[C320-list] AC reversed polarity light

[Irving Grunes]

Scott,
If the dock receptacle are ok, the the most likely culprit would be a
problem with the ground circuit connection between the dock receptacle and
the ground bus at the boat panel.
This is my guess.
Irv Grunes
#851

On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 9:36 AM, Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com>wrote:

> Thanks Irv.  I suppose I should keep one of those on board.
>
> I know that the problem is not on the dock.  I have this problem at all
> dockside outlets now, including ones that work fine for other people and
> worked fine for me not long ago.  It's clearly something between the
> dockside outlet and the AC panel on the boat.  I'm looking for some way to
> track the specific faulty part or connection.
>
> To you electrical experts out there:  Looking at the AC wiring diagram, the
> reverse polarity light appears to be wired to detect a voltage present
> between the neutral (white wire) input side of the main AC breaker on the
> panel and the AC ground bus bar behind the panel.  What failure of my wiring
> would cause a voltage to appear there consistently?  It isn't clear to me
> why an open circuit on either neutral or ground would cause either one to
> show up as "hot", which is what you would expect with an actual polarity
> reversal.
>
> I have no inverter, and the factory stock AC installation.
>
> Scott Thompson
> Surprise, #653
>
> Irving Grunes wrote:
>
>> All,
>> See :
>> http://www.tequipment.net/IdealReceptacleTesters.asp
>> for and electrical tester to check the outlets on the boat.
>> If the oytlets are bad, then the dock receptacle is probably bad.
>> Irv Grunes
>> #851
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 8:13 AM, Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com
>> >wrote:
>>
>>  Thanks.  That's where my suspicions lie.  Is there some way to test? And
>>> does anyone know a part number or source?
>>>
>>> Scott
>>> Surprise, #653
>>>
>>> vpweikel at comcast.net wrote:
>>>
>>>  Scott,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Had the same reverse polarity issue a few years back.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Turned out to be the shore plug on the stern.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Paul Weikel
>>>> Second Chance
>>>> #361
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Sweet" <
>>>> jamesweet at frontiernet.net>
>>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com Sent: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 8:17:15 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] AC reversed polarity light
>>>> Had the same issue on our old Pearson 332.  Also had an intermittent
>>>> flicker in the reversed polarity light.  Turned out to be a bad power
>>>> cord.
>>>> Jim Sweet TGIF (Thank God It Floats) 901
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Thompson" <
>>>> surprise at thompson87.com> To: "Catalina320.org"
>>>> <C320-List at Catalina320.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, July 05, 2010 9:38 PM Subject: [C320-list] AC reversed
>>>> polarity light
>>>>
>>>>  On our recent cruise we found that the reverse polarity light came on
>>>>
>>>>> when we tested the AC hookup in 2 different marinas, and then again
>>>>> back on
>>>>> our home pier.  Since there was no indication of improper wiring at any
>>>>> of
>>>>> these locations, and since we had no trouble at the home pier at the
>>>>> start
>>>>> of the trip, I assume that the problem is somewhere in my boat or power
>>>>> cord.  The power cord passes a simple end to end continuity check on
>>>>> each of
>>>>> the three conductors, and there is no sign of any shorts.  Does anyone
>>>>> have
>>>>> suggestions on what to look for next?  It's occurred to me that perhaps
>>>>> I
>>>>> need to replace the shore power connector on the transom.  It looks OK,
>>>>> but
>>>>> after 11 years, maybe the weather has taken its toll.
>>>>> My recollection is that faults other than reverse polarity can cause
>>>>> these kinds of symptoms but I do not remember the details.
>>>>> --
>>>>> Scott Thompson Surprise, #653
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  --
>>> Scott Thompson
>>> Surprise, #653
>>>
>>>
> --
> Scott Thompson
> Surprise, #653
>