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GFCI & Cruisair

Discussion in 'HVAC' started by RichV, May 24, 2021.

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  1. Worthy vessel

    Worthy vessel Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2019
    Messages:
    81
    Location:
    Sarasota
    Does anyone know if I can use this adaptor to connect a 50 amp 220v boat to a 30 amp 110v shore pedestal?

    Marinco P30-504 Eel 50a-125/250v Female To 30a-125v Male Pigtail Adapter -.
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,434
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    You could connect it, but none of your 220 volt items will work, or will fry if you turn on the breaker and try to make them work. You will get 120 volts on 1 side of your electrical panel........
  3. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,711
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Keep us updated.
  4. RichV

    RichV Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2020
    Messages:
    67
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Update:
    I had an electrician come down to the boat who pretty much reviewed what I've done so far and checked current on the shore cable, and other things. He also did the silver-silver chloride anode test, which was normal but he didn't do it with the A/C running. I contacted Scituate Boat Works who was listed on the Dometic website for service last Friday and they just got back to me tonight to say they are flat-out for the month. But they did refer me to Nor' East who does all their electrical work, whom I will call.

    I notified the dockmaster at the marina that on the breaker on one side of the pedestal, I can only power lights, and anything that draws much current trips it. So when they install a new breaker I should have a definite answer on whether the issue is at the breaker.

    Meanwhile I went ahead and replaced the start and run capacitor. For $30, it was an easy way to eliminate them as a source of the problem.

    Since I can run the A/C unit on the Reverse Y cable to (2) 30 amp breakers, I have been doing so when it gets hot outside. The inside temperature now reads between 00 and 03 degrees and the A/C runs continuously and doesn't cycle. The temp reading had always been about 10 degrees off but consistent. The previous work done for the prior owner included "relocating" the thermistor, so I just assumed they picked a bad location.

    I tried swapping the inside temp thermistor with the outside thermistor but the result was the same (the outside temp reads correctly) so I know it is not bad. Next I will try swapping the SMXII board with one that works from another cabin.

    I will start another post soon about my other problem that's been sucking up all my time, and has been a priority over this one.
  5. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,434
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    The thermostat has an adjustment in the settings and it is normal for them to be off and you have to go in there and adjust it to the correct temperature.

    If everything runs off of the reverse Y, just leave the boat plugged in that way and be content.
  6. RichV

    RichV Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2020
    Messages:
    67
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Update One Year Later:

    By the end of June last year, after many days and hours troubleshooting this issue, I had to move on to a more urgent issue and just used the Y adaper on a pedestal with (2) non-GFCI 30 amp breakers.

    The more urgent issue was that there were so many leaks and a wet summer, it was like faucets running into the boat. If the bilge pumps didn't work the boat would have sank. There were walls and floors rotting away. This all missed by the surveyor, and promised by the seller that the windows didn't leak. I had to remove and rebed all (6) side windows, remove all the rub rail and re-caulk, and several other leak repairs. That took most of the summer.

    I posted back in February how MarineMax Boston (Bay Pointe Marina) kicked out 31 boats for being too old and to make room for the million dollar boats they expected to sell. I was and a T-Head dock that could accomodate an 80' yacht. Now my boat is at Safe Harbor Marina Bay Quincy, and I am connected to a brand new pedastal and 50amp GFCI breaker. I can run anything and everything all at once and not trip anything.

    I had suspected that the 50 amp GFCI breaker at MarineMax Boston (C Dock T-Head) might have been tripped to many times and was too sensitive. I asked the dockmaster to have it checked, and he did have his electrician "test" it, and said it was fine.

    Having been connected at a different marina to a brand new GFCI breaker for about a month now, it seems pretty conclusive after all that headache, that the problem was at the pedestal and not the boat. There may have been an issue that I have corrected also, but it's hard to know.
  7. leeky

    leeky Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    Messages:
    381
    Location:
    Florida
    Thanks for the follow-up, RichV, and a happy ending to boot!