My Boat Is Outside in the Yard, Can I Use an Extension Cord for Shore Power?
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- Опубліковано 29 лип 2023
- Tom wrote to ask, "My 1997 Searay 40 power boat is on the hard for the winter in Michigan, USA. It's a 12V, 30A shore system with (2) start batteries, (1) generator battery and (2) house batteries. Can I run power from the storage building's outlet to my shore power inlets (using extension cords with a suitable adapter at the boat's inlet) to charge the batteries and power some lights? Without discharging the batteries?"
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I’m Tom with the boat in question. Thank you, Jeff! Wow, I just tuned in to catch up on your videos and what-do-you-know… you’re answering my question! Thank you!
To give some additional color:
-The charger is 40A.
-On the hard, I’m only using the electrical cord AC when I’m there to power lights and the charger.
-Yes, the boat has an Amp Meter for the two banks, port and starboard. I do watch it. Side note, it was AMAZING to see the drop in Amps switching the entire boat to LED.
-Yes, 30A 120… you use those up FAST. For instance, the boat has 2 air conditioners. When both are on, that’s about all the AC she can give. No stove. No microwave. Etc. You taught me to monitor the Amps. Thank you!
-Yes, when I am not at the boat on the hard, I physically disconnect the batteries.
-My battery charter is switched by breaker. I will run that test to see if indeed there is charge with shore power on and and the charger breaker off.
So if I’m hearing you right, YES, I can use the extension cords to run from the building to the boat’s inlet, then power up AC, but watch the amp draw. Makes sense.
Thank you, Jeff!
Thanks Jeff.
Hi Jeff just wanted to say your videos have been very helpful and by far the most descriptive I’ve seen ! I want to build for the future but don’t really want to break the bank in one shot ! Very confusing the design, I am NYC electrician for 25years that specializes in automations and controls which might be a bad thing because these systems have there own rules and don’t want to make the mistakes I have been seeing…
Kept in mind that a 30 amp DC battery charger won't take 30 amps of 110v AC power to operate. Probably closer to 6 amps in AC power if not less.
Is the neutral to ground bond internal to the generator? Would this require a generator technician or is a wiring issue?
I think it would be useful to know if Tom's extension cord is a Household type (15A) and what distance he needs to run between the boat and the outlet. I'm suggesting that because he says the boat will be connected to the storage building outlet "with proper adaptors" and that is possibly 15A. If so, that is 15A available connected to a 30A draw, that could overheat the extension cord.
👍
Hi, I don’t know if this is the correct way to ask a Q, but here goes.
I understand cost consideration associated with upgrading existing/, however I’m planning total strip>refit to full electric boat, nil fossils onboard (excluding myself).
240v domestic appliances are much cheaper, & presumably more energy efficient?
I can use smaller, lighter, & less circuitry using AC only.
So why consider any 12/24v, have 240v only, propulsion, windlass, winches, etc. Nil DC, just like a house. 48v bank (or 96v) to 3 Phase Inverter?
Am I missing something?
My Victron isolation transformer has a jumper to change the grounding path when in the water vs hauled out. Is this a safety concern for using shore power on a boat that is not in the water?
Hi Jeff I just purchased a 1988 35foot ocean yacht to Detroit diesels and one battery per motor I want to install a Victron multi plus 2 split phase the boats generator is shot and I am having it removed really just want to run the AC systems when I’m underway but the alternators are original and really would like to know if I should not even connect or replace engine battery’s and keep them totally separate I know about the dc -dc isolating chargers is that a good approach and can I just replace my engine batteries with lithium and have it all on one system for dc?
Is it smart to leave batteries outside through a Michigan winter?
It'd depend upon battery chemistry, of course, but even lower Michigan can reach -10F.
I stored the boat in the video in cold storage (inside, but no insulation or heat, so Michigan winter temps) for 3 winters. Batteries were disconnected. The batteries, AC Delcos, were solid for 6 years. I did watch their ability to hold a charge decline over the seasons. This season I did replace them to be proactive. I didn’t take V readings when I pulled them… wish I would have. SO, I have left batteries in the cold Michigan winter, disconnected. If possible, I plan to never do it again though.
The short answer is it could be ok but its a bad idea.