13, 2013

Ross said:
Circuit breakers protect the wiring not the appliance. It is the decision of the electrician to design the circuits for the load, wire size and the breaker rating. You "CAN" connect a 5 hp motor to a 15 amp circuit and it will simply trip the circuit breaker. You can also plug a 60 watt drop light into a 100 amp circuit with no harm.

Come on guys, you know better than to ever trust an external breaker for anything. Read your basic electricians guide, and use some common sense. OOPS I forgot that aint a common thing

captcoho · Apr 13, 2013

Ross said:
Circuit breakers protect the wiring not the appliance. It is the decision of the electrician to design the circuits for the load, wire size and the breaker rating. You "CAN" connect a 5 hp motor to a 15 amp circuit and it will simply trip the circuit breaker. You can also plug a 60 watt drop light into a 100 amp circuit with no harm.[/qu

Of course it will work, but unless your conductors feeding the load are sized to the over-current device it's not legal muchless safe....never mind GFIC
Other than the insurance company being absolved from any claims, perhaps the best thing is culling the gene-pool.

Ross · Apr 13, 2013

captcoho said:
Ross said:

Circuit breakers protect the wiring not the appliance. It is the decision of the electrician to design the circuits for the load, wire size and the breaker rating. You "CAN" connect a 5 hp motor to a 15 amp circuit and it will simply trip the circuit breaker. You can also plug a 60 watt drop light into a 100 amp circuit with no harm.[/qu

Of course it will work, but unless your conductors feeding the load are sized to the over-current device it's not legal muchless safe....never mind GFIC
Other than the insurance company being absolved from any claims, perhaps the best thing is culling the gene-pool.

Click to expand

Not SO! many appliances come equiped with an 18 gage power cord and they are designed to be supplied by a 15 amp circuit. The appliance must be protected by an internal fuse or overload breaker.

captcoho · Apr 13, 2013

Ross said:
captcoho said:

Not SO! many appliances come equiped with an 18 gage power cord and they are designed to be supplied by a 15 amp circuit. The appliance must be protected by an internal fuse or overload breaker.

Click to expand

Yes a six foot cord on a 15 amp convience outlet on a 15 or 20 amp circuit ,not an "adapter" with a #16 awg extention cord on a 30 or 50 amp breaker...........

Ross · Apr 13, 2013

Doesn't matter, the breaker protects the wire up to the outlet. After the outlet the appliance is on its own.

onecoolair · Apr 14, 2013

Question? Marine Rated Electrical Adapters Answered!

I believe some have missed Obsailors original question and have gone slightly off topic.
Quote:
Can I plug my 30 amp marine cord into a 60 amp socket without adapters? (NO!) If so, I can plug that power into the boat and use the 120v household sockets in the boat for power? (YES) But all your outlets aboard your boat here in the USA should be GFI outlets. If not replace them.
The question was answered with a YES ... but make note he was corrected that he should have said 50amp not 60amp.... "50amp is the standard" and most common....He was also made aware that there are 2 types of 50 amp service 50amp 125 is for a single leg and 50amp 125/250 is for 2 legs. Most new marinas are now going with the 50amp 125/250 service outlet.... But some are not properly wiring them for 2 leg services... Which can cause problems with the single 50-125/250 adapters with one adapter working while another similar adapter does not work. The same for that High $$$$$ 50amp 125/250 to 2-30amp "Y"splitter.... One of the 30amp sides will show power and the other side will show no power....This can be very confusing to the lay person who has no understanding of electricity and how things are suppose to work.
I also gave him a stern warning , and for anyone reading this to never run any electrical appliances or tools on any dock or boat with out plugging into a GFI protected outlet .

Now thats all he was asking..... So please for the electrically confused please stay confused if you wish but please try not to spread your confusion to others.
Thank you
RR