Shore Power Problem.. Help Please!

[bobk]

Came into Ortega River Yacht Club and found only 30A Service. Plugged in the 30A cord and had 120V, but the indicator light flickered for a while and then went out. The bulb checked OK. Started the dryer with everything else turned off and all was well for 20 minutes or so, then all 30A/120V died.

I found one of the two 30A fuses was 'open' and replaced it. No Joy. I do have 120V between one shore cord straight pin and the angled one. Not between the straight ones. Generator is doing it's thing OK. BTW, before we did anything, the circuit tester showed the wiring was correct.

I know almost nothing about electricity, so all suggestions welcome. Thanks,

Bob Kassal
1981 48MY

 

[mobilemn1]

Bob,
first I would check the voltage at the pedistal, or have the yard do it for you. May just reset the breaker. In other words start at the beginning and work your way through the problem.. Pedistal to recepticle on the boat, recep to power box..........and so on.. I would also remove the other fuse and replace just for the hell of it.

Hope this gives you a starting point

 

[captddis]

Don't run the dryer on the 30 a circuit. Check both 30A fuses and the dock fuses as well as the main 30A breaker at the panel. Are any of the 30A blades on the cord melted?

 

[REBrueckner]

Flickering that has not been evident previously suggests a poor connection... perhaps a dirty contact between fuses and holder which would explain why one fuse went blew...small contact area creates heat which pops fuses even when all else is ok.....also check plug and receptacle contact....

 

[bobk]

Thanks guys. The pedestal neutral went bad. It was OK when I first plugged in. Switched to a different pedestal and all was well, but then the second 30A fuse blew. Replaced it and of course cleaned connections etc. All worked after that. The boats electrical system converts 30/120 to 240V, but of course amps are not there. The drier did work OK after all that, as did the master AC on that warm night.

Bob
1981 48MY