On Tue, 01 Jun 2004 10:15:52 -0400, Sam wrote:


Hate to barge in but there is some potentially dangerous advice in a
post here. Apologies to the original poster but this is a bad idea:
snip

If you really DO intend to have two shore power inlets, they must be
switched so that only one can ever be "in circuit" at a time.
Thanks. I posted a response earlier that covered this. A manual switch
would totally disconnect one plug from the other, avoiding the
admittedly dangerous situation of an energised circuit.

I have a two year old. I would like him to do foredeck one day. So I
try to avoid electrocuting him G as it's bad for morale.


And, since I have already barged in he

Use tinned stranded wire for AC as well. No less than 14awg, bigger is
better. There are published guidelines for current capacity/distance
that should be followed, but bigger is better.

I would use 10 AWG tinned stranded for a 30 amp circuit. The runs are
not so long that cost is an issue. You can't go far wrong slightly
oversized, as the wife notes G.

Finally, install a GFCI for every AC outlet on the vessel.

Already done with the existing two AC outlets in the galley and the
head. Same with every new (since we bought the place in '98) outlet in
my home.

I got a
dramatic demonstration 2 years ago, when I stepped in a puddle from
showering (barefotot naturally) as I turned on an electrical device in
the head. The GFCI blew instantly. Now what do you suppose would have
happened to me if it hadn't popped?

Your heart would have popped.

GFCI's are cheap insurance. Beats waking up dead any day! They don't
stand up to salt water very well though. So if you cruise in salty air,
expect to replace once in a while. But GFCI's are cheap insurance as I said.

Not an issue as of yet. I cruise Lake Ontario, and beer is a bigger
hazard than salt water.

Thanks for the warning.

R.