[C320-list] AC system problem

[Ken Geiger]

An electrical Engineer and fellow boat owner on our dock had a look at my burnt wire and receptacle and said in his experience this is commonly caused by a loose terminal where the wire is attached by a screw and clamping plate to the receptacle.  this implies a periodic checking of terminal tightness is also a good idea.  POWER OFF FIRST OF COARSE.

    Ken Geiger
Northern Dream #765

 

 

 

---- Original Message ----
From: Rod Boer <rod.boer1 at verizon.net>
To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Tue, Jun 28, 2016 9:58 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] AC system problem

Greg,
I third Allan's suggestion!
Last week when I arrived at the boat in the evening I turned on the AC and after about 2 seconds the power went out. It turned out that one of the wires inside the 30 amp breaker box in the aft port locker had completely burnt through. I believe that it burnt through a strand at a time because the inside the breaker box was blackened and entry to the box was melted so this had been occurring over a period of time.  The exact replacement circuit breakers are a little hard to find but catalina.direct.com has them.
>From this point forward I am going to check both the incoming power receptacle and the breaker box regularly, like the start of the season and then midway. The same thing happened with the receptacle for my power cord.  In neither case did the breakers trip.
Rod Boer
Odyssey, #688  

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Guy Smith
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2016 9:37 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] AC system problem

Greg, I second Allan's suggestion!
I had burnt wiring under the cap that shields the back side of the shore power outlet. I noticed a burning smell in the cabin from time to time when we were in the marina. I would look around outside and attribute it to some boat yard activity. But just coincidentally, I had the aft port locker open when the Air Conditioner was running and the compressor kicked on. A wisp of smoke came out of the cap exit!
It turns out that the wiring to the connection was slowly losing strands of wire over time so that the appliances that draw large amounts of current would heat up the strands and eventually melt one through! The problem only got worse over time.I should have inspected the socket when I replaced the power cord due to charring on the male end of the cord. The cord came with Pleiades so I thought the connections inside of the cord's plug had got corroded. It turns out that the problem *in* the socket was heating the pin inside the cord and melting it.
So I replaced the power socket and cord, and inspect it regularly. I'm not sure why the wire to the socket heated to the point of burning through strands of the wire. I assume it is marine grade tinned copper, so it shouldn't corrode. Take the cap off of the back of the socket and check for problems please.

~Guy SmithPleiades #452Worton Creek, MD

      From: Allan S. Field <allan.field at verizon.net>
 To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
 Sent: Monday, June 27, 2016 6:59 PM
 Subject: Re: [C320-list] AC system problem
   
  Greg - Immediately - like today - check the shore power cord female end
  and the outlet on the back of the boat for any melting or burning
  around either.  This sounds like it could be a short in one or the
  other that can lead to a fire. This commonly can occur if the shore
  power cord is not firmly twisted and then locked in place.  If
  either/or is/are burned, they would need to be replaced.  But your
  intermittent works/doesn't work leads me to believe that is the issue.
  Allan S. Field
  Sea Shadow - #808
  Columbia, MD


  On 06/27/16, GREG SUTTONcom> wrote:

  I am having some issues with my AC system. While the breaker/switch on
  the main panel is on and the green indicator light is lit I am not
  getting any power to any of the AC systems i.e.:outlets, battery
  charger frig inverter etc. It also tends to trip the breaker on the
  shore power pedestal. After resetting the breaker and playing with the
  switch I can get power back but it usually doesn't last. My first
  choice is to replace the switch but I have not been able to locate one
  on Catalina direct or through any of the usual marine suppliers. Any
  suggestions on what the problem maybe or where I can find a replacement
  switch would be appreciated.
  Thanks
  Greg
  Liberty #128
  Sent from my iPad