Dockhand plugged my 30A 120 into 30A 250

[wsmurdoch]

The receptacle on the dock was a NEMA L6-30 (2 power plus 1 ground, 250V, 30A)


I am not familiar with non-US yacht power connectors.

On the internet I see Hubbell female connectors HBL316CRCX (16A 230V) and HBL332CRCX (32A 230V).



I cannot find an image of the matching male connector, nor can I find dimensions of the Twist Lock blades themselves.

In the Hubbell marine catalogue (https://hubbellcdn.com/brochure/Wiring_SCM002.pdf) on page 24 is the paragraph...

"Utilizing standard NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association) configurations not typically used in the marine market, Hubbell can offer a safe and non-interchangeable 16 Amp 230 Volt system and 32 Amp 230 Volt system for use with 50 cycle systems. The system includes white power supply cables (one-end, female only) in both the 16 Amp and 32 Amp categories."

Are Hubbell using a NEMA L6-30 for one of these non-US 50 Hz applications? Is that why the marina had one available on their "converter box"?

[Jammer]

The L6-30 receptacle at the marina would have been intended for a boat wired for European standards, where 230V 30A 50Hz with no neutral is required.


The NEMA locking connector standards are now very old and a number of problems have become clear over time. Among these are the problems with the keying being ineffective, as occurred in this case. It is these sorts of problems that the SmartPlug product is supposed to address.

[stormalong]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

A GFCI should trip at 30 mA imbalance; the current from an AC fault thru saltwater can easily exceed that.

I said nothing about a GFCI tripping. I have never seen a GFCI on a marina power outlet. If there was one of course it would have tripped.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by Jammer

The L6-30 receptacle at the marina would have been intended for a boat wired for European standards, where 230V 30A 50Hz with no neutral is required.

Don't think so. European connectors are not twist lock, but straight in with round pins.

According to Wikipedia the L6-30 is used in North America for welders and heavy power tools.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#NEMA_L6

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I'm surprised a lot of us are alive growing up with two prong 110 outlets, no ground no GFI.

Sure but most of us didn't stick the live end in water and fish it out with bare hands.

Of course, electrocution can kill with pretty low amperage. Some suggest as little as 65 milliamps. Way less than the amount needed to trip a 30amp breaker. Problem is it depends on a wide variety of things that are hard to control for, so people get cocky because it didn't happen the last time.

Heck I've felt live 120v more than once but got lucky. The path the electricity takes thru the body has a big impact. The 65milliamps assumes it passes thru the heart. Also how healthy are you. A healthy young man might shrug off a shock that kills an old guy with a bad ticker.

Yes, you can safely retrieve a live cable from the water if you are calm and don't do anything dumb...but it's that one time the right circumstances happen...this is where good habits come in handy.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Jammer

The L6-30 receptacle at the marina would have been intended for a boat wired for European standards, where 230V 30A 50Hz with no neutral is required.


The NEMA locking connector standards are now very old and a number of problems have become clear over time. Among these are the problems with the keying being ineffective, as occurred in this case. It is these sorts of problems that the SmartPlug product is supposed to address.

Never seen a US marina that had separate plugs for EU boats...and as mentioned, the EU plugs are not NEMA.

Nothing wrong with the NEMA specs here...the dock attendant forced the plug in when it wouldn't fit and the plug never should have been installed there as no boats use that style plug. If I get some wire and alligator clips I can hook up to an EU style outlet, doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the EU plugs.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Don't think so. European connectors are not twist lock, but straight in with round pins.

The 16A/230V and 32A/230V connectors for 50 Hz systems illustrated in post # 46 seem to be twist lock.

-Chris

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

The 16A/230V and 32A/230V connectors for 50 Hz systems illustrated in post # 46 seem to be twist lock.

-Chris

EU isn't 100% consistent (a lot of old country by country standards still kicking about but slowly unifying) but never seen one of those NEMA twist locks in the EU, so I doubt any EU boats is going to have that as a standard cable...plus the plug doesn't impact the Hz in any way, so it's not going to provide 50hz.

Looking it up, they seem to be for large server room battery backup systems primarily. Though obviously, you could use the for other purposes...assuming you actually are in the listed voltage/amp range for the plug.

Random installations inconsistent with local standards just seems strange. I would expect most EU boats on the USA east coast would either avoid shore power or have adapters for the standard outlets already made up.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Saltwater is a much better conductor of electricity, and with its salts it's an effective electrolyte as well. That's why corrosion of all types is worse in salt-water.
It's also why the risk of ESD (electro-shock drowning) is much less likely in saltwater; the voltage field around a conductor in saltwater dissipates in a smaller area, whereas in freshwater the voltage differential around a conductor extends a few feet, creating the difference that gives the shock (humans conduct better than freshwater)

Indeed!

[RichKiddy]

Originally Posted by Time2Go

You do know that when you pulled the plug on the boat

You were dancing with a live wire in your hand?

I always pull the cord off the pedestal (shore power) BEFORE

disconnecting the boat.

Just Sayin

Cheers

Neil

Like all things, just don't poke anything in the holes [emoji56]

[wsmurdoch]

From https://www.hubbell.com/hubbell/en/O...ources-section



"HBL332SSX
by Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems
Catalog ID: HBL332SSX

Locking Devices, Twist-Lock®, Marine Grade, Round Hull Inlet, 32A 230V AC, 50 Cycles, 2-Pole 3-Wire Grounding, International, Screw Terminal, Stainless Steel

Self-closing Cover
Thermoset Contact Carrier
Corrosion Resistant Rear enclosure"

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Don't think so. European connectors are not twist lock, but straight in with round pins.

According to Wikipedia the L6-30 is used in North America for welders and heavy power tools.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEMA_connector#NEMA_L6

I would imagine that they installed it because the local electrical inspector would not allow the use of a European receptacle, or because they could not obtain European receptacles. It is nearly impossible to get European electrical wiring components, and European appliances, from the US -- I've tried.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

EU isn't 100% consistent (a lot of old country by country standards still kicking about but slowly unifying) but never seen one of those NEMA twist locks in the EU, so I doubt any EU boats is going to have that as a standard cable...plus the plug doesn't impact the Hz in any way, so it's not going to provide 50hz.

Nearly all 50 Hz gear runs fine on 60 Hz.

Random installations inconsistent with local standards just seems strange. I would expect most EU boats on the USA east coast would either avoid shore power or have adapters for the standard outlets already made up.

I am curious too. I would think that anyone serious about cruising here and staying in marinas would have their boat wired so that it can run on either 120 or 240v shore power.

[pcmm]

If you look at the picture of the recepticle, you can see that there is wear on the opening to the right of the ground. While these 2 outlet types are almost the same, the hot and neutral positions are reversed so that the only thing stopping you from connecting ( normally ) is that fact that the lugs on a normal 30a125v cable are reversed, this normally puts the wide blade facing the narrow port. Normally this should stop things but introduce some where and a bit of force and over time I can see the port wearing enough that its easy enough to plug in a regular 30a125v plug into it.

[skenn_ie]

Originally Posted by jbinbi

Pulled into a slip today. Read above title. Looked at instruments 30 sec after he plugged me and to my horror noticed it was reading 250 V. Shut down my ac and pulled the plug out of the back of my boat.

It might indicate that your breakers are not appropriately rated.
Electronics would probably have blown the MOV, then their (internal?) fuses if they were sensitive.
I am surprised that they don't have different plugs to prevent this occurrence.