Shore power issue

[roundIII]

Hello all:

1988 40' MY

Took boat out yesterday. All went fine. Ran generator, everything working properly.

Got back, plugged into the shore power (50amp 240) nothing worked. Changed shore power post and tried again, nothing worked. Person in next slip tried same outlets and everything worked on his boat as usual.

Changed power cords, nothing worked. went to one 30 amp cord just to see if that would work and it did, for about 15 minutes then shut down.

Checked big fuses at shore power outlets on boat( shotgun shells) all ok.

Tried generator and everything worked as usual.

All switches in correct position from generator to shore power and from 50 amp to 30 amp.

Going back this morning with a meter to check as much as possible. Could the transformer be cooked?

Nothing was changed from when I left the dock until I returned.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Ron

 

[MikeP]

Well…Sounds like you've done pretty good troubleshooting. Seems unlikely that the transformer suddenly burnt out, they are usually pretty much bulletproof.

The first on the list of usual suspects - after switches being in the wrong position, which you've checked - would be poor connections/contacts at the shore power cord (or broken connection/wire in the cord) or the big fuses.

Does your master panel show that shore power is coming into the boat? I don't know if all these panels are similar - ours has lights that indicate that shore power is present at whichever input. If not, when you checked the shotguns, did you actually try new fuses or did you do a continuity check with a meter on the old ones?

If you didn't actually replace them, try a new fuse in the appropriate input line and be sure the threads on the receptacle are clean. A shot of DeOxit would be helpful.

If you find that the problem is in the shotgun fuses or their receptacles, a good maint thing to do is to pull/clean them annually and put some dielectric grease on the fuse bases and the threads of the receptacles.

In any case, let us know what you find!

 

[saltshaker]

Check to see if the ground fault breaker is tripped for the shore line. Does your boat have breakers/switches for the transformer. If they're off you won't get shore power but the generator would still power the boat.

 

[roundIII]

Thanks for the advice. Will be back at boat on Wed. and will check those things. I am also having the marina check the pedestals just to be sure before I start pulling things apart. They said they would do this today and let me know.

BOATS, you gotta love them !!

 

[cb48lrc]

I had the same issue right after we got our Hat. The PO had replaced the transformer, and the ele code said that a braker had to be X feet from it. Suer enough there it was outboard the stb engine hard to reach, onse reset everything worked.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Try the inlets on the other side if you have them.