Trojan Boat Forum

Has anybody noticed this at their marinas?
At least 7 boats, in different positions and including mine, have experienced at least one of their female plug holes being burned-blackened. And one male prong pitted. This has happened over the past year. A few of the cords are fairly new and YES..... we all know to turn the plug when plugging in.
Also.... several boats report (mine as well) that the zincs on the STBD side are getting eaten up WAY faster than the Port, doesn't matter which side of the dock they are on.
Our (master ) electrician here has used his little volt meter and proclaimed nothing is wrong.

Ron

Is it groundhog day perchance???

rooferdave wrote:Is it groundhog day perchance???

On a serious note as I put my F28 back together, I was wondering if anybody uses Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI's) in the boat. Seems like a good idea as E codes require them any where around water?

That said there might be a lot of nuscience tripping on a boat?

I had an ABYC safety inspection on Saturday. They checked to see that all of the outlets (not just the one closest to the panel, which protects subsequent "downstream" outlets as well) on my boat had GFCIs, as they are required to meet the current (no pun intended) standard. I have never had a nuisance trip.

They've been using GFIs in boats for years now. Given the environment they're in, I'm actually surprised at how little nuisance tripping there is. Not aware of all needing to be GFI now, will have to look into that, seems overkill to me (pardon the pun).

ON the discolouration of contact sites on the cords, and contact pitting, that indicates high current draw usually due to a poor connection, high current loads, etc. Hot days, means alot of AC units turned on at peak hours not only in marinas but surrounding areas as well. Utility distribution gets taxed at these peak times as well causing higher draws as voltages drop.

Though a change would require a wholesale replacement to standardize marinas and new boat manufacturing, there is a better alternative to the twist lock we are all familiar with. Contacts are more robust and straight rather than curved, have more contact surface area, better weather proofing, and have positive snap in locking rather than a twist. Though there are adapters to connect to existing outlets/inlets, the weak link is still the old style connector. I've done a few installations and I like them.

http://www.iboats.com/SmartPlug-30-Amp- ... _id.798548

WTH happened to all the posts???

Ron

rbcool wrote:WTH happened to all the posts???

Ron

Ha-Ha... You forgot, there's another thread of yours. (double post) Keep scrolling.

Stripermann2 wrote:

rbcool wrote:WTH happened to all the posts???

Ron

Ha-Ha... You forgot, there's another thread of yours. (double post) Keep scrolling.

thanks jamie. i thought i was the only one that noticed that. i actually came to the conclusion it was my pain meds playing mind games on me.
aaron

Big D wrote:They've been using GFIs in boats for years now. Given the environment they're in, I'm actually surprised at how little nuisance tripping there is. Not aware of all needing to be GFI now, will have to look into that, seems overkill to me (pardon the pun).

ON the discolouration of contact sites on the cords, and contact pitting, that indicates high current draw usually due to a poor connection, high current loads, etc. Hot days, means alot of AC units turned on at peak hours not only in marinas but surrounding areas as well. Utility distribution gets taxed at these peak times as well causing higher draws as voltages drop.

Though a change would require a wholesale replacement to standardize marinas and new boat manufacturing, there is a better alternative to the twist lock we are all familiar with. Contacts are more robust and straight rather than curved, have more contact surface area, better weather proofing, and have positive snap in locking rather than a twist. Though there are adapters to connect to existing outlets/inlets, the weak link is still the old style connector. I've done a few installations and I like them.

http://www.iboats.com/SmartPlug-30-Amp- ... _id.798548

i've always loved the smartplug. if i had the $$ to retrofit, i'd do it in a heartbeat. eventually i'll get there, but the smart plug is the way to go.