AC Grounding, w outboard ??

[awr401]

Well here I go, throw my self into the wolves. I understand how AC works but here is the dilema. I want 2 AC outlets for when I am at the dock only. DC only for the weekend cruises. Is it safe to be connected to the GRD on the dock only or where else would I GRD to? Boat has an outboard only which is not in the water all the time, it is stowed and pull start. So feel free to give me your two. Thanks

Adam

[s/v Jedi]

assuming no inverter in the boat, in your situation, you can install that completely insulated from everything. Install a shore-power inlet. Install a ground-fault protection device and wire it to the power inlet on it's input and the two outlets on it's output. Use 3 wires everywhere.

Think about battery charger. Use a portable charger with cord into outlet if your battery bank is small enough for the charger to handle.

cheers,
Nick.

[GordMay]

Assuming your dock has a proper 30A 120V Twist-Lok Shore Power Outlet (receptacle), one simple solution would be to:
Your 30A (3 - #10)cord will plug into your 30A twist-lok Inlet (on boat)
Wired (3 - #10AWG) to a 2Pole 15A Breaker, wired (3 - #12 or #14) to a 15A GFCI Recptacle, then to the second standard receptacle.
The Black Hot wires are connected to the breaker and brass terminals.
The White Neutrals are connected to the breaker and silver terminals.
The Green Ground wires are connected to the green grond terminals, which are isolayted (not connected to anything else).

Excerpted from ABYC E-11

11.7.2.2.1.1. The shore grounded (white) and
ungrounded shore current carrying conductors are
connected from the shore power inlet to the boat's AC
electrical system through an overcurrent protection
device that simultaneously opens both currentcarrying
conductors. Fuses shall not be used instead of
simultaneous trip devices. (See E-11.12.2.9.2.)

11.7.2.2.1.2. Neither the shore grounded
(white) neutral conductor nor the ungrounded current
carrying conductors shall be grounded on the boat.
(See E-11.5.3.2.1.)

11.7.2.2.1.4. The shore-grounding (green)
conductor is connected, without interposing switches
or overcurrent protection devices (See E-11.5.3.5.),

11.7.2.2.1.4.1. an optional galvanic isolator, and
then to

11.7.2.2.1.4.2. all non-current carrying parts of
the boat’s AC electrical system, including

11.7.2.2.1.4.3. the engine negative terminal or its
bus.

11.7.2.2.1.5. If an optional galvanic isolator is
used, the shell of a metallic shore power inlet shall be
electrically insulated from the boat.

11.7.2.2.1.6. If the boat's AC electrical system
includes branch circuit breakers, the branch circuit
breakers shall simultaneously open both current
carrying conductors unless a polarity indicating device
is provided. (See E-11.12.2.6.1 Exception.)

See Diagram 1 on page 11 at:
http://www.abycinc.org/committees/.%5CE-11.pdf

[awr401]

I thought I was overthinking it, but thanks for the guidance. I was thinking of having an inverter but have no need for it away from dock. I wasn't sure if I need a grounding plate or what? Just confused by myself more than anything,

Mahalo