Shore Power on the Cheap

[arknoah]

Here’s something that is likely to be easy for folks to solve/ address for me. We have a Macgregor 25 and would like the opportunity to do a couple of overnights in other marinas. What I would like is to have shore power on the boat in the short term without cutting holes and running lines. I wondered if there was some kind of safe configuration with adapter cords, transformers, etc. that would allow me to connect the marina 30 amp service to our boat via a cord that converts it to 15 amps so we can plug in normal household devices. I’ve seen lot of cords that can connect different kinds of service, but they are usually connecting something that needs 30 amps to a plug that only carries 15, not the other way around. What I am trying to do it certainly more complicated, but I can’t imagine someone smarter than me hasn’t figured how to do this yet.

Any ideas?

Thanks for your perspectives.

[technicalman]

saw this in the mod section

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1373

[c130king]

Couldn't you use a regular shore power cord and an adapter?

Marinco 30-amp Shore Power Cord

30-amp to 15-amp adapter

Cheers,
Jim

[Sumner]

I think you might be confusing amps with volts. You just need a cord that has the 30 amp/110 volt male plug on one end and a normal 15/20 amp/110 volt female plug on the other. You could buy one like has been mentioned or go to Home Depot and get the end connectors and the two plugs and make one, just make sure you size the wire correctly and that it for outdoor use. You could buy an outside extension cord with #14 wire in it and cut the male end off and put a 30 amp male plug on.

The 30 amp shore power just means that it is set up to run items that draw up to 30 amps the volts will be 110/120. Now for protection you should have a GFI device in the system either at the dock, best in my opinion or on the other end of your power cord before all of the rest of the 110 items on the boat. I have a box I made up when I use to work at other people's homes that has a male plug on it with a short cord to plug into their outlet. Then in the box are two duplex outlets. One is a GFI outlet and the other is connected to the GFI outlet so that it is protected and also anything that is plugged into either outlet is protected.

If you are unsure about any of the above please have an electrician do the work for you. Also the above would be the simplest and most basic solution to your problem. We have taken the other approach and have everything on the boat work on 12 vdc. Now even at a marina we wouldn't need elect,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[Sea Wind]

what about this one:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R ... ogId=10053

All you would need is a heavy duty extension cord.

Sea Wind

[pokerrick1]

See Jim's answer (C310King)

Rick

PS Whoops - - now I see the post above this from Sea Wind even cheaper!

[arknoah]

Thanks! These are the kinds of things I was thinking about. I just didn't want to plug a power strip into one of the adapters, such as the ones suggested by Jim and Sea Wind, and have the power blow the device or anything plugged into the power strip. I also see GFI devices that don't require a lot of construction, such as

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?par ... &cId=PDIO1

Make sense to folks?

[Sumner]

Thanks! These are the kinds of things I was thinking about. I just didn't want to plug a power strip into one of the adapters, such as the ones suggested by Jim and Sea Wind, and have the power blow the device or anything plugged into the power strip. I also see GFI devices that don't require a lot of construction, such as

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?par ... &cId=PDIO1

Make sense to folks?

Yep that is what I made back in the 70's and still use sometimes if I'm not at home. You could make it a little cheaper, maybe $25-$30, but that looks like a nice unit. I'd get it. I have every indoor and outdoor outlet in my house on GFI. I'm a big believer in them,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[jschrade]

That's what I do for now and it works great. I believe these are on sale at West Marine right now.

Jim

Couldn't you use a regular shore power cord and an adapter?

Marinco 30-amp Shore Power Cord

30-amp to 15-amp adapter

Cheers,
Jim

[uanhanlouee]

Camper & RV supply places have all those adaptors. They have plug you insert into a 30A outlet and other end has a 15 AMP socket with a 15A fuse. I used the have all the combinations till we sold the camper 5 yrs ago.

[Hamin' X]

Just be aware, some marinas will not allow adapters, or none marine installations. YMMV, and your safety and that of others is at stake.

~Rich

[pokerrick1]

KILLJOY

Rick

[Divecoz]

Hummm Boy have the prices of those cords gone up !!
OK look around find a use one : ) Cut the female end off . Use a Hoffman box and a cord grip with a GFI Recpt. and cover to suit your needs..
Plug it in and tos it in the cabin? Whose to know?

Hahaha ""Just be aware, some marinas will not allow adapters, or none marine installations. YMMV, and your safety and that of others is at stake. ~Rich"
I got to ask?? Are these the same marinas with such questionable electric supplies that we are repeatedly told we need a ( $120 + )120V 30 Amp GFI breaker and enclosure on our boats for ??

[Catigale]

People are lulled into the security and safety of home wiring since there is no exposure to the elements, code enforcement, and no motion of the parts. It's real easy to make mistakes that will kill you or others with marine wiring.

[arknoah]

Just be aware, some marinas will not allow adapters, or none marine installations. YMMV, and your safety and that of others is at stake.

~Rich

While I haven't seen any of these at my marina, I also haven't looked too carefully, but I will check the rules before purchasing.