Yesterday I lost all shore power. The light on the shore power circuit breaker has been flickering for some time. I was using an extension cord, plugged into one of the outlets in the cabin and using a dremel to sand the eyebrows. The dremel tool was getting warm. I stopped for 20 minutes and when I resumed, no power. Can I assume the circuit breaker at the panel has failed? How do I check it or should I just replace?
Shore Power
- Thread starter KEPPEL
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The light don't mean a thing. It can totally fail and you would still have power.
Have you reset the slip pedistal CB?
The boat main CB at the boat side shore power connection?
Have you reset the AC main CB on the Ac panel?
Have you reset the slip pedistal CB?
The boat main CB at the boat side shore power connection?
Have you reset the AC main CB on the Ac panel?
I've ruled out the dock box, as both my outlet and my neighbors and an addition dock box all result in nothing. My '89 Hunter 30 shore power cable is hard wired to the boat as opposed to a shore power cable that plugs into a socket on the boat, as many others I've seen. Since I have no wiring diagram, I'm assuming the 1st breaker is at the nav, station electrical panel, top switch, right hand A/C row and there is not hidden fuse or circuit breaker somewhere inaccessible in the outer port lazzerette. I'm thinking perhaps the screw securing the two heavy shore power cables may have vibrated loose, over the years, and that would account for the flickering. I hate to just replace the breaker without knowing that's the problem. Think I'm on the right track?
In all honesty, NOPE! 
If it was my boat, I'd stop assuming and start playing detective by tracing wiring and finding out what you really do have one your boat. 120V is strange stuff, and can be deadly.
If it was my boat, I'd stop assuming and start playing detective by tracing wiring and finding out what you really do have one your boat. 120V is strange stuff, and can be deadly.
I'm with Stu, pull the shore power cable and see what that revels. I'm a little surprised that there is not a breaker where the shore power cable enters the boat. Perhaps the shore power to AC mains is a short one.
These lights don't flicker.
If they do you have an intermittent contact somewhere. This will probably be arcing and you may even be able to hear it.
Look for the intermittent contact first at the connectors on either end of your shore power lead. The points where the cable enters the plug are places where much flexing takes place and one of the cores could be broken. Pulling the cable fairly firmly whilst plugged in (but not so hard you pull the cable out of the plug!) is often enough to disconnect it permanently - so do one end at a time.
Next closely examine your connectors on each end of the shore power lead for signs of arcing on the pins.
Try plugging into a different pedestal outlet.
Suspect the boat's shore power socket.
If none of these supplies the answer then unplug from shore power, switch off any static inverter and begin overhaul the boat's cabling.
If still nothing and you are not an experienced hand seek assistance from an electrician or somebody that does know their way around.
Try to stay alive at all times.
If they do you have an intermittent contact somewhere. This will probably be arcing and you may even be able to hear it.
Look for the intermittent contact first at the connectors on either end of your shore power lead. The points where the cable enters the plug are places where much flexing takes place and one of the cores could be broken. Pulling the cable fairly firmly whilst plugged in (but not so hard you pull the cable out of the plug!) is often enough to disconnect it permanently - so do one end at a time.
Next closely examine your connectors on each end of the shore power lead for signs of arcing on the pins.
Try plugging into a different pedestal outlet.
Suspect the boat's shore power socket.
If none of these supplies the answer then unplug from shore power, switch off any static inverter and begin overhaul the boat's cabling.
If still nothing and you are not an experienced hand seek assistance from an electrician or somebody that does know their way around.
Try to stay alive at all times.
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