Shore Power Adapter

[Chuck Healey]

The times I'm on a slip with shore power are few and far between. (4 or 5 days a year at the most). I didn't want to invest in a full shore power set up because of this. I purchased a 30 amp shore power adapter, that I can plug a conventional heavy duty extension cord into. Will this adapter work at most marinas? I know there is a 20 amp adapter available also, but the male end seems to be the same as the 30 amp.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

you probably will never need 30 amps.
20 would have been fine for most needs.
make sure your extension cord is a 12 gauge (or at least a 14).
that way you can run a heater, hairdryer, microwave, etc.
by the way...since the adapter can be removed from a traditional extension cord, it can be unintentionally removed as well.
which means that on a dock, it can be accidentally dropped into the water.
then your $35-40 purchase is "long-gone".

[Chuck Healey]

Thanks, My extension cord is pretty heavy, at least 14 gauge. what I think I'll do is use electrical tape to fasten the adapter to the cord to prevent it from dropping into the lake. Is the 20 amp and 30 amp connection the same? I also saw a 50 amp adapter but I think that did have a different plug configuration.

[Tom Spohn]

The 30 amp connection should be adequate for almost anything I can think of that the Mac would use. However; it is really important to get a stout extension cord, and find a way to make sure the cord and adapter do not become separated. And you still have to carry both with you.

For this reason we chose the one piece cordset similar to this:
http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/wcs/ ... od1=690225

These cordsets also come in longer lengths depending where your shorepower inlet is located.

The 50 amp cord is a different plug design and is not as common as the 30 amp design.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

By far the 30 amp twist lock plug is the most common I have found at marinas. Some will also have 15 amp normal plugs. I've not run into any that have 20 amp twist locks which have a smaller diameter circle of pins and will not work with the 30 amp adapter.

I find that having a good long 15 amp cord (I'd suggest 50', our original cord was 25' and it often proved to be too short. You never know which way you'll end up in the slip and how far it will be to the outlet.) and the 30 amp to 15 amp adapter has let me plug in at all the marinas I have encountered here in the Northwest and up in Canada. Some of the mega marinas only have 50 amp plugs on the docks but they almost always have Y cords available that will give you a 30 amp plug to use. Some of the docks in Canada had only 15 amp plugs and at ones with both you could save money if you only needed a 15 amp plug rather than a 30 amp plug. It seems easier to adapt the 15 amp plugs to larger upstream outlets than to adapt a 30 amp system to a marina that only has 15 amp outlets.

My boat is set up with a 15 amp inlet on the transom so I just plug in a standard 110 15 amp cord, and if needed use the adapter at the dock end of the cord. It's quite nice not to have to carry the heavier 30 amp cable, not to mention a lot cheaper. You also don't have the giant plug and cap of a 30 amp inlet. The 15 amp inlet is wired to two 15 amp breakers and from there to my battery charger and the 110 outlets in the boat.

[Chip Hindes]

It seems easier to adapt the 15 amp plugs to larger upstream outlets than to adapt a 30 amp system to a marina that only has 15 amp outlets.

What easier about it? I have a 50 foot, 30 amp cord with a 15 male to 30 female adapter. Couldn't be much simpler than that, and I don't have to depend on the marina for anything. The 30 amp cord has a twist lock and a locking ring and is weatherproof. I can run anything I want, all at the same time, including the AC I have my eye on. I haven't yet run across a marina or campground that charges extra for 30 amp service, nor one that offers 50 amp service only.

Most of the cheap $5-10 orange extension cords are not 15 amp, but 12 or 13. A true 15 amp extension cord is usually upwards of $25. Your second 15 amp breaker is useless when you're supplying only 12 or 13 amp through the cord.

Certainly, the 30 amp cord and adapter are quite a lot more expensive than even a true a 15 amp cord, but IMO a good investment for future expansion.

The only other thing I can't argue with is that it's heavier.

[richandlori]

I like the use of the phrease IMO....

Is that "in my opinion"? or "in my opinion, but your' a boob if you don't agree"?




Take Care

Rich

[Chip Hindes]

Yes.

Though I would object to the use of the word "boob" (in this context).

[Moe]

In my "spend as little as possible, and not before absolutely needed " for the MacGregor mode, we're also considering just using a 30A male to 15A female adapter and an extension cord fished over the companionway hatchboard, and forgoing the shorepower setup in the boat.

