Shorepower, transfer switch & genny
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:34 pm
On our 1986 39 Sedan, there was a stern shorepower plug in set added recently by the PO. So it has dual 30A plugin's up front at the bow seat and dual 30A plugin's in the rear cockpit. They are connected at a "Blue Seas" brand switch that has bow - off - stern options. AC power is also tied in with the newer Kohler 7.3 generator. The genny works when the switch is set to the bow position. I assume there is some sort of transfer switch tied in with the genny and AC panel somewhere.
ANYHOW... I have had low readings (.63 to .70) on my CAPAC since going in the water at our dock. I had not been to concerned yet since all 110V items on the boat worked without any breaker issues on the boat or at the shorepower pole. Polarity checks out on all outlets. I started to troubleshoot the low readings a little over this past weekend by starting with the shorepower input. I found that the low reading exist when either of the two stern plugins are connected to a cable or a cable is connected to the top bow plugin. Oddly enough, the cables do not have to be turned on at the pole in order to get the low capac readings - just plugged in... When only using the lower bow 30A plugin, my capac reads .9+. For now that is all that is plugged until I can figure out more. This 30A side powers the solon A/C, refrigerator, galley and starboard outlets so we can function short term.
That is about as much as I have learned at this point. As you can probably tell, I am not an marine electrical expert. I know that the "Blue Seas" switch is the proper one because I spoke with the Blue Seas technician before closing on the boat. I am concerned that he PO combined neutral inputs on the boat with a busBar because he installed the busbar for this switch installation. This is where I plan to start this weekend. I need to open the panels up and see what I can learn.
Well, any words of wisdom from you smart guys here? Where would you start?
Thank you in advance,
John
This is the switch:
https://www.iboats.com/shop/blue-sea-sy ... 3UQAvD_BwE
ANYHOW... I have had low readings (.63 to .70) on my CAPAC since going in the water at our dock. I had not been to concerned yet since all 110V items on the boat worked without any breaker issues on the boat or at the shorepower pole. Polarity checks out on all outlets. I started to troubleshoot the low readings a little over this past weekend by starting with the shorepower input. I found that the low reading exist when either of the two stern plugins are connected to a cable or a cable is connected to the top bow plugin. Oddly enough, the cables do not have to be turned on at the pole in order to get the low capac readings - just plugged in... When only using the lower bow 30A plugin, my capac reads .9+. For now that is all that is plugged until I can figure out more. This 30A side powers the solon A/C, refrigerator, galley and starboard outlets so we can function short term.
That is about as much as I have learned at this point. As you can probably tell, I am not an marine electrical expert. I know that the "Blue Seas" switch is the proper one because I spoke with the Blue Seas technician before closing on the boat. I am concerned that he PO combined neutral inputs on the boat with a busBar because he installed the busbar for this switch installation. This is where I plan to start this weekend. I need to open the panels up and see what I can learn.
Well, any words of wisdom from you smart guys here? Where would you start?
Thank you in advance,
John
This is the switch:
https://www.iboats.com/shop/blue-sea-sy ... 3UQAvD_BwE