[C320-list] Shore power system

[Mike Ott]

I've never had a problem with my AC system but this string prompted me to check.  First I checked for correct wiring using a simple plug-in circuit tester and all outlet checked out okay.  When I looked behind the panel I discovered the neutral and ground wires are connected to what appears to be a single terminal strip.  Looking closer I discovered that the metal jumpers were disconnected between the green and white wires, so although it is a single terminal strip the two wire systems are separated.
Mike Ott 
'Amanda Lu'
#508




________________________________
 From: John Frost <john at frostnet.net>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2013 1:28 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Shore power system
 

As an Electrical Safety Engineer, I investigated the electrocution of a
young man when he touched his Dad's RV parked in the driveway.
I determined that he was killed because the neutral and ground were
connected together in the RV AND the power cord leading from the garage had
a 3 wire to 2 wire adapter that happened to be plugged in with the polarity
reversed. This energized the frame of the RV just like it would energize
most of the metal in your boat.

Please do separate your neutral and ground.

Safe Sailing!

John
2007 C320MKII
Hull 1118
Guntersville, AL


-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Warren Updike
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 10:38 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Shore power system

Ok, I agree. The AC white and green should only be connected ashore.  I
can't imagine who/why such a change would be made unless by mistake or
misunderstanding.  You seem to know what's what.  I hope you get it
resolved.  
At this point, were it me, I'd opt for a certified marine electrician to
review the whole AC system.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Squires [mailto:rsquires77 at netzero.com]
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 8:20 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Shore power system

Warren thank you for responding, I was hoping for replies from owners of
mid-nineties boats. The only wiring I am addressing in this post is the 120v
system. On our boat the neutral (white wire) and the safety ground (green
wire) buses are connected via the over the top of the separators jumpers
used on these type of terminal strips. To be clear the terminal strip has
twelve positions, all of them are connected via jumpers. Four positions are
white wires and six are green wires, with two unused in between. This does
not match the 1993 schematic included in the owners manual, nor any other
schematic I have been able to locate. All the opinions I have read conclude
that these two buses should not be connected on a boat, only "at the power
source". I'm not talking about those boats carrying a gen-set, but those
like ours using a shore power cord and on shore source. The ABYC
recommendation to connect the safety ground (green wire) and 12v negative
(black wire) buses is not at issue here. I see no indication that these two
are connected on our boat.

Ron & Michelle
# 26 1994 "Island Time"

_/) Sent from my iPhone 5

On Jul 22, 2013, at 6:02 PM, Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:

> To be clear, when you say, "neutral bus" do you mean the negative
> (black) side of the DC service?  When you say, "safety ground bus" do 
> you mean the frame ground (green) side of the AC service?  If the 
> answer to both is yes, then this is a normal and recommended 
> connection.  Our 1994 hull also has this connection.  This is not 
> likely contributing to your problem.  Nor, is it a reason why your 
> GFCI is tripping.  If everything else is OK, there should be no 
> voltage across the green/white or green/black wires of the AC service 
> that
would trip the GFCI.
> 
> I think you should find your problem along the lines suggested by others.
> Check every point of connection between the dock and the AC breaker.
> 
> Warren & Pattie Updike
> 1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Squires [mailto:rsquires77 at netzero.com]
> Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 10:35 AM
> To: C-320 List
> Subject: [C320-list] Shore power system
> 
> This is our first season with this boat. When we connect to the shore 
> power supply we encounter two problems, so far. First is we get a 
> reverse current light, second when turning on the main AC breakers in 
> order first the one at the inlet then the one the panel, the GFCI at 
> the
supply point trips.
> 
> What we have noted already while investigating is that the neutral bus 
> and the safety ground bus are connected on the single shared terminal 
> strip via what look to be original jumpers.
> The boat does not have an isolation transformer.
> 
> I can't believe this boat has been miswired this long without someone 
> questioning the buses being connected.
> Can anyone think of a reason they would have, or should be connected 
> on the early series boats(hull #26)?
> The buses being connected does explain the GFCI trip but not the 
> reverse current light. We have checked the source and cord with a 
> polarity checker and they are OK.
> We need to dig deeper into the AC system, will we find any more 
> surprises with the system on a boat with an early hull number?
> 
> _/) Sent from my iPhone 5
> 
>