Looking for Hatteras specific electrical ideas

[riverrandy]

I spoke with a few of the sam's folks, and they each had a different opinion. Bottom line, the "fault breaker" is not longer made (seemed to be a bad design...go figure). Paul said to get wire diagram and figure it out from there. So here it is. I believe the part I circled is the change that needs to be made. Actually taking the fault (and voltage) breaker assembly out of line. I would connect these two together with a jumper or directly.

What Say You?!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I think you just need to remove that 16 gauge trip wire from the white breaker to the big four pole breaker.

 

[Boatsb]

Just cant remain quiet forever so.

1 changes to the panels safety circuits are not advisable. When you have to replace a part that is no longer available it may require more than a work around.

2 adding new technologies helps in both safety and value. That's why they call them upgrades.

3 having a 40 year old boat like the day it was launched has no additional value.


I use the blue seas ELCI breakers for customers replacing old non functional panels. Adding a bit of modern safety is always a good thing. Its something to think about before you go out and redesign an old panel with work arounds.

 

[riverrandy]

Excellent, discussion, what I was looking for.

Sky, is that how you did it? It seems to me I need to some how power the 4 pole main. but I can try both ways.

Scott, Great points. I'd like some more dialog. Hatteras, a few "long timers" and a few respected electricians all tell me the entire GFCI development was nothing more than a Senator getting a law passed that would benefit his son who developed the entire GFCI program, and that the issue is, it is flawed. (DIFFERENT DISCUSSION). Facts seem to point that compressors do not play well with GFCI breakers. GFCI outlets are not code for refrigerators in your home, nor on your HVAC systems. I have also never run across a "whole house" Ground Fault system.

Does the Blue seas breaker your referring to, replace this one "weak" breaker, or are you suggesting I rewire the entire boat with this type of breaker for every item?

and discuss.....

 

[oscarvan]

Does the Blue seas breaker your referring to, replace this one "weak" breaker, or are you suggesting I rewire the entire boat with this type of breaker for every item?

and discuss.....

He's suggesting the latter, and he's right. Old tired electrical systems are a hazard.

We're not at Pebble Beach here. Safety and reliability in that order. And you don't have to do the entire boat all at once. Evaluate the system, make a redesign/master plan to do it in phases.

I mean, today you're still thinking that it's all "good enough" and you just have to fix the broken part. How about in 20 years? Somewhere you're going to have to bite the bullet.

Blue Sea and a few others makes some fine stuff. It's not cheap but this is not an area to skimp.

 

[Boatsb]

Im glad you know what Im thinking.

Its all about what is needed.

If you need ship wide GFCI I would add it at the upstream side of the panel where the power comes in. Many times we place them at the inlets to replace the fuses that always rust.

I put them in weatherproof boxed with the correct amperage and reverse polarity lights.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Yes. You just need to remove the wire that trips the main. There is no danger here. You're plugs are still protected by the individual GFI's that you say are already in place.

I have done several this way. I don't hear anyone else here speaking from experience with this issue.

 

[riverrandy]

Thank you all for the discussion.

I believe if I had numerous issues, or evidence of PO tampering, I would dive in and do a full rewire. In my case the original OVER engineered system is in perfect working order with the exception of one weak "Fault breaker" effected by the refrigerator. After talking with the experts who designed the system, they recommended the "bypass".

For now I will remove the jump wire, and see what happens. If it does not work, I will look at next steps. In both cases I will report back. If I don't, something went terribly wrong!