Empathy List Archives

BE

Burke, Edward H.S.

Mon, Dec 1, 2003 8:51 PM

I've a problem with my shore-power cords.

I've already gone through a couple, the first I thought was just old,
the second I returned to the store as "defective" (it only lasted about
6 months).
I've been at two different shore hook-ups now and the new one is
starting to exhibit the same damage.
The damage: the positive male end looks burnt around the edges where it
meets the rubber.

Any clues as to what's going on?

Edward

I've a problem with my shore-power cords. I've already gone through a couple, the first I thought was just old, the second I returned to the store as "defective" (it only lasted about 6 months). I've been at two different shore hook-ups now and the new one is starting to exhibit the same damage. The damage: the positive male end looks burnt around the edges where it meets the rubber. Any clues as to what's going on? Edward

K

Keith

Tue, Dec 2, 2003 9:05 AM

The sockets are probably corroded. Try to get the marina to replace them.
You should also spray the sockets and cord ends with something like
Corrosion Block occasionally. I spray mine down monthly and have never had a
corrosion problem since.

Keith
__
Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Burke, Edward H.S." ehburke@dbh.com

The damage: the positive male end looks burnt around the edges where it
meets the rubber.

The sockets are probably corroded. Try to get the marina to replace them. You should also spray the sockets and cord ends with something like Corrosion Block occasionally. I spray mine down monthly and have never had a corrosion problem since. Keith __ Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Burke, Edward H.S." <ehburke@dbh.com> > The damage: the positive male end looks burnt around the edges where it > meets the rubber.

CC

Charles Culotta

Tue, Dec 2, 2003 9:41 PM

The sockets are probably corroded. Try to get the marina to replace them.
You should also spray the sockets and cord ends with something like
Corrosion Block occasionally.

All good advice.
Also ck the breaker box and all screws in it and in the receptacle for
tightness. ANY looseness ANYWHERE can cause heat build up.

Been there,
CCC
M/V CC RIDER
CHARLES C. and PAT CULOTTA, Jr.
Patterson, La.
http://www.geocities.com/charlesculotta/

> The sockets are probably corroded. Try to get the marina to replace them. > You should also spray the sockets and cord ends with something like > Corrosion Block occasionally. \ All good advice. Also ck the breaker box and all screws in it and in the receptacle for tightness. ANY looseness ANYWHERE can cause heat build up. Been there, CCC M/V CC RIDER CHARLES C. and PAT CULOTTA, Jr. Patterson, La. http://www.geocities.com/charlesculotta/

AJ

Arild Jensen

Wed, Dec 3, 2003 3:34 AM

Edward Burke reports that he has problems with his shore cord and also relates
that he has recently added more zinc to his boat. (WHY?)

While I am not saying the suggestions posted by others are not valid, the fact
none of the shore cords last more than six months should be a clue to the
experienced marine electrician that something more is going on here.

Unbalanced neutral current and flawed wiring both in both marina dock and boat
circuits, can and do result in excess neutral current flow and sometimes even
in the green safety ground wire. The latter happens when someone connects the
white and green wires together inappropriately.

My advice to Mr. Burke is to get an experienced stray current expert to examine
his boat, dock and the immediate marina environment for sources of stray
current.
Even if your boat is perfectly wired and equipped with a galvanic isolator; this
is no protection against someone else in the adjacent slip having a wiring
nightmare dumping current into the water. The first indication is faster than
normal zinc depletion and next unbalanced current flow in the dock wiring.

It is my personal observation that many local codes allow white neutral and
green ground wires to be mixed at the main electrical panel.
If this practice is also used on board boats, damaging results are guaranteed.
Because it is permitted by the electrical code ashore, many DIY home
electricians figure they can also do it on a boat.
To save a few dollars they insist on wiring their own boat and in the process
cause untold damage for their neighbors in adjacent slips.

Regards

Arild

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Edward Burke reports that he has problems with his shore cord and also relates that he has recently added more zinc to his boat. (WHY?) While I am not saying the suggestions posted by others are not valid, the fact none of the shore cords last more than six months should be a clue to the experienced marine electrician that something more is going on here. Unbalanced neutral current and flawed wiring both in both marina dock and boat circuits, can and do result in excess neutral current flow and sometimes even in the green safety ground wire. The latter happens when someone connects the white and green wires together inappropriately. My advice to Mr. Burke is to get an experienced stray current expert to examine his boat, dock and the immediate marina environment for sources of stray current. Even if your boat is perfectly wired and equipped with a galvanic isolator; this is no protection against someone else in the adjacent slip having a wiring nightmare dumping current into the water. The first indication is faster than normal zinc depletion and next unbalanced current flow in the dock wiring. It is my personal observation that many local codes allow white neutral and green ground wires to be mixed at the main electrical panel. If this practice is also used on board boats, damaging results are guaranteed. Because it is permitted by the electrical code ashore, many DIY home electricians figure they can also do it on a boat. To save a few dollars they insist on wiring their own boat and in the process cause untold damage for their neighbors in adjacent slips. Regards Arild --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/1/2003

RH

Randy Hamblin

Wed, Dec 3, 2003 3:54 AM

Arlid is right on here. A boat near mine was putting 1.5 amps in the
water and we detected a neutral to ground wiring problem emanating from
his boat. It's pretty easy to detect by unplugging their shore power
cord from the box and testing the cord while it is connected to the
boat. It cost me about a boat-unit to repair the damage. Now I have an
isolation transformer (not included in the original boat-unit of repair
costs) so I can't be corroded by the guy next door.

