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Old 05-09-2024, 15:02   #1
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Marino 50A 125v/250v to 30A/125v pigtail question

I know this pigtail takes one leg of the split phase 50a/240v to provide essentially 50A/120v single phase. Are there any balance issues between the legs by using this pigtail? I thought I had read about getting the legs out of balance with largely different loads can create issues.

TIA

https://www.marinco.com/en/p/P504-30...125-250V-Male#
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Old 05-09-2024, 18:33   #2
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Re: Marino 50A 125v/250v to 30A/125v pigtail question

Are you using a 50 to 30 converter? If so, no issues. At least I have never had any and I have used mine multiple times at multiple places.
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Old 05-09-2024, 19:08   #3
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Re: Marino 50A 125v/250v to 30A/125v pigtail question

If using only one side of the 120/240V 50A connection causes a problem, the marina has some serious wiring issues



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Old 06-09-2024, 08:49   #4
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Re: Marino 50A 125v/250v to 30A/125v pigtail question

Thanks Hartley - I presumed that since Marinco wouldn't offer the pigtail if it created problem. Not sure why I was thinking about a balance problem.

Reading the Internet too much probably!
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Old 07-09-2024, 04:01   #5
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Re: Marino 50A 125v/250v to 30A/125v pigtail question

The Marinco P504-30 is a 50A 125/250V Male [shore] to 30A 120V Female [boat]
https://www.marinco.com/-/media/inri...20191030133447

The problem with this [all step-down] pigtail adapter[s] is that: The pigtail, 30 shore power cord [pigtaill to boat], and 30A boat inlet are ALL UNPROTECTED, until you reach the boat’s 30A main breaker.

You're plugging a 30Amp device [#10AWG wire & 30A female cord cap] into a 50A receptacle, protected by a 50A breaker.

Being part of a portable cord set assembly, intended for temporary, attended, use, electrical codes permit this; although I don’t consider it ‘best practice’; especially considering the long-term, unattended use, boats often subject shore power connections to.
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Old 13-09-2024, 09:42   #6
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Re: Marino 50A 125v/250v to 30A/125v pigtail question

You are, of course, absolutely correct, Gord. If you develop a cord fault (or anywhere between the pedestal and your boat's 30a inlet breaker, and the fault is less then the 50a breaker's trip point, you will probably experience some sort of meltdown problem (fire, destruction of materials, etc.)


For us, this risk is fairly small, as we are transients and only occasionally use our adapter. If we had a fixed base/marina, and it was equipped with only 50a outlets (and we couldn't modify them) we would either install an inline 30a fuse at the pedestal (likely by constructing a new adapter pigtail) or modify our boat for 50a service (new inlet fixture, galvanic isolator and possibly a breaker).


Since our boat's internal wiring from inlet to breaker panel is 50a capable (#8), this would not be difficult for us, but some might have issues with the expense.


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Old 16-09-2024, 23:59   #7
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Re: Marino 50A 125v/250v to 30A/125v pigtail question

My boat has dual 30amp 120v. For several years I had run a 50 amp (240v/dual-120v) into a 'Y' splitter from the dockside 240v/50amp => (2) 120v/30 amp. At the time I considered asking the marina to downgrade the pedestal circuit breaker to 240v/30amp for better safety. Never did. I also have a pair isolation transformers on the boat, and the shore power connection once on the boat goes cord inlet=>~3feet=>breakers=>transformers=>~10feet=>ma in breakers on the panel.

I would however recommend if you do this, and if it is your boat's regular slip, to have the marina simply downsize the breaker on their side.

Another interesting part of all this, is that for the marina I was at, doing this was fine, as long as the 'Y' splitter was on my boat, and not dockside. I guess for the insurance companies, if my boat catches on fire and burns down the marina, somehow that is okay as long as it wasn't the marina's fault? CYA and all that? Who cares about overall safety as long as it is somebody else's fault?

So yeah - anytime you use an adapter to 'downsize' an electrical circuit, you want the circuit breaker upstream of that downsized to match. My understanding anyway. Should be a cheap one time fee for them to do that, and you will probably make good friends with the marina owners by asking and doing it right.
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Old 