I am an electrician for a town on Long Island where we have many marinas. Every year we have the same problem with the power centers where the neutral on the outlet burns but only the neutral. The hot and ground is always fine. Even I when we replace the outlet and tighten all connections and the boat owner uses a new cord the problem still occurs. Does anyone have a clue as to what can be causing this and a possible cure. Thanks
Marina Wiring
- Thread starter jwedell
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jimwalker
Senior Member
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- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Marina Wiring
I am thinking somehow the boats ground has a potential differance to the land neutral (grounded conductor).If this is on several boats then i would be checking the service grounding.Might take amp probe and with boat pluged in but no load see if there is a reading.
I am thinking somehow the boats ground has a potential differance to the land neutral (grounded conductor).If this is on several boats then i would be checking the service grounding.Might take amp probe and with boat pluged in but no load see if there is a reading.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Marina Wiring
What I have found at our marinas around here is loose neutrals at the service caused by corrrosion from salt water. The phenomena occurs here in Seatlle too. Evrey time I replace a 30 amp dock receptacle its the neutral that sustains the most damage. Maybe the electrons are just trying harder to get back to the transformer and they die and turn eveything black?
What I have found at our marinas around here is loose neutrals at the service caused by corrrosion from salt water. The phenomena occurs here in Seatlle too. Evrey time I replace a 30 amp dock receptacle its the neutral that sustains the most damage. Maybe the electrons are just trying harder to get back to the transformer and they die and turn eveything black?
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Marina Wiring
Have you tryed a anti-oxident like Ideal No-A Lox? there could be stray current flowing through the boat from the POCO's service. At my dad's marina down in key largo (until Andrew hit) we used isolation transformers to prevent electrolisis between the boat hull or any metal in contact with the water and the shore grounding. but it has to be treated like an SDS system to provide a ground fault path. Put a amp meter on the EGC to the boat and see if there is any current on it. then shut off the power to this boat and check it again. if the current is still there it's coming from ether the POCO's service or another boat with some bad wiring.
Have you tryed a anti-oxident like Ideal No-A Lox? there could be stray current flowing through the boat from the POCO's service. At my dad's marina down in key largo (until Andrew hit) we used isolation transformers to prevent electrolisis between the boat hull or any metal in contact with the water and the shore grounding. but it has to be treated like an SDS system to provide a ground fault path. Put a amp meter on the EGC to the boat and see if there is any current on it. then shut off the power to this boat and check it again. if the current is still there it's coming from ether the POCO's service or another boat with some bad wiring.
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