While Chip is correct about the orange extension cords only being 13A, Home Depot carries a yellow 50' 12 gauge Coleman brand cord rated for 15A, for $22.97. It's Store SKU# 277576. That's probably what we'll wind up with.

--
Moe

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Don't do it guys...spend a little more money on a proper (yellow) shore power cord! We aren't talking electrons here...more like the reputation of Macs at the marina! We get enough ribbing as it is...don't want to see Jeff Foxworthy start making Mac jokes, do we?

[Jesse Days Pacific Star 2]

I would agree with Dimitri. Get an approved 50 foot shorepower cord. For saftey if nothing else. Our boat is wired for shore power and we use it constantly.

J.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Ok, after the tongue-in-cheek remark, I just thought that it is quite possible that some marina's won't even let you hook up to their power source if you aren't using an approved marine cord.

Or mercy, even worse, what if they didn't say anything to you at all (local yocal marina operator who doesn't know anything), your boat caught on fire and burned down a few other million dollar boats along the way, and it turned out that deep inside the insurance policy fine print, it clearly stated that you weren't supposed to hook up with a class2, err, I mean anything other than a proper 30 AMP marine-rated shore power cord and that you were now liable for a couple million dollar lawsuit?

[Jesse Days Pacific Star 2]

Again Dimitri you bring up excellent points. I agree, don't be 'pound wise and penny foolish.'

J.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Just because it is yellow on the outside doesn't make it any better. And besides, my 50' 14 gauge 15 amp cord IS yellow, so I fit right in. None of the these cords are special in anyway other than their inflated marine price. Also note that West sells the cord in White and they are just as valid as the yellow.

I far prefer the 14 gauge cord to a big heavy 10 gauge one both for storage and ease of handling as well as cost. The only real difference is the lack of water tight connectors. This is a non issue for me. My inlet is in a very protected area and has never been a problem. Most plugs at marinas have a flip up cover that protects that end as well. Since my boat doesn't and never will live in a slip I'm only using the system for transient use anyway. At home the boat is easy to keep plugged into a normal outdoor outlet. This keeps everything topped up with a float charge and let's me use the interior outlets for projects and a de-humidifier heater/fan. 15 amps is plenty for all my loads, won't ever need AC.

A 15 amp system for these boats is just as valid as a 30 amp system and costs less.

30 amp 50' cord $49.99 (this is a basic cordset, you can spend a lot more for fancy connectors and LED's)
30 amp inlet $46.99 (cheapest I could find, many cost much more)
30 amp to 15 amp adapter $45.99
Total = $142.97

15 amp 50' cord $22.97
15 amp inlet $21.99
15 amp to 30 amp converter $45.99
Total = $90.95

Not to mention you will be able to use a lower cost simpler breaker system inside.

I am not however fond of the cord through the hatch system. I used that on my old boat for years and for an extra $22 would recommend installing a real inlet plug. It makes the system much neater to use. You do look like you belong when you run your yellow cord beside the others and plug it in to an exterior plug. It also keeps the occasionally wet and dirty cord outside. Since in bad weather our enclosure is always zipped up it would be a pain to have to snake it in under the canvas and I'm sure my kids would find a way to trip, hang, or pull on the cord if it was just run in the hatch.

[Chip Hindes]

None of the these cords are special in anyway other than their inflated marine price

Quite simply, you're mistaken.

I far prefer the 14 gauge cord to a big heavy 10 gauge one both for storage and ease of handling as well as cost.

Your preference is exactly that, your preference. I find the marine grade yellow cord easy to handle and store.

A 15 amp system for these boats is just as valid as a 30 amp system and costs less.

Valid? That's ridiculous. Your validity claim assumes loads will never exceed 15A. For you, maybe not, so your "preference" is "valid". But how's this for "validity": My 30A system is "valid" for your 15A load. Your 15A system is "invalid" for my 30A load.

30 amp 50' cord $49.99 (this is a basic cordset, you can spend a lot more for fancy connectors and LED's)
30 amp inlet $46.99 (cheapest I could find, many cost much more)
30 amp to 15 amp adapter $45.99
Total = $142.97

15 amp 50' cord $22.97
15 amp inlet $21.99
15 amp to 30 amp converter $45.99
Total = $90.95

$142.97-$90.95=$52.02

$52.02! Wow. I thought we were talking serious money here. I would have figured considerably more, and I'd still go for the upgraded system.