Reverse Polarity Light

[Golden Echo]

We have been cruising the Long Island Sound since mid June, and have stayed in many marinas using shore power.

We are spending the night at the last one before going through Hell Gate and when I hooked up our shore power cord the light for "Reverse Polarity" came on but very dim

[zeehag]

you did twist lock the plug, yes??...i have gotten the reverse polarity when i didnt have the twist lock--the marina workers in mazatlan didnt twist it one day --it was good i had the light thingie ion my power strip so i knew to go out and do that....

[Golden Echo]

Thanks now that you mention it the connection at the splitter was very poor so it's possible that was it. But it's still on and I think we may try another marina tomorrow and see if its us or them!!

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Golden Echo

Thanks now that you mention it the connection at the splitter was very poor so it's possible that was it. But it's still on and I think we may try another marina tomorrow and see if its us or them!!

If it doesn't come on when you're in your home marina and others, then when it does, it can't be you, can it? Except for the loose connections...

[goboatingnow]

Note in some setups the neutral can be floating. This will give reverse polarity. Reverse polarity is meaningless in floating neutral situations. For example there are not common in 230vac European boats because of floating neutrals.

Dave

[smac999]

if it's on dim it's probably a bad connecton somewhere on the dock or the N to G connection is really far away up the dock. allowing voltage drop on the N. and therefore a small voltage difference between the G and N. which is nothing to worry about.

if you had reverse polity it would be on bright.

if you have a volt meter it's easy to measure.