GFCI Breaker to Sub Panel on Boathouse

[SCADA]

I am considering placing in the main panel a Siemens QF230P, which is a 2 pole GFCI breaker, to power a sub panel on a boat house that is located 250 feet from the main. I have a concern about this distance and nuisance tripping of the GFCI breaker. From a design point of view I don't think that the distance is an issue but in practice is it? I am hoping others have tried this and would like their feedback.

 

[mshow1323]

If nuisance tripping is a concern, which it may be, run a 2-pole breaker from the house out to a MLO panel. In that panel have 2-pole GFCI breaker mounted with a hold down kit, you'll essentially have the same result with a more localized GFCI OCPD.

 

[SCADA]

Thanks for the response mshow. The sub panel will have 4 circuits on it - a 1 hp motor for a boat lift, a 1 1/2 hp motor for an irrigation pump, a light circuit and a receptacle circuit. Because of the 120 circuits the 240 will be unbalanced. I verified with Siemens that this breaker will not trip with a unbalanced of the 240 circuit. I agree that a standard 2 pole breaker in the main feeding the sub panel with a 2 pole GFCI breaker would be better. I am not an electrician and was wondering if the 'hold down' kit would allow me to wire the GFCI breaker as a main breaker in the sub panel. Basically I am trying to find a safe way to install 1 GFCI breaker for all the circuits. Thanks again

 

[fmtjfw]

Electric Shock Drowning

Electric Shock Drowning

I am considering placing in the main panel a Siemens QF230P, which is a 2 pole GFCI breaker, to power a sub panel on a boat house that is located 250 feet from the main. I have a concern about this distance and nuisance tripping of the GFCI breaker. From a design point of view I don't think that the distance is an issue but in practice is it? I am hoping others have tried this and would like their feedback.

Go carefully read Article 553 and 555. Do the work very carefully, you may save a life. On Thursday I'm helping teach a course on inspection of Marinas. WV passed a law called the Michael Cunningham Law. He was a teenager electrocuted and drowned in a marina swimming near a houseboat. He was not the first or last to do so. Part of the law forbids swimming in marinas, but as a practical manner does not prevent accidental falls into the water.

The feed to the houseboat must be protected by a 100mA or less Ground Fault Device. Note that 100mA will still kill you. Moving the GFE breaker to the houseboat and leaving the feeder unprotected is not legal. The QF230P is a GFCI which trips at 6mA, so it meets the 100mA requirement.

You need to pay very careful attention to proper grounding and bonding.

Also see: http://www.electricshockdrowning.org/

 

[SCADA]

Thanks fmtjfw. I to have read about problems in this environment. I am beginning to think that the best way to do it is to feed the sub panel from the main with a standard 2 pole breaker. Then have the Siemens QF230P breaker as a main breaker in the sub panel making sure that the neutral and ground are unbonded and that you have 2 grounding rods for the sub panel. The goal here is to have everything GFI protected by the Siemens QF230P breaker

 

[augie47]

[FONT=&quot]With all respect to your engineering background, this seems to fall under the DIY project and due to the potential dangers involved I am closing this thread, in accordance with the Forum rules. This Forum is intended to assist professional electricians, inspectors, engineers, and other members of the electrical industry in the performance of their job-related tasks. However, if you are not an electrician or an electrical contractor, then we are not permitted to help you perform your own electrical installation work.


If I have misjudged the situation, if for example this project is related to your work, then send me a Private Message. If you can show me that I am wrong, and that you are a licensed electrician (or at least a licensed apprentice), then I will reopen your post, and offer an apology for the delay and inconvenience.

A reminder to all members, if you see a questionable post, feel free to report it by clicking the

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