Use of Marina Adapters

[jrtinwa]

Just looking to have a general discussion on the use of shore power adapters in marinas. I am reviewing the electrical integrity of our marina shore power system and I am finding some interesting things. Our marina was wired before the NFPA and NEC main GFEP protection requirement so does not have it on the main OCD or on any of the shore power connections.

Case#1 Good or Not Good?

Breaker 30A SP
Outlet 50A 125V (SS-1)
Cord 50A 125V to 30A 125V adapter to marine 10/3 shore power cord
NEC 555.19.A.3 and 210.21.B seem to say that the breaker and outlet must match​

Case#2 Good or Not Good?

Breaker 50A SP
Outlet 50A 125V (SS-1)
Cord 50A 125V to 30A 125V adapter to marine 10/3 shore power cord
The breaker and outlet match but are adapted directly to a 30 amp system protected by a 50A breaker​

Case#3 Good or Not Good?

Breaker 50A SP
Outlet 50A 125V (SS-1)
Cord 50A 125V to double 30A 125V adapter to one marine 10/3 shore power cord
The breaker and outlet match but are adapted directly to a double 30 amp system protected by a 50A breaker with only one 30A connection used​

Case#4 Good or Not Good?

Breaker 30A SP
Outlet30A 125V (L5-30)
Cord 30A 125V to 15A straight adapter to straight 12/3 shore power cord
The breaker and outlet match but are adapted directly to a 15A system
protected by a 30A breaker and the 15A connection if not GFCI protected
or locking style. Looks like an obvious "Not Good"​

 

[zbang]

(disclaimer-I don't do marinas)
I'd say that none of them are "good", but change the question to whether they're "unsafe". If the actual loads are under, say, 10 amp and the cords in good condition, they're probably not "unsafe"; doesn't make them "compliant" of course.

I think ground-fault protection is a better target to chase than the adapters use.

 

[jrtinwa]

Use of Marina Adapters

Thanks for the response.

I couldn't agree more. I am trying to weight the safe / compliant argument.

We have about 10 of these slips that are adapting down (50 to 30) protected by a 50A non-GFP OCD and using a 10/3 shore power cord. At this point, I am considering this both non-compliant and unsafe.

Two courses of action:
Changing the OCD to 30A and leaving the 50A outlet or
Changing the OCD and outlet to 30A?

 

[zbang]

IMHO, if you're going to change the breaker, change the outlet, too. Otherwise there will be problems down the line when somebody actually expects a real 40 amp from it.