Reverse Polarity

S

Snow Alternative

Member
Joined
May 2, 2003
RO Number
11503
Messages
94
I have a 2 year old 33' Back Cove with 2-30amp outlets. Second of the 2 was installed by the factory 1 year after launch as i was tripping the main breaker w/ 2 A/C's. Until this weekend I have never had a reverse polarity issue. Went on a mid-week trip to a well maintained marina, plugged in and the reverse polarity came lights on for both panels. Yard played with it for awhile, swore they never had an issue before (I believe them) but the problem was only solved when I switched slips. BUT, when I get back to my own slip, same problem comes up and it has never happened to me in this yard. Yard manager was equally confused. His boat is next to mine and he had no issues - even tried his pedestal to no avail. He then had me throw the breakers where the shore power enters the boat, unscrew at the boat end then plug-in again and it finally came back on normal. What gives?

Thanks in advance for any help

Ps: Each time I leave my home dock for an overnight I turn off the power supply at the main panel, then take the cord from the supply side and drop that in the boat. All the while the boat end remains screwed in place.
 
Well, I'm not sure. But for beginners, I'd carefully inspect the shore power cables, especially the grounds.
 
We had that same issue at times with transient boaters stopping in at our marina. See if one of your fellow boaters will let you borrow their shore power cord to test on your boat.

The last boater who had that issue switched cords with his neighbor as his problem disappeared.
 
I've had the same problem twice while visiting other marinas and once in my home slip. In the other marinas, both times it was a suspected loose connection at their post on the dock. At my home slip it turned out to be a marina problem. To be sure that my plugs stay in good condition I make sure the prongs are straight, clean, and aligned properly. I put a very light coating of di-electric grease on all the prongs and I support the power cable at the shore connection so it doesn't just hang from the socket. The boat connection has the screw on collar and is located in the storage locker in the transom so it stays dry and clean.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Snow Alternative

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Even though the reverse polarity light was lite, did you have the correct voltage showing on tthe panel volt meter?
A worn or loose fitting female cord connection sometimes shows reverse polarity until a load is introducted.
 
yes open your power cords and boat receptacle to look for problems
 
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