Can I use my shore power cord hook up for my electrical needs if my batteries are removed for the winter. I would like to do some interior work this winter and need the electricity. Will this harm any connections or cause a major problem?
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Pete
Yes you can use your shore power for electrical need however you will only have 110 volt no 12 volt. Do not turn on the battery charger without battery connected.
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Mal Trotter
Shore Power Okay without batteries
Agree with Pete - yes you can use your shore power supply without the batteries connected. As Pete says, you will not have any 12 volt dc though. The only connection between your batteries and your shore pwer is your battery charger - make sure this is turned off while your batteries are disconnected. Mal Trotter s/v Synergy Mooloolaba, Australia
Agree with Pete - yes you can use your shore power supply without the batteries connected. As Pete says, you will not have any 12 volt dc though. The only connection between your batteries and your shore pwer is your battery charger - make sure this is turned off while your batteries are disconnected. Mal Trotter s/v Synergy Mooloolaba, Australia
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Doug
Another option..
You can also buy an adapter that plugs into the 3 prong shore power box but has a standard 2 prong 110v female end on the other side (just like an extension cord). We use this for electric tools for exterior boat work sometimes so don't have to run cords from down below and can turn boat around without messing with cords. Doug
You can also buy an adapter that plugs into the 3 prong shore power box but has a standard 2 prong 110v female end on the other side (just like an extension cord). We use this for electric tools for exterior boat work sometimes so don't have to run cords from down below and can turn boat around without messing with cords. Doug
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Mickey McHugh
Quest Charger gives 12 VDC
My Quest battery charger manual says it can act as a 12 Volt DC power supply if batteries are not connected. For the last 3 years, there have been many times that I have used my charger to power my DC loads with the batteries disconnected while I am aboard. I make sure to connect the batteries when I leave for extended periods to power the bilge pump in case we lose shore power. Check with your charger manufacturer to see if it will act as a DC power supply. It will only supply it's rated Amp output so do not overload it.
My Quest battery charger manual says it can act as a 12 Volt DC power supply if batteries are not connected. For the last 3 years, there have been many times that I have used my charger to power my DC loads with the batteries disconnected while I am aboard. I make sure to connect the batteries when I leave for extended periods to power the bilge pump in case we lose shore power. Check with your charger manufacturer to see if it will act as a DC power supply. It will only supply it's rated Amp output so do not overload it.
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Colin Campbell
Doug should be careful.
Shore power is usually suppled via a 30 amp outlet and is protected accordingly. To use use this power source without going through a breaker to reduce the maximum current flow could be dangerous. The weakest link will probably be the cord going whatever electrical device you are using, if that fries so will you!
Shore power is usually suppled via a 30 amp outlet and is protected accordingly. To use use this power source without going through a breaker to reduce the maximum current flow could be dangerous. The weakest link will probably be the cord going whatever electrical device you are using, if that fries so will you!
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Peter Albright
Careful - yes, Problem - no
As long as your shore power cord, or boat shore power plug are connected to a circuit of 30 amps, or less, there will be no problems. If you use a 20 amp receptacle adapter, make sure you have a good ground. If you overload the circuit, the worst you can do is trip the breaker. Pete Albright s/v Nancy Ross 1977 H30
As long as your shore power cord, or boat shore power plug are connected to a circuit of 30 amps, or less, there will be no problems. If you use a 20 amp receptacle adapter, make sure you have a good ground. If you overload the circuit, the worst you can do is trip the breaker. Pete Albright s/v Nancy Ross 1977 H30
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Colin Campbell
What you propose is illegal!
The way this is presented, the protection device is rated at 30 amps, therefor everything downstream from that device also has to be rated at 30 amps. This also extends to 20 amp outlets, you will find that these have a different pin configuration from 15 amp outlets to prevent people from inserting 15 amp plugs into them. If there was a short in the appliance plugged into the 20 amp cord, the cord could fry before the 30 amp breaker tripped. This is the very reason why it is illegal. I am not writing this to be argumentative I just don't want to see anyone get hurt....or sued!
The way this is presented, the protection device is rated at 30 amps, therefor everything downstream from that device also has to be rated at 30 amps. This also extends to 20 amp outlets, you will find that these have a different pin configuration from 15 amp outlets to prevent people from inserting 15 amp plugs into them. If there was a short in the appliance plugged into the 20 amp cord, the cord could fry before the 30 amp breaker tripped. This is the very reason why it is illegal. I am not writing this to be argumentative I just don't want to see anyone get hurt....or sued!
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Patrick Ewing
Which electrical needs? 12 or 110 volt
Your battery charger may or may not provide enough 12 volt current sufficient for some 12 volt needs. The 110 volt circuits will likely be ok depending on how the boat is wired and what kind of equipment you have. There is no simple answer to your question. You have not provided enough specific information to get a reliable answer. It is not at all likely that anything will be damaged if you do what you propose. Is the boat in the water or on land? I ask that because the bilge pump will probably require a 12 volt supply to operate. The lighting is probably 12 volt also and so are pressure water supply pumps. Colin: as to adapters and their functionality, they most certainly are safe and legal if used as Doug has described.
Your battery charger may or may not provide enough 12 volt current sufficient for some 12 volt needs. The 110 volt circuits will likely be ok depending on how the boat is wired and what kind of equipment you have. There is no simple answer to your question. You have not provided enough specific information to get a reliable answer. It is not at all likely that anything will be damaged if you do what you propose. Is the boat in the water or on land? I ask that because the bilge pump will probably require a 12 volt supply to operate. The lighting is probably 12 volt also and so are pressure water supply pumps. Colin: as to adapters and their functionality, they most certainly are safe and legal if used as Doug has described.
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