Check Your Fuses

[Pete]

Our boat has a vertical mounted SS plate with three shore power receptacles and fuses mounted in the cockpit under the starboard deck overhang. Attached to the back of the plate is a SS box to protect the fixtures and prevent contact with the electrical terminals. Had to remove the entire unit to get access to some other screws. To my surprise I found that water had collected in the box and the water line indicated maybe 2 inches of standing water. Enough to submerge the lowest set of fuses. Had to replace the fuse holders, fuses, and the shore power receptacle. All were beyond salvage. Had to cut the fuse holder screws as the were frozen good. This was a fire waiting to happen. This is the receptacle I use 90% of the time for 240V/50A hookup. I also drilled two quarter in holes in the bottom of the box for drains.

I suggest a simple way to check yours. Just unhook your power, and remove the lowest set of fuses. Inspect the fuses, the fuse holder inside and the inside of the cap. If it all looks like new, no problem. If yours looks ugly, as mine did, fix it now.

Pete

 

[krush]

From the people posting over the years, it may be prudent to repair or replace all shore power connections every 10-15 years...and check (take apart) at least semi-annually.

I guess manufactures haven't figured out how to keep water out of them even though they charge a fortune for 'em.

 

[Genesis]

Actually keeping water out of places where it wants to go is NOT easy.