I would love to do a smart plug but I don't have the money to do that right now. My draw is not much either. I have my marine AC unit and the battery charger that are the only things running. When I am there I might run a few other light draw items but I am not there much. Sure don't need 50 amps and probably don't even come close to 30. The fuse panel has a reverse polarity light but no alarm.
So I guess at this point I see if Home Depot has the stuff to make up a twist lock cable and when I decide where I want to keep the boat in St. Augustine, see if the dock master will let me change it out to a range plug. Vern From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of James Maynard Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 9:49 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] EXT :Re: Power Issue As I understand it, Norm used the range plug and receptacle to replace the connectors on the dock, not the boat-side connectors. If you have a 30-amp connection to shore power, I would recommend the SmartPlug boat-side receptacle, the SmartPlug shore power code, and use either the conventional twist-lock connectors on the shore end (if the marina won't let you change their power point on the dock end of the cord) or the range plug and connector (if the marina management agrees). http://www.smartplug.com Unfortunately, the 50-amp version of the SmartPlug stuff isn't available yet. On board the boat, be sure to have a reverse polarity detector and alarm. And, especially if you ever dock at fresh-water marina, an ELCI (Equipment Leakage Circuit Interrupter) per ABYC E-11.11. Another Very Good Thing would be an isolation transformer. Jim Maynard S/V Mistress of Portland, Oregon Saint Helens, Oregon, USA On 2011-03-03 06:32 AM, Densler, Vernon R (IT Solutions) wrote: So let me make sure I understand this. You use the range type receptacle and plug to replace the twist lock on the boat. How do you get to the twist lock on the dock? I would much prefer to make my own cable if I can get everything to match up. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 5:18 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] EXT :Re: Power Issue For the years I lived at a marina I copied the shrimpers of Charleston SC and used a range plug (the plug and receptacle used by electric kitchen ranges) on the dock end of my shore line. In the first marina (Stono Marina Charleston SC) the owner understood the wisdom of the thing and at the second one (Green Cove Springs FL) I installed my own power outlet box. The boat end of the shore line had crimped and soldered ring terminals bolted to the ship's wiring. Range plugs/receptacles are commonly available, cheap, can carry sufficient amps, have lots of copper with a large contact area and can be taken apart to be cleaned and greased annually. I cannot remember ever having a problem with them, while I do remember a few twist-lock connectors that let the magic smoke out. Norm S/V Bandersnatch The biggest problem with the current twist lock power connectors is the limited connection area of the connectors. A straight push connection with a locking collar would be far preferable.
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