[Bruce3966]

Not ever having shore power at a slip (never having a slip before either) can you tell me if the shorepower will be GFI protected? I asked the guy at the marina and he said he didn't know. I would be shocked if they weren't--true?

I am purchasing an adaptor to go from the shore power to a regular 15amp outlet so I can plug an extension cord in IF I need one for anything. Might as well since the slip has power included in the slip fee. If by chance they are not GFI protected I will get a extension cord with an inline GFCI.

 

[Luvtolearn]

Does your boat have a "shore power connection"? Im assuming not if I understand you correctly. I don't know the answer to this question but, Im in the same "boat" as you. I have a catalina 22 with-out a shore power hook-up Im thinking about running some type of power into the boat (The slip does have a power hook up.)

 

[Bruce3966]

No my boat does not but if it's free power, I'll use it sometimes to run 120 volt appliances or maybe just a battery charger.

 

[rnixon]

Typically, they're not. I suspect that this is because they'd trip regularly on less well maintained boats, which is a little concerning. Marinas are very bad places to fall in salt water. It's even worse if you're carrying a live wire - always connect and disconnect shore power cables with the power OFF.

 

[gedaggett]

Not ever having shore power at a slip (never having a slip before either) can you tell me if the shorepower will be GFI protected? I asked the guy at the marina and he said he didn't know. I would be shocked if they weren't--true?

I am purchasing an adaptor to go from the shore power to a regular 15amp outlet so I can plug an extension cord in IF I need one for anything. Might as well since the slip has power included in the slip fee. If by chance they are not GFI protected I will get a extension cord with an inline GFCI.

They should all be GFI protected but you should test them and never go swimming in a marina with shore power hook ups. Just because it has a GFCI outlet does not mean it is operable. Electrified water @ 30 AMPS is deadly and you should not take the chance. If you want to clean you boot stripe take it out of the marina and anchor away from the power sources.

 

[travlin-easy]

GFI is required by law in Maryland - don't know about other states, but I would suspect they would be the same. And, at my marina, they're inspected at least once a year.

Gary

 

[plenny7]

Per the National Electrical Code, Article 555.11, the main overcurrent protective device (circuit breaker) that feeds a marina must have ground fault protection not exceeding 100mA. As an alternative, individual branch or feeder circuits may be protected in a similar manner.

Of course that doesn't mean that all marines are in compliance. Of greater importance is that 100mA rating is only meant to protect equipment, not people. For comparison, the GFCI outlet in your bathroom will trip at only 5mA. That rating will protect nearly all people, and it typically takes more than 8mA of current through the heart to keep people. The greater danger in falling into electrified water may actually be drowning because you can get to a level that won't kill you electrically, but it will cause your muscles to seize up, causing you to drown.

So to answer your question, while the marina *should* have ground fault protection as required by Code, the requirements are meant to protect equipment, not life. It is not GFI protection as you know it in your bathroom and kitchen outlets. As I recall, this didn't become a Code requirement until sometime in the 90's, so older marines are at greater risk of not being in compliance.

To respond to a couple of posts above, falling in electrified freshwater is far worse than falling in electrified salt water. Freshwater has greater resistance and therefore the voltage gradient will be higher. The salt in the salt water makes it a great conductor so you have less resistance and less voltage gradient.

You do not want to test the marina's GFI. If you do that, and it works properly, you'll likely trip the breaker which feeds all the slips and have no way to reset the breaker. A home GFI outlet tester will not work anyway because it's designed to draw just 8mA of current, which will not trip a breaker with 100mA ground fault setting.

"Electrified water @ 30 AMPS" does makes sense. 30 amps may be the rated capacity of an outlet, but it does not mean that's what's coming out at any time. The current through an outlet is dependent on the voltage applied and the resistance of the load. Dropping a 100A (or even 1000A) outlet in the water is no more dangerous than dropping a 30A outlet, all else being equal.

 

[Sailormon6]

Although ground fault protection is universally required, that doesn't mean that you can depend on it being there. Structures that were built before the adoption of laws requiring ground fault protection are generally "grandfathered." That means the system doesn't have to be upgraded to standards that were adopted after the original construction, but if it is ever replaced, it must be upgraded.

 

[miatapaul]

My experience is that marine electrical supply can be quite iffy. One marina that was one of the main selling points that they had "new" and "quality" electrical supplies. So yes, may be required but as they say "trust but verify." running an extension cord is generally not a good idea. There have been some posts about it here, but as I recall the recommendation was if you have to do it, use an extension cord that has built in GFCI in it. Something along the line of this:

The stories of reverse polarity and electrolysis. Never leave the boat unattended with an extension cord connected for sure!

 

[Donna_F]

When we had our 22 footer we installed a proper shore power outlet. One of my concerns after fire was insurance. If something bad happens and we're not properly connected, will the insurance company cover us? I doubt it. Why chance it?

Seemed like such an inexpensive way to be safe.

 

[Bruce3966]

It's a no brainer. I'll get a GFI extension cord.

 

[Minnesail]

When we had our 22 footer we installed a proper shore power outlet. One of my concerns after fire was insurance. If something bad happens and we're not properly connected, will the insurance company cover us? I doubt it. Why chance it?

Seemed like such an inexpensive way to be safe.

I also have a 22 footer with no shore power.

What was involved in adding a proper shore power outlet? Did you add a whole AC system with a panel and everything? The only thing I'd need to run off shore power would be the battery charger.

 

[Donna_F]

... Did you add a whole AC system with a panel and everything? The only thing I'd need to run off shore power would be the battery charger.

Yes, but of course it was not as complex a system as on our current boat.

 

[Minnesail]

I also have a 22 footer with no shore power.

What was involved in adding a proper shore power outlet? Did you add a whole AC system with a panel and everything? The only thing I'd need to run off shore power would be the battery charger.

Yes, but of course it was not as complex a system as on our current boat.

Sigh.

It's very tempting to get an adapter and an extension cord with a GFCI in it to run the charger, but part of my plan with this boat is to learn The Right Way To Do Things so I suppose I should bit the bullet and install a whole shore power thing. $$$

Thanks for your reply.

 

[hellosailor]

At some point you may haul the boat & want to plug into power in a storage yard, or go to another marina. So having your own GFI in your own cord (they also sell foot-long cords with a GFI, so you only use it when needed) can be an advantage long-term.

I'd also suggest one of those $5 testers that typically have 3 LEDs on them and indicate reverse polarity and ground faults. Not perfect, but a good fast way to make sure there are no gross faults in the power. Marinas aren't known for the highest standards in electrical work.

 

[JimMcGee]

I think Charlie Wing's book on boat electrical systems has a chapter on installing shore power.

 

[miatapaul]

Sigh.

It's very tempting to get an adapter and an extension cord with a GFCI in it to run the charger, but part of my plan with this boat is to learn The Right Way To Do Things so I suppose I should bit the bullet and install a whole shore power thing. $$$

Thanks for your reply.

I think it really depends on how often you will use the power. If it is once or twice a season then I would not stress it. Now if you were say to move to a slip with power then it starts to make sense. But say on your boat it should not be too expensive as I can't see you needing more than say three circuits. One for a charger, then one for a couple of outlets, what else would you need?