Leaks Can Be Dangerous
When you notice water dripping out of a 120V outlet, ADDRESS THE ISSUE PLEASE !!!
Scotch-Loc FAIL
C'mon really........?? Why builders go to this level of CHEAP is beyond comprehension.... Epic FAIL...
The infamous Universal/Westerbeke Trailer Conenctor
Universal & Westerbeke engines ship with these "trailer connectors" in the engine wiring harness & when used to power only insutruments they can work ok...
The problem is that some early Universal engines even ran the full alternator output through the orange and red wires... These connectors can be very DANGEROUS if that is the case...!!! Connector FAIL!
Packing Gland Hose FAIL
Not only was this hose ready to fail at any moment, and sink this boat, the second hose clamp is doing NOTHING but clamping AIR.
This sort of nonsense can actually force the hose off the shaft log and make it less safe not more safe.. Please, please, please pay attention to WHAT you are actually clamping!!
A Double Pole Breaker Is Used For A Reason
This one is a beauty.... The double pole AC inlet breaker is meant to interrupt the WHITE/NEUTRAL AC feed and BLACK/HOT AC feed wires. This installer took it upon himself to omit breaking the WHITE/NEUTRAL and simply jumped out the BLACK HOT.... AC wiring can be deadly! Major FAIL......
A 30A AC Inlet
Contrary to popular misconception a 30A or 50A shore power circuit should NEVER be continuously loaded to 30A or 50A! Circuits should only ever be used at up to 80% of the rating. On boats I prefer to use 70% due to the corrosive environment we are in.
This was a result of multiple AC heaters used on-board and a poor/dirty/corroded connection which resulted in high resistance, heat and physically melting of the inlet and wire.
Shore Power Burn
Once again a combination of high resistance and over loading the circuit beyond the safe range.
This boat was using AC and a water heater on the same 30A shore power circuit.. With AC and a water heater you need TWO 30A shore feeds not one.... FAIL.....
More AC Overload
Once more we have a combination of high resistance, perhaps some corrosion on the blade or receptacle, and an overloading of this circuit well beyond the safe range.
This boat was running three portable AC heaters, water heater, a reverse cycle heat/AC unit, a toaster, microwave and refrigerator all on this single 50A circuit.
When I got there he was pulling 42A through a 50A service and the plug measured 389 degrees, at the melt point, in February.
Because of this boats poor insulation it was not uncommon for all FOUR heat sources to be on all at once....
According to the owner he used to trip the main breaker "a few times per week" it had not tripped the day I found this.......
Rant On....
If you want a truly SAFER shore power system PLEASE go spend the money on a Smart Plug cord and receptacle.
The current standard we use is HORRIBLY unsafe IMHO.... It is nothing more than a left over, adapted from land crappy standard that is not well suited at all to a marine environment.. The NEMA "Twist-Lock" standard is outdated and less safe than it should be.
Be smart install a SmartPlug!!!!!!
Disclaimer: I have ZERO affiliation with SmartPlug. I don't even have a direct commercial account with them. I do however believe in SAFETY FIRST!!
And One More To Drive It Home...
Remember don't worry at all about your shore power connections. The standard we use for boats in the USA is so safe there is absolutely nothing to worry about.....
Tongue literally impaled in cheek....
And You Wonder Why...
And you wonder why I rant on, and on about this PISS POOR shore power standard we currently use?
There should be NO WAY in hell to install a shore cord with these sorts of angles and poor high resistance causing connections, BUT THERE IS.. There is because we don't speak up and we allow this sort of crap to continue to be the "acceptable shore power standard"...
I speak up, do you.....?
If you agree with me please voice your concerns to organizations like Boat US, the ABYC, NMMA and the NEC......
We can continue burning up marina's and boats or we can stomp our feet and demand changes to FAR SUPERIOR standards for shore power connections. The choice is yours and with more voice we may be able to topple the king-pins fostering this piss poor unsafe standard like Marinco and Hubbell....
Rant off....... (grin)
Commercial Boat #1
Yes those are wires forced through a rusty metal hole with no wire support or chafe protection. This is a commercial fishing boat with paid crew.