This means that you don’t have to worry about your batteries running low or having to generator noise onboard. One advantage of using shore power is that it provides a consistent source of electricity for your boat. Once the cord is plugged into both the outlet and the inlet, electricity will flow from the dock into the boat. Most docks will have multiple outlets available, so boaters can choose which outlet they want to use. This inlet is connected to the boat’s electrical system and allows for the safe transfer of electricity from the dock to the boat. In order to use shore power, boats must have a shore power inlet installed onboard. Shore power is an AC (alternating current) electrical supply that is connected to the mains electricity supply on land. These are called shore power cords, and they provide boats with a safe and reliable source of electrical power. If you’ve ever been out on a boat, you’ve probably noticed that there are power cords running from the dock to the boat. There are three main types of shore power: AC (alternating current), DC (direct current), and generators.Įach has its own advantages and disadvantages. This can be used to provide power for lights, appliances, and other needs on board the vessel. This article originally ran in the O ctober 2021 issue of Dockwalk.Shore power is a system that allows boats to connect to an electrical supply on land. Most importantly, a shore power converter can save lives by protecting against ESD - reason enough to require one on every yacht. Aboard the vessel, it further protects against potential damage to sensitive equipment that can result from power surges and current irregularities. By preventing this corrosive damage to underwater fittings, the converter can reduce overall maintenance expenses. While adding a shore power converter to protect against shore power woes does represent an additional cost, the device can pay for itself by protecting against the galvanic corrosion that can occur between boats in a marina that share a common AC shore power ground. This opens up the number of docks the vessel can dock without having to worry about voltage and frequency. The shore power converter can accept a wide range of commonly accepted voltages and frequencies in marinas worldwide to provide the vessel the same dedicated steady voltage and frequency. The safest way to protect against stray electrical currents is to install a shore power converter with built-in isolation transformer on board the vessel. When polarity is reversed on common household appliances like refrigerators, their metal casing can become energized with stray electrical current, creating a potential electrocution hazard. Reversed polarity can be extremely dangerous on board a yacht because it allows current to continue flowing through AC-powered appliances even when they’re off. Because electrical current always tries to return to its source, this arrangement ensures that any leaking current will simply return to the converter instead of attempting to return to shore through the water.īeyond that, the shore power converter corrects against the potential for polarity faults arising from an unreliable shore power supply. In simple terms, the device converts potentially unreliable AC shore power into clean supply for onboard distribution, effectively creating an onboard isolated power source, which is critically important. Understanding Generator Load Sharing and the Power Factor.In most cases, these leaks and resulting accidents can be prevented. The cause of this escaped electrical current can frequently be traced to equipment aboard the vessel, resulting from long-term corrosion, improper installation, or faulty ground circuits. ESD is a serious problem that results in multiple deaths every year. According to the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association, an electric leak of just 10 to 15 milliamps - or around 1/50 the wattage required to power a standard 60-watt light bulb - can fatally incapacitate a person in the water. Recent years have brought growing awareness of Electric Shock Drowning (ESD), a condition created by electricity accidentally “leaking” into the water as a result of a faulty shore power connection. But the tranquil scene may not be as safe as it appears, particularly for anyone who winds up in the water. Walk the docks of any marina worldwide and you’ll see dozens of brightly colored power cables connecting moored vessels with onshore electrical feeds.
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