[C38] Shore Power wiring issues

[Chuck Finn]

All,
Don apparently sent this to me thinking he was sending to the list.   I 
replied thinking it was going to the list, but it only went to Don!
Important stuff here that we all need to attend to....

Chuck Finn
Commodore
Catalina 38 International Association

Don,
Don't want this to get lost in the stanchion debate!  I replaced the 
shore power receptacle on the Mighty Quinn a few years back.  I noticed 
the wire inboard was heavy and probably #8 as you remarked.  My wire 
made a fairly direct course to the panel.  I would guess it was not even 
8 feet...  #8 wire would have no problem carrying 30 amps over even 25 
feet.  But! the level of corrosion you observed is another issue 
entirely!  Corrosion leads to arcing and arcing leads melted insulation 
and shorting.  Shorting lead to fires!
  Steve S. wrote an Technical Article for the upcoming Mainsheet that 
discusses the problem with the plug side.  I guess we will need a follow 
up for the receptacle side!
In the meantime, this is something we all need to check on our boats!

Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn #114
Great Lakes

On 2/1/2011 9:55 AM, Don Strong wrote:
> C38ers:
> After learning from our dockmaster that every fire in her long 
> experience has been a result of faulty dock-boat shore power 
> connection, I am replacing my shore power rig. Gone is the ancient 
> Marinco, 30 amp inlet plug, which showed signs of corrosion. The new 
> plug is a Smart Plug (http://www.smartplug.com/).  My question for 
> C38ers, is what kind of wire carries the current from the inlet plug 
> to your electrical panels? Discreet Charm is a 1980 model.  Someone 
> (the factory) installed a length of shore power extension cord as the 
> carrier wire, #8 with no tinning. The wires of this yellow monster are 
> black and corroded inside for at least 6 feet from the inlet plug. The 
> wire was led aft inside the rail. It passed through the stern end of 
> the rail, dove into the bilge, then came forward past the fuel tank 
> and into the electrical panel. Its total length is 25 feet.  Upon the 
> advice of the marine electrician at our marina, I will replace it with 
> 8 feet of tinned #10, which will take a more direct route from the 
> inlet plug to the circuit breaker in the electrical panel.
>     Newer boats probably have a more sophisticated shore power wiring. 
> What are some of the old boats like? Does anyone else have that shore 
> power extension cord?
> Thanks, Don
>