F36 Electrical question

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:24 pm

Amazing how much power we use these days. I remember the first house my mother bought in early 70's. It was a huge century home with only 60 amp service which was the norm back then, and didn't pose a problem. Mind you, it was gas stove etc. Now we're requiring that much on a boat. Boy have things changed!

mitch · Post by **mitch** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:32 pm

Big D wrote:Amazing how much power we use these days. I remember the first house my mother bought in early 70's. It was a huge century home with only 60 amp service which was the norm back then, and didn't pose a problem. Mind you, it was gas stove etc. Now we're requiring that much on a boat. Boy have things changed!

YES !

1. 43 inch Samsung HDTV
2. 32 inch Samsung HDTV
3. 18 inch Samsung HDTV
4. Dishwasher
5. 20 feet rope light
6. Ice maker
7. 200 Watt stereo

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 3:53 pm

You forgot the extra beer fridge!!

I don't recall the numbers but I read once about the amount of power we use even when everything is shut off. Think of all the items that are on stanby; TVs etc so they fire up right away, and all those items plugged in that use transformers plugged into the wall, timers, digital displays, memory, always using power. I was surprised at the numbers.

mitch · Post by **mitch** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 4:02 pm

Big D wrote:You forgot the extra beer fridge!!

I don't recall the numbers but I read once about the amount of power we use even when everything is shut off. Think of all the items that are on stanby; TVs etc so they fire up right away, and all those items plugged in that use transformers plugged into the wall, timers, digital displays, memory, always using power. I was surprised at the numbers.

"You forgot the extra beer fridge!!"

Stopped drinking at age 55, stopped Skoal at age 60, Boating never !!

Vitaliy · Post by **Vitaliy** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:07 am

lol no i didn't forget a beer fridge i actually have a special fridge on the back right underneath the aft entrance (under the stairs) that first just right and holds my beer, but yes i do agree that 30 amps isn't enough at all.

46 inch hdtv in saloon
32 inch hdtv in stateroom
microwave
stove
ac/heating
xbox
wii
ps3
laptop
2 fridges
rope lights around the stern

and probably forgetting something else lol.... so im seriously going to rewire it so that the actual outlets run off the STBD side and the rest of the built in amenities run of the PORT

mitch · Post by **mitch** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:48 pm

Yes, need more power, only seen one dock shore power with 2 (50 amp) service.

Vitaliy · Post by **Vitaliy** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 7:50 pm

well getting twin 50's isn't a problem as there are several pedestals near me that aren't used however still doesn't change the fact that the boat can only take twin 30's and i personally think having twin 50's on a 36 is a tad to much

reelfishin · Post by **reelfishin** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:30 pm

First think I would do is go to Harbor Frieght and buy thier amproble. They have one for around 10 dollars(when on sale) It is a digital one and works pretty darn good. I use it and I like it. That way you can amp each circuit and see what is going on. You can also amp each appliance and get a actually amp usage. That way you can balance the panel or circuits.

Vitaliy · Post by **Vitaliy** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 5:18 pm

hmm great idea imana look into that

and i finally got a chance to take a few pics of the panel

any ideas?

reelfishin · Post by **reelfishin** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:58 pm

By reading the label I see that you have two 30 amp circuits. If that is true then I think all you have to do is balance the load on the panel that your generator feeds. That is where the Amp probe comes in to play or you can read the watts etc on the appliance and calculate it. I think you might find that someone has tied two circuits under one breaker. Not a good idea. Amp the circuit that is tripping and make sure that you do not have a weak breaker or bad breaker. I have seen breakers trip at a lower rate than they say they are rated for.
Now one should not load a breaker up to it's maximum. I think you will find that you should load it about 80 percent. A 15 amp breaker should be loaded to 12 amps or lower.
One other thing to remember too is a motor will draw up to 800 percent of its rated amps for a split second. That split second is enough to trip a breaker if it is not rated to handle it. Most breakers will handle it.
That is why with a motor you always install a slow blow fuse instead of a instantaneous fuse when a fuse is required. Pumps etc are not normally put on Ground Fault circuit breaker because it will trip them when it starts.
Airconditioning units too. etc.