Dock pedestal power question - 100amp GFCI breaker?

zen · Oct 22, 2024

Moving a boat behind a home which had no shore power. Boat requires a single 50 amp circuit, but anything larger would require another 50 amp. So I had a 100 amp circuit installed for an upgrade or the next home owner. Wire gets run, pedestal installed, no issues until the very end.

Recent code changes require a 100amp GFCI breaker at the panel. My electricians cannot find one. I have double checked everything they've said and it appears to be correct. If you had installed the same circuit a year or so ago, they would have put a non GFCI 100amp breaker at the panel but this will no longer pass code. We don't have a subpanel, it goes straight to the pedestal which has 2x50amp breakers. Has anyone encountered this in the last year or have other avenues to pursue? Currently they are looking at getting a large custom breaker box made which will drive the cost up quite a bit and take some time. Any advice appreciated.

chesapeake46 · Oct 22, 2024

See if you can get a shunt trip breaker that will fit your home panel, some manufactures, like Square D make them for regular QO type panels.

Example :
https://www.amazon.com/Shunt-Trip-C...amp+square+d+shunt+trip+breaker,aps,85&sr=8-7

If you can't find a shunt trip to fit your panel, you can buy a small sub panel from Sq.D that a QO shunt breaker will fit into.
Then you need to get a sensor and relay combination to monitor the 100 amp circuit.
This stuff is kind of expensive and might have a ridiculously long lead time but might be the only option.

I don't have the sensor and relay info at hand but if you need it I will find it.
You will need an enclosure for the relay unless there is enough room in the sub panel to mount it.

OR

This will work also in conjunction with a shunt trip breaker and may be a better idea.
I have no experience with these but a quick glance at the site looks promising
Get your electrician to check it out.

https://www.benderinc.com/products/protection-panels/marinaguard/

GE also makes similar breakers and modules and sensors but I have no experience with them.
I think GE's are all bolt in breakers, not likely to fit in your residential panel, but once again you can get a small sub panel to accept the breaker.

Good Luck

zen · Oct 25, 2024

Thank you @chesapeake46 shunt trip breaker with a monitor appears to be the way to go.

chesapeake46 · Oct 26, 2024

Welcome - good luck.

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Dock pedestal power question - 100amp GFCI breaker?

zen Member

chesapeake46 Senior Member

zen Member

chesapeake46 Senior Member