Electrical help

[fungod]

I recently purchased a French boat in CA. It has 220. I need to replace my cord. How do I describe my cord needs to west marine. I may need to order from overseas?

[billknny]

Originally Posted by fungod

I recently purchased a French boat in CA. It has 220. I need to replace my cord. How do I describe my cord needs to west marine. I may need to order from overseas?

This is a bit of a complex topic (owning a French boat with 220 AC, I understand all too well...)

First question, is this a cord you are going to use to get 220AC from a dock in the USA?

[fungod]

Originally Posted by billknny

This is a bit of a complex topic (owning a French boat with 220 AC, I understand all too well...)



First question, is this a cord you are going to use to get 220AC from a dock in the USA?

Correct. I am in the Bay Area.

[SailsWithFists]

Most European wired boats have 220VAC @ 50Hz.
In the US, this can be 115VAC or 230VAC @ 60Hz.

You cannot plug a 220VAC 50Hz boat into a 230VAC 60Hz power supply and not risk some serious damage to your boats electrical system.

To put it simply, if you intend to move the boat back to Europe eventually, then you need an expensive Frequency Transformer (assuming the boat does not already have one.) If you intend to stay in the Americas and other non-European territories, then you would want to convert your boat's electrical system to 60Hz, which is also very expensive since you would need to replace nearly every major AC electrical component: motors, compressors, pumps, etc.

Without seeing your cord, West Marine has a guide in their books or West Advisor online. Simply match up the ends. If you are not sure, take your cord to the store.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by fungod

I recently purchased a French boat in CA. It has 220. I need to replace my cord. How do I describe my cord needs to west marine. I may need to order from overseas?

You’re not.

If you try to pipe US 220 into there you’ll be placing 110 volts on the neutral as well as 110 volts onto the hot.

If you have nothing but a battery charger to support you can get away with an adapter for US 110 volts (assuming the charger will accept 110/60hz instead of 220/50hz). However your inlet is likely for 16 amps @ 220, whereas the US shore cables generally start @ 30amps 110v.

In essence, it can be done, but is not just a simple cord change.

[hellosailor]

Fungod, you're going to have to list every piece of AC equipment on the boat to figure it out. And for each item, see if there's a manufacturer's plate which says "230VAC 50Hz" or perhaps "230VAC 50/60Hz". Some equipment can take both frequencies, some can't. The rating plates always will say. Some equipment actually can work on 110V/240V 50/60Hz without any problems, other equipment will violently protest.

There's no shortcut to finding out the specs for all the pieces. Then you can worry about wire, breakers, outlets and all that good stuff.

[fungod]

Thanks everyone. I was able to repair my old cord and made it work. I need to be careful as this cord is a one of kind. It plugs in to the dock box as a normal 3 prong and then has a 220 plug on the boat end. Not sure how it works but it does.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by fungod

Thanks everyone. I was able to repair my old cord and made it work. I need to be careful as this cord is a one of kind. It plugs in to the dock box as a normal 3 prong and then has a 220 plug on the boat end. Not sure how it works but it does.

It’s supplying 110 volts instead of 220, that’s how it works. And if you mean a 15amp 3 prong plug you’ll be ok. But if you mean a 30 amp 3 prong plug....there is a real potential for problems.

I can only assume that you’re only powering a battery charger with a universal input?