Shore Power Question

D

David M

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I may be moving to (yet) another marina. The slip may only have 50 amp service. If I split the 50 to two 30's (25's in reality) am I risking harming anything?

I like the location and quiet of the new marina plus its proximity to the Chessie. I could do without the slaughtered pig smell but you gotta take the good with the bad and hope for a prevailing wind!!

TIA
 
Shouldn't be a problem at all. The only difference would be having each leg on difference phase and that's no problem
 
Standard procedure. I used to carry a splitter on my last boat in case two (or even one) 30 was not available but a 50 was.

If you mean a 50 amp 125/250 splitter, you will have a full fifty amperes available on each "30" amp side. You will be relying on the breakers on your boat for protection.

If you mean a 50 amp 125 splitter, you will have fifty amps to each side but not more than 50 amps total.

But, as I said, this is done all the time.
 
no issue, just check if it's 120/240-50 service or 120/50

minor downside to splitters and adapters is that you have more connections to corrode, just coat them all with dielectric grease.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

no issue, just check if it's 120/240-50 service or 120/50

minor downside to splitters and adapters is that you have more connections to corrode, just coat them all with dielectric grease.

Click to expand...
And some of them grow feet and walk away ;-)
 
Don't you need a different power cord for the 50 Amps?
 
The same power cord may be used,he is splitting the 50 amp service with an adapter made for that purpose.
 
Like others, I used to carry a splitter for those occasions where there were no 30 amp recepticals available. I'm not sure if it was my imagination, but I always seemed to get better power with the splitter than I did with two 30 amp outlets.
 
Because the boat was a quasi-estate sale, a lot of stuff was left on her that I found when tearing into every nook and cranny the first fall I owned her. I found 2 splitters. One 50A - 125VAC to twin 30's and one 50A - 125/250VAC to twin 30's.

So I'm covered there...I think. I left splitters at home as the marina told me I would be hooking to twin 30's when I spent Labor Day Weekend there last year. They lent me one and I never thought to ask what the power station was delivering.

Paul,

I'm thinking of moving to Smithfield Station. It's off the James on the Pagan River just shy of the James River Bridge. I know on a map it does not look close, but the channel requires one to damn near touch the bridge before making a 140* turn to make the approach.

A lot depends on the price per year. It will be more expensive, however, it is maybe an hour (hull speed) from Hampton or Norfolk whereas the same destination is roughly a couple of hours at cruise speed. Additionally, I would have to hire a diver monthly to scrub the hull. The water while still brackish is more on the salty side. Both places have great restaurants and nice pools so it will be a tough decision.

The weekend I spent at Smithfield was great. I fell in love with the place. My current marina is great and is very close to Williamsburg and all it has to offer. Smithfield Landing OTOH, is actually in the town of Smithfield and if I had to describe Smithfield I would have to say let's go to Mayberry. I'm not sure if I would get bored with it.

Oh well......All I got's is time.....

I was selected to a project that I suspected would last 6-12 months. Well FMTT it looks like I'm in for the long haul which includes a bunch of travel. With gas expected to run up to the $4 per gallon arena or more plus the fact I need this much house and associated landscaping like I need another hole in my head, moving seems to be the smart thing to do right now. Additionally, based on my new office location, Smithfield may be closer than where I am now.

I'll keep you posted.
 
One other thing to consider is that the connections on those adapters tend to be less secure than those to a power pedestal with proper locking receptacles and cable retention features. At my old marina I had to go the other way, I need a 50a 120/250 power for my boat and the marina only had 2x30a 120s. In this case it also wasn't ideal because the boat was actually able to draw more power (250x50=12.5kw) than the two 120s could supply (120x60=7.2kw) Regardless I had a couple of instances where either people walking by managed to bump cords and cause a connection to work loose or just the movement of the boat was enough to move things. I ended up zip tieing the daylights out of the entire arrangement to keep it out of the way and firmly connected.

Ben
 
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