Need some help with a 1975 Hunter 30

[tasschisling]

Hello folks,

I am new to the forum and just recently returned to the world of sailing after a 12 year break. I purchase a well cared for 1975 Hunter 30 and have been busily getting to know her many systems and layout. My previous sailboat was a 1980 Lancer 25 and this girl is so much more complicated.

Last night I was spending the night on the boat and went out to the cockpit to do some fishing. I was tied up to the dock and running on shore power when I noticed a red light glowing down near the yanmar engine panel. It is right next to the panel but not part of it. I had not ever noticed it lit before. I quickly went below and checked if all was well. I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I turned off the battery banks and the light stayed lit. I flipped the shore power breaker on the boat to off and the light stayed lit. I disconnected the shore power cable from the boat and the light went out.

I had never noticed this light on before while on shore power although I have only had the boat for a short time and maybe I just had not ever noticed it (unlikely).

Does anyone have any idea what it is telling me? I went through my owners manual and saw no reference to it. I tried to trace the lines but it is located in an out of the way spot and would require some serious contortions for a big guy like me to try and get behind it and trace wires.

Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to offer.

Scott
Captain of Freyja
1975 Hunter 30'

 

[Ed Schenck]

That might be a previous owner addition. Only two things I can think of would be 1) a simple way to know that the shorepower cable is attached( maybe he left the dock with it plugged in just the one time ); 2) a reverse polarity indicator. These are normally part of your inside electrical panel. Is there one on the panel? And is it also on?

 

[tasschisling]

That might be a previous owner addition. Only two things I can think of would be 1) a simple way to know that the shorepower cable is attached( maybe he left the dock with it plugged in just the one time ); 2) a reverse polarity indicator. These are normally part of your inside electrical panel. Is there one on the panel? And is it also on?

Thanks Ed,

You nailed it! It is a reverse polarity indicator. I remembered I had added a 30 amp to 15 amp adapter the other day that I borrowed from a friend. Apparently it was wired wrong. I put a different one on and the light went out and all is normal again. During the daytime it is barely visible in the sunlight and that was the first night I had been onboard since the new adapter was put on.

Thanks!

Scott

 

[Ed Schenck]

Even a blind squirrel finds the occasional acorn I guess.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

I had the same thing come on, on my new Blue Sea panel, the moment I plugged in the boat for the first time. Hunted all over the boat and after half rewiring the whole 115-vac system-- because, after all, as a person of conscience I assumed it was due to something I did (GW Bush syndrome) --I discovered it was the stupid cheapo outlet strip from the office of the WM store where I used to work that I'd pilfered out of a trash bin.

JC : 1
Office-equipment buyer at WM: 0.
Time wasted: priceless.

 

[Stu Jackson]

-- because, after all, as a person of conscience I assumed it was due to something I did (GW Bush syndrome)

Hmmm, I'll have to remember that one, for the next time something goes wrong on my boat. Too bad most people don't remember that particular syndrome.

 

[JerryA]

Hmmm, I'll have to remember that one, for the next time something goes wrong on my boat. Too bad most people don't remember that particular syndrome.

Too bad indeed.

 

[MitchM]

if you dont want to hardwire a reverse polarity checker you can buy a plug in at the electric parts stores for about $5. i always carry a portable as when i plug into new shorepower i like to see what it is. i carry a 15 to 30 amp marinco reducer and plug the polarity checker into the 15 a end of the 30 a which goes into the shore power connection. i have found a few marinas reverse polarity.. which could be fatal if a home electrician worked on a boat and did not follow ABYC in wiring any AC system...