Good advice to get an expert in stay current. It is weird stuff and not
just any old electrical will do - eve a "marine" electrician (as if
anyone really knows what that is).

If you are in the Seattle area and need a reference, let me know. I know
a real good one. And he works reasonable rates and loves what he does.

Good advice, Arlid!

Randy Hamblin
M/Y SAGA
Willard 36
Seattle, WA

-----Original Message-----
From: trawler-world-list-bounces@lists.samurai.com
[mailto:trawler-world-list-bounces@lists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of Arild
Jensen
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 7:35 PM
To: Burke, Edward H.S.; trawler-world-list@lists.samurai.com
Subject: TWL: RE: Shore-Power Cords that "burn-through" rather
quickly.....

Edward Burke reports that he has problems with his shore cord and also
relates
that he has recently added more zinc to his boat. (WHY?)

While I am not saying the suggestions posted by others are not valid,
the fact
none of the shore cords last more than six months should be a clue to
the
experienced marine electrician that something more is going on here.

Unbalanced neutral current and flawed wiring both in both marina dock
and boat
circuits, can and do result in excess neutral current flow and
sometimes even
in the green safety ground wire. The latter happens when someone
connects the
white and green wires together inappropriately.

My advice to Mr. Burke is to get an experienced stray current expert to
examine
his boat, dock and the immediate marina environment for sources of
stray
current.
Even if your boat is perfectly wired and equipped with a galvanic
isolator; this
is no protection against someone else in the adjacent slip having a
wiring
nightmare dumping current into the water. The first indication is faster
than
normal zinc depletion and next unbalanced current flow in the dock
wiring.

It is my personal observation that many local codes allow white neutral
and
green ground wires to be mixed at the main electrical panel.
If this practice is also used on board boats, damaging results are
guaranteed.
Because it is permitted by the electrical code ashore, many DIY home
electricians figure they can also do it on a boat.
To save a few dollars they insist on wiring their own boat and in the
process
cause untold damage for their neighbors in adjacent slips.

Regards

Arild

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/1/2003

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Arlid is right on here. A boat near mine was putting 1.5 amps in the water and we detected a neutral to ground wiring problem emanating from his boat. It's pretty easy to detect by unplugging their shore power cord from the box and testing the cord while it is connected to the boat. It cost me about a boat-unit to repair the damage. Now I have an isolation transformer (not included in the original boat-unit of repair costs) so I can't be corroded by the guy next door. Good advice to get an expert in stay current. It is weird stuff and not just any old electrical will do - eve a "marine" electrician (as if anyone really knows what that is). If you are in the Seattle area and need a reference, let me know. I know a real good one. And he works reasonable rates and loves what he does. Good advice, Arlid! Randy Hamblin M/Y SAGA Willard 36 Seattle, WA -----Original Message----- From: trawler-world-list-bounces@lists.samurai.com [mailto:trawler-world-list-bounces@lists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of Arild Jensen Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 7:35 PM To: Burke, Edward H.S.; trawler-world-list@lists.samurai.com Subject: TWL: RE: Shore-Power Cords that "burn-through" rather quickly..... Edward Burke reports that he has problems with his shore cord and also relates that he has recently added more zinc to his boat. (WHY?) While I am not saying the suggestions posted by others are not valid, the fact none of the shore cords last more than six months should be a clue to the experienced marine electrician that something more is going on here. Unbalanced neutral current and flawed wiring both in both marina dock and boat circuits, can and do result in excess neutral current flow and sometimes even in the green safety ground wire. The latter happens when someone connects the white and green wires together inappropriately. My advice to Mr. Burke is to get an experienced stray current expert to examine his boat, dock and the immediate marina environment for sources of stray current. Even if your boat is perfectly wired and equipped with a galvanic isolator; this is no protection against someone else in the adjacent slip having a wiring nightmare dumping current into the water. The first indication is faster than normal zinc depletion and next unbalanced current flow in the dock wiring. It is my personal observation that many local codes allow white neutral and green ground wires to be mixed at the main electrical panel. If this practice is also used on board boats, damaging results are guaranteed. Because it is permitted by the electrical code ashore, many DIY home electricians figure they can also do it on a boat. To save a few dollars they insist on wiring their own boat and in the process cause untold damage for their neighbors in adjacent slips. Regards Arild --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/1/2003 _______________________________________________ http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawler-world-list To Unsubscribe send email to trawler-world-list-request@lists.samurai.com Include the word "Unsubscribe" (and nothing else) in the subject or body of the message.

AJ

Arild Jensen

Wed, Dec 3, 2003 4:49 AM

Randy wrote:
If you are in the Seattle area and need a reference, let me know. I know
a real good one. And he works reasonable rates and loves what he does.

REPLY
Randy, do you mean my partner, who recently relocated from San Francisco to
Orcas island?

We are planning to set up a trans-border business covering from Bellingham to
Vancouver and the gulf islands on both sides of the border.
However we have not even advertised yet, except to mention our plans to friends
who talk to us daily. How did you hear about us? < grin >

Arild

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/1/2003

Randy wrote: If you are in the Seattle area and need a reference, let me know. I know a real good one. And he works reasonable rates and loves what he does. REPLY Randy, do you mean my partner, who recently relocated from San Francisco to Orcas island? We are planning to set up a trans-border business covering from Bellingham to Vancouver and the gulf islands on both sides of the border. However we have not even advertised yet, except to mention our plans to friends who talk to us daily. How did you hear about us? < grin > Arild --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/1/2003

trawlers@lists.trawlering.com

TWL: Shore-Power Cords that "burn-through" rather quickly.....

Arild

Arild

Arild