Shore Power Installation - Opinions Please.

[markh1f]

When I bought the M in December I had my dealer Boating Atlanta install shore power. I have an opinion on the installation and my dealer seems to have the opposite opinion, so I would be interested in hearing what members of the board think as an unbiased 3rd opinion. The breaker box is installed inside the locker at the bottom of the stairs. Is this similar to what others are getting when having shore power installed by a dealer?

Thanks,
Mark

[Paul S]

i dont have shore power. But that installation looks kinda crappy. Looks too low (can get wet easier), nothing securing the wire to the breaker(chafe issue), nothing holding the wires near the box. Doesn't look like marine AC wire to me. The breaker box doesnt look marine rated.

I don't like it. I would look up in the ABYC book on how to do it properly. This doesn't look textbook. Not that I am an expert (far from it), but I would question the installation (have a pro look at it) and have it done properly.

The electrical system, especially AC, is nothing to take lightly. You can cut corners on many things. But the electrical system is not one of them!

[MadMacX]

That is not a professional install. It appears that they used solid copper wire instead of stranded wire, there is no grommet on the wire in/out of the breaker box and I really doubt that the box is weather proof, let alone water proof. Probably work just fine in a garage, but I would not want it in my boat. I think you have a good reason NOT to accept that type of install!

Pat

[John McDonough]

I am an Electrician Construction worker. No Offense, but that service is Bad and would never pass inspection. The wiring into the box is not secure.

I would assume that the Marina where you dock your boat has a Ground Fault receptical circuit close by.
Hopefully if you plug into a Ground Fault protected plug, your chance of getting shocked is reduced, but I have seen Ground Fault circuits which have failed.


good Luck..

[Russ]

I agree, it looks pretty crappy and more suitable to home wiring. Although even at that, there are no grommets etc. I'd say it's a step above an extension cord into the boat, that is there is a home based circuit breaker.

[SkiDeep2001]

Danger, Danger, Will Robinson, sorry Mark, not to joke about a potentially deadly electrical problem BUT - I was nearly electrocuted by a similar installation done by my uncle - every poster above is correct, that is a very poor install, looks like it was done by a fly by nighter. Have it checked and redone by a certified electrician and document everything and tell that boat dealer that if they don't refund your money you will report them to the state and be calling your attorney. They should be reported anyway so they don't do this to someone else and they should be forced to recall any similar installs they've done in the past.

[J.Teixeira]

Fuse on the bilge ...

That's #$%$$& "#$##&$

If you get water on the bilge, the shore power wire will be submerse. (The one before the fuse)

If you are motoring and heel the boat the water will go exactly there.

Then you arrive to your marina and BANG!

If the shore power ground fails someone can get killed ...

The material looks for home interior purpose only...

Jose

[tompolak]

That is a bad setup, even if it was on land. On the water, you should not have a box like that. It is just not safe.

My question is how is the box attached or is it attached at all? It seems to be resting on the outside of the hull. Hopefully they did not attach it thru the hull.

[Highlander]

Here's my set-up as you can see my main hydro box is high & dry still not finnished yet though, these are all marine approved 120v/12v fixtures, looks like you have house hold boxes & wiring !

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010044.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010074.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010073.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010080.jpg

This last one I had to move the electrilcal outlet up into the V-Berth area
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010083.jpg
because I installed my flux gate compass in behind the D/B
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010007.jpg

On your 120v outlet the wiring sheave has been cut back to far exposing the wiring itself the sheave should go all the way into the outlet box so as the self clamping device to "secure the wiring " is clamping the wiring sheave & not the wiring insulation as John said bad work as an electrician I'm sure he knows what he's talking about
J

[markh1f]

Thanks for all the responses and confirming my opinion on the install, at this point the dealer is refusing to do anything about it and I am not sure where to take it from here. I think maybe I will file a complaint thru the BBB and see if that get any results.

tompolak - The breaker box is mounted with one bolt on the inside of the locker near base of the ladder, not against the hull.

Highlander - Your installation looks great, hope mine turns out as nice once I am done with it.

Mark

[Paul S]

You paid for professional parts and installation.

You did not get it.

Press them to do it right.

Small claims court wouldn't be a bad idea. I have gone the BBB route. You will NOT get satisfaction (or $). THey MAY get a black mark, but they wont be forced to fix anything.

It may cost you a bit to get a professional survey and writeup to explain what is bad and why and how it needs to be corrected.

[paj637]

Get in touch with your local USCG auxillary and have them inspect the boat and the wiring. It's Free. They should fail you and will document the poor installation. That should be adequate documentation for the dealer to fix the problem or rip it out and refund your money. A dealer installation like that for marine use is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[Divecoz]

Mark I am sorry to say this as well , but you my friend ..... you've been had... This fellow is not listed on this site and I .... couldn't find his dealership with what I gleaned from your post.This fellow is IMHO a crook a scumbag and not to be trusted ...I say that because he told you this install was properly done in his opinion.
Mark would you be willing to tell us what this cost and was their a break down for labor and Material?
I am in NO WAY finding fault with you or ridiculing you...... We all to some degree go into these situations on blind trust. You trusted this man and HE violated that trust. I have seen this often . There was no one to hold this Shylock accountable....so he charges as much as he can and pay some incompetent.....as little as he can get away with. Ah Yes Free Enterprise........ With there being no one to hold Mr Shylock/Scumbag accountable you get the Good Old Boy Boat Works Mentality. No Doubt he could have employed a Real Marine Electrician or Certified Marine Mechanic for 1/2 to 2/3 r's of what he charged you and you would have gotten a much better / Proper Installation and he .....would have still made money .Ahhhhhhh but not all the money...
Its the Hire someone who knows nothing pay him nothing and hope to HULL no one dies while you own the business...BTW some one could have died easy enough with that installation .... in or out of the boat...//in the garage!!
I dont know the consciences of the rest of the members here....... but I am willing to notify him ( by phone or e-mail ) of what I have seen posted here and ........any governmental body in or out of the state of Georgia...As Well

Highlander
Why are you running that 120 Volt Neutral through that breaker???

IMHO you done a nice electrical install except for that.......... that IMHO is dangerous .

[Highlander]

Divecoz

This set-up runs the hot side & the nuetral side through their own seperate breakers giving you protection against reversed polarity

J

[Ivan Awfulitch]

Wired wrong, and is dangerous. Wiring should be secure, and that box is not designed for wet locations or to be placed anywhere that it could potentially become submerged. Most marinas have 30 amp service, and I noticed that you have only a 20 amp main. Typically you'd have a 30 amp main, and 1 or more 15 amp branches. If you should use an AC unit at the same time as a coffee maker you may find yourself in the dark. Did they at least use GFI outlets? I'd consider contacting an attorney or small claims court as this would not pass a building inspection, let alone boating regulations.