YIKES
- Thread starter walterv
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This is a Sticky from another boating source dated 2005. -----
A Nautaline has recently been lost to a fire caused by failure of the shore power connection at the boat.
On 30 amp service it is common for the internal parts of the female end of the cord set to lose strength over time. It will not grip the male part tightly and as contact is lost heat develops and failure occurs.
If there is little or no resistance when you connect up your cord it's time to change out the end. If the same condition exists on the dock connection have your marina change out the receptical.
50 to 30 adaptors are a big contributor to the failure rate of these connectors. Also failure to twist and lock the plug and tighten the retainer ring will cause eventual failure.
At about $35 a pop it's cheap insurance to change out the end when it becomes sloppy.
Be sure to also check out the male receptical on the boat for signs of heat damage.
Hint: Remove the boat receptical and tighten the connections as they tend to work loose over time and are also a common cause of failure.
A Nautaline has recently been lost to a fire caused by failure of the shore power connection at the boat.
On 30 amp service it is common for the internal parts of the female end of the cord set to lose strength over time. It will not grip the male part tightly and as contact is lost heat develops and failure occurs.
If there is little or no resistance when you connect up your cord it's time to change out the end. If the same condition exists on the dock connection have your marina change out the receptical.
50 to 30 adaptors are a big contributor to the failure rate of these connectors. Also failure to twist and lock the plug and tighten the retainer ring will cause eventual failure.
At about $35 a pop it's cheap insurance to change out the end when it becomes sloppy.
Be sure to also check out the male receptical on the boat for signs of heat damage.
Hint: Remove the boat receptical and tighten the connections as they tend to work loose over time and are also a common cause of failure.
This type of malfunction will rarely trip a standard breaker. Its also on the wrong side of any breakers on your boat. There is actually very little overall current being drawn until it finally melts through the insulation and the hot conductor makes physical contact with either the ground or neutral. There isn't much you can do but preventative maintenance. The maintenance would be keeping both the plug and socket on the boat clean and treated. Periodic visual inspection is needed. This type of malfunction causes numerous boat fires and insurance claims every year.
Old HB,
As discussed this happened on the boat end, my cords never get disconnected from that end, I have a locker where the cords go in. If I never disconnect them there and the lock ring was tight, how could it "lose its strength"?
Also, this cords are only 3 seasons old.
I hear what you guys are saying but I just want to make sure I am not overlooking anything else.
Thanks for the feedback
Walter
As discussed this happened on the boat end, my cords never get disconnected from that end, I have a locker where the cords go in. If I never disconnect them there and the lock ring was tight, how could it "lose its strength"?
Also, this cords are only 3 seasons old.
I hear what you guys are saying but I just want to make sure I am not overlooking anything else.
Thanks for the feedback
Walter
Walter, the fact that you never unscrew them could possibly be a problem. In removing them and reinstalling them this gives them metal on the contacts a chance to wipe or clean themselves. Its also possible that just the bouncing action of the boat could cause the contacts to loose tension, especially if they are left in place while cruising and the cords are just reeled or stored in place. It's also possible that in the manufactoring process you just got a connector just barely in spec. and it prematurely failed? I'm grasping at straws looking for an answer. I did see where another guy asked if you were using a heater are you? Is there anything non standard that would draw high current plugged into that leg on your boat?
As Mike says, this is one of the most common causes of boat fires. There is a small arount of corrosion which occurs, there more carbon formation, more resistance. The plug connections appear good. It is often on the back of the in the boat connector where the problem occurs. Sometimes the same thing happens inside of the molded plug.
One needs to peroidically inspect the plug and connections. Keep all connections tight and corrosion/carbon free. I found that these sockets needed to be replaced every few years. If the process starts, then replace at that time.
One needs to peroidically inspect the plug and connections. Keep all connections tight and corrosion/carbon free. I found that these sockets needed to be replaced every few years. If the process starts, then replace at that time.
Capt. Bill1
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What Bob said.
Plus I would add, when you replace this mess, be sure to use something like BeoShield on all the connections when you reassemble it. And use it every couple of months on all the plug prongs and fittings.
Plus I would add, when you replace this mess, be sure to use something like BeoShield on all the connections when you reassemble it. And use it every couple of months on all the plug prongs and fittings.
That's why I would never leave my boat plugged in all winter with any kind of heater going. Glad your boat isn't next to mine Walter 
On my last boat with 30amp shorepower, I was surprise how much power even a single small ceramic heater would draw.
On my last boat with 30amp shorepower, I was surprise how much power even a single small ceramic heater would draw.Walter,
What was runing off the cord? I would think between u and don u could have pulled this off a little better and the new 46 would be on order already...
Sooo disppointed... especially in Don....
Guess thats why my marina wont let me plug in hugh ???????????????
Seriously glad all is ok... but what was running on the boat.
Rob
What was runing off the cord? I would think between u and don u could have pulled this off a little better and the new 46 would be on order already...
Sooo disppointed... especially in Don....
Guess thats why my marina wont let me plug in hugh ???????????????
Seriously glad all is ok... but what was running on the boat.
Rob
Walter as an example a Boatsafe 750 watt bilge heater will draw 6.81 amps at 110 volts. A 1500 watt space heater will draw 13.63 amps. It's pretty easy to see why space heaters can quickly overload a 30 amp circuit in a boat, especially one where corrosion comes into play.
Bill,
On the low power setting of the heater I have it only draws around 6 amps per heater.When I fired up all heaters I did look at the 110 amp guage and saw it around 15 amps, If the circuit was overloaded I would assume the breaker would blow, Know?
Walter
On the low power setting of the heater I have it only draws around 6 amps per heater.When I fired up all heaters I did look at the 110 amp guage and saw it around 15 amps, If the circuit was overloaded I would assume the breaker would blow, Know?
Walter
CHECK THE NEUTRAL...... looks like its working with no neutral.
When there is no neutral return.....it builds up high voltage and burns up stuff. It won't trip the breaker....because its high voltage not high amperage.....
Then call the "cellar savers" of America ( volunteer fire dept )
When there is no neutral return.....it builds up high voltage and burns up stuff. It won't trip the breaker....because its high voltage not high amperage.....
Then call the "cellar savers" of America ( volunteer fire dept )
The breaker may not have blown or opened due to numerous factors, like ambiant temperature at the breaker, and a combination of soft starts on the resistive heaters. Again the failure was cooking of the plug and power receptical before your breaker, so the shorepower breaker would or should be the one to trip. I think this is a classic case of the perfect electrical storm of sorts Walter. I'm glad I am having both my cords and shorepower recepticals replaced this winter when the isolation transformers are being installed.
sublimetime
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boats breakers have nothing to do with this short circuit/overload.should have tripped shore breaker. These breakers somtimes will go years before tripping or being used.Outside in harsh enviremont and not being turned off for years could have caused corrosion in the breaker itself physically keeping it from self tripping until damage had already been done.