www.iFourWinns.com

i have a generator cover (sunbrella) that has been treated with fabric protectant. i have not seen it wet as of yet.

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republicans, working hard so you dont have to.

Great point! I have had water come under the door and into the cockpit coming off plane, dont think the generator would do to well in that situation.

I am also leary of double male cords, especially if someone else may be firing the genny up.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

I was just waiting for somebody to bring that double male cord up. This is a definite no-no...Add a small chunk of cord with a male hanging under that duplex box and put a proper female on the end of that cord.

Enough said!

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

then you still need a male to go into the honda, which would become live if you were on the shore power.

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republicans, working hard so you dont have to.

Anytime you have two sources of power there should be a transfer switch installed to eliminate that issue.

http://www.marineboatingstore.com/newmar-ss-switch-7-5-transfer-switch-7-5kw.html

I am not here to criticise by any means, but that's what accidents are made of. It will only take yourself or others one time to forget or to go in the wrong order. I am all for a foolproof setup that anybody can do. FWIW

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Nice job. I have a question for you since I am looking to do the same thing. Why did you use 12g wire instead of 10g? Isn't the 30 amp shore power cord a 10g? 12g is only rated to 1875 watts.

My preference on my setup is to install a 30 amp outlet in the transom locker. Wire that outlet to a gen/shore switch. Wire the factory shower power outlet to the switch. Then wire the switch to the main breaker. In essence, this would simply be adding an additional shore power plug to the rear of the boat. Not sure how difficult this might be, especially wiring to the main breaker (limited space to work, etc).

All that said ... wouldn't I want to use 10g wire?

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Uh, no it wouldn't. Not if the cord was male at the Honda and a female going into the factory shore power connector. That way you couldn't use them both at the same time. You'd have to physically unplug the generator before plugging in shore power. I agree that using the 110vac duplex socket in this manner is a bad idea, convenient or cheap though it may be, it's still not the right way to do it.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

You are absolutely correct, but you know, boats and gen sets are not for idiots!!!! If you really want to be safe, stay at home. Dont mean to come across abrasive, but lets get real, there are risks with everything we do.

As I mentioned on another thread, these little portable gen sets DO NOT have a twist lock connection, THERE WILL be some risk in using a portable generator. Some of us have too small of a boat to have the luxury of an installed on board gen set. But are willing to accept the risks to enjoy 110 v ac power!

You know, I get the same argument on the RV sites/boards about using a portable gen set vs. a coach mounted. Blah, Blah, Blah.....


I bet everyone here uses extension cords at home, are they safe?????? I use them at home, work, camping, boating, ect...

Yep, so I don't come of plane too fast, all is good. Please remember that most of my use is to carry gen set and seven 5 gallon gas cans (jet ski fuel) on swim deck from marina to camp spot. Once at camp, gas cans and gen set go on beach. We have carried on swim deck for an entire weekend, you know its there and use common sense.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

That point isn't about the connector on the generator. It's about the connector ON THE BOAT. Especially when there's already a built-in shore power setup. It's the use of a double-ended 110vac cable, apparently just because it was cheap/easy, that's being called into question. Fortunately he's got a pretty simple solution in making up a cable that goes into the shore power socket instead. It wasn't clear from the initial posting as to whether the boat actually had a factory shore power setup. Since it does, well, use it.

Yes, life has plenty of calculable risks. But in cases where fire and death from electrocution are involved it's often considered an exceptionally bad idea to implement something that violates codes. Mainly because people unfamiliar with the rigged-up arrangement (or just forgetful) run serious risks when doing what they think is a normal action.

This bears absolutely no resemblance to using a home extension cord, none at all.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I don't want to beat a dead horse on this but...why not just use this to connect the generator to the boat?

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

.


the honda is only capable of putting out 13.3a

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republicans, working hard so you dont have to.

This is exactly what I use, along with a 12' extension cord if using generator on swim deck, or a 100' cord to beach.

What gauge is the extension cord? Bear in mind that the longer the cable, the more voltage drop will occur. You risk overheating the cord and sockets if the current drain is high and damaging equipment (on the boat end) if the voltage drops too low. It's always best to use the shortest length and heaviest gauge possible. You generally should never use less than #12 gauge wire for 100' lengths. Many typical residential outdoor extension cords are only #16 or #14 and that's very likely not enough to drive the AC on a boat.

Here's a web calculator for wire gauge and loads: http://www.elec-toolbox.com/calculators/voltdrop.htm

Note to support the full 30 amps on a *single* shore power circuit at 100' you'd need #6 gauge wire! In most situations you're not going to be pulling the full 30A.

Bear in mind that AC systems have a pretty hefty startup amperage draw. If the AC is cycling on and off that's going to put a lot of load on the generator and the wire. For an EU2000 at 13A you'd need #10 gauge for a continuous full load. I don't have the numbers handy on what the various models of FW boat AC systems draw.

There's usually a voltage gauge on the power panel. Check it while the AC is operating when using that cord and make sure the voltage is not too low.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

You would want to use #10 wire. Because that's what the normal shore power system uses. That and generators can change. Why put in undersized wire now and risk the potential for overheating/undervoltage if a larger generator is used later?

We can all picture the scenario of the admiral wanting to run the AC, microwave and hair dryer at the same time. We can likewise picture the futility of trying to tell her not to want to do this. The microwave probably won't be running for all that long, but if there's more than one person needing that hair dryer, well, you get the idea.

No point in saving the very small amount of money using undersized wire only to have it bite you back in the long run. That and you don't want to set up the next owner for unpleasant surprises due to cutting corners.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista