Hello I am new to sailing and have a question about shore power I have a 28 foot sailboat with no shore power. I have seen adapters in marine stores were you can plug in a regular extension cord. Do these work well, and can one plug in a power strip with 6 outlets like the one you might use for the computer in your house. Again I am new at this and am looking for suggestions as to what people do that don't have shore power. Also I am planning on adding shore power this winter. Thanks in advance
shore power
- Thread starter flyingdiva
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Shorepower
Suggest you get a good book on marine electric - and read it carefully. A good place to start is Don Casey's "Sailboat Electrics Simplified" (See the link). This is a short, non-technical book that'll give you a good idea of why what you are contemplating might not be the best approach to installing shore power. There is lots of stuff in the archives on this subject and some good info on shore power projects others have completed. If you want to see what a modest small boat shore power project looks like, go to this link: http://www.kobernus.com/hunter260_web/upgrades/electrical/electrical.html Bottom Line: AC power and water don't mix well unless you have a good grasp of the fundamentals.
Suggest you get a good book on marine electric - and read it carefully. A good place to start is Don Casey's "Sailboat Electrics Simplified" (See the link). This is a short, non-technical book that'll give you a good idea of why what you are contemplating might not be the best approach to installing shore power. There is lots of stuff in the archives on this subject and some good info on shore power projects others have completed. If you want to see what a modest small boat shore power project looks like, go to this link: http://www.kobernus.com/hunter260_web/upgrades/electrical/electrical.html Bottom Line: AC power and water don't mix well unless you have a good grasp of the fundamentals.
Type of Adapter?
I think what your seeing is a 15amp extention cord to a 30amp boat adapter. A 30amp boat to 15amp extention cord would over load the extention cord.
I think what your seeing is a 15amp extention cord to a 30amp boat adapter. A 30amp boat to 15amp extention cord would over load the extention cord.
Should work
as long as you don't overload the cord. I did what you are asking for years on my 25' before I installed real shore power. Be sure to use a power bar at the boat end that has a 15AMP circuit breaker like the one shown in the link
as long as you don't overload the cord. I did what you are asking for years on my 25' before I installed real shore power. Be sure to use a power bar at the boat end that has a 15AMP circuit breaker like the one shown in the link
Cicut Breaker is not Enough
You want a GFI and you need to test the plug to be sure the polarity is right. For three bucks you can get one of those yellow testers you plug int an out let that will tell you, for six you get one that checks your GFI as well.
You want a GFI and you need to test the plug to be sure the polarity is right. For three bucks you can get one of those yellow testers you plug int an out let that will tell you, for six you get one that checks your GFI as well.
i agree w/george
You really should have the system proplerly grounded, running through a marine panel w/breaker and to ground fault protected outlets. That said, I do see plenty of boats with and extension chord running from an adapter, but I like to play it safe with electricity.
You really should have the system proplerly grounded, running through a marine panel w/breaker and to ground fault protected outlets. That said, I do see plenty of boats with and extension chord running from an adapter, but I like to play it safe with electricity.
a 15 amp extension cord...
running 110 volts = 1650 watts. (That's what it can handle) power (watts) = voltage x current Just make sure you don't run the microwave and the hair dryer at the same time! By the way, I built an adapter so I could plug my extension cord into a 30 amp outlet at the marina. It was much cheaper than installing shore power, and for the amount of things that I needed ac power for, it was fine. Now I have a larger more complicated boat that I am glad I have shore power on. Make sure you really want/need shore power or you are just wasting your time installing it. I'd rather be sailing than working on my boat! Cheers! -Rob
running 110 volts = 1650 watts. (That's what it can handle) power (watts) = voltage x current Just make sure you don't run the microwave and the hair dryer at the same time! By the way, I built an adapter so I could plug my extension cord into a 30 amp outlet at the marina. It was much cheaper than installing shore power, and for the amount of things that I needed ac power for, it was fine. Now I have a larger more complicated boat that I am glad I have shore power on. Make sure you really want/need shore power or you are just wasting your time installing it. I'd rather be sailing than working on my boat! Cheers! -Rob
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