shore power cords

[ageless]

One of the live aboard opportunities I am looking at has the shore power (single 50a) 100' from the dock. Would take another 75' to get to cockpit. The owner swears the last vessel there had a cord long enough to work. Is it possible to build a 50amp cord that could carry the load 200'? what gauge wire would it require? I see all kinds of mixed comments regarding combining cords, I'm not a fan, can't imagine insurance would be either, convince me otherwise.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

4AWG for that distance

 

[Pascal]

It s along run but voltage drop is less of concern with AC compared to DC. I would not use multiple cords and connectors but make a custom one piece cord which will stay at the dock when you leave. Ward marine in FTL sells shore power cable by the foot and their tech support is excellent. I would ask them if standard 50Amp cable will be fine, I think it will be. If not, you could get 200’ of 100amp cable and install 50Amp connectors.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Its not so much the voltage drop, its the resistance at that length. Upsize to 4 awg and you'll be fine. Here is a link to the cable.

https://ewcswire.com/4-awg-3-conductor-with-ground-vntc-600-volts/

 

[Captain Ralph]

That is not tin'd wire nor is there any UV protection. These may need to be considered.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

That is not tin'd wire nor is there any UV protection. These may need to be considered.

It was an example. I'm sure there are better choices. But most marine cords are not tinned. Cut one open and look at it.

 

[rsmith]

My dock power pedestal is 145’ from the breaker panel I’ve got 6/4 with ground run in conduit underground 0 Voltage drop at 40 amps which is my ac full load. It may pay you to split the cost of running a permanent service with the owner

 

[Pascal]

Indeed the cheap cord sets like Marinco or Eel aren’t tinned. Quality cables are. I tried one of these Eel cords a few years ago, looked like crap after just two years.

I bought 75’ of cable from Ward along with the connectors. Much better.

 

[ageless]

My dock power pedestal is 145’ from the breaker panel I’ve got 6/4 with ground run in conduit underground 0 Voltage drop at 40 amps which is my ac full load. It may pay you to split the cost of running a permanent service with the owner

Yeah, this is my thinking and I did offer to purchase and run the wire/conduit to a suitable spot and have an electrician come in and make connections, if they insisted. They countered with the cord offer The other issue in Pompano is the @#$(* permitting, it would be 4 months ($500) to get that

anyone have a lead on a live aboard slip Nov and Dec around Lauderdale?

 

[edward]

What is the cost per foot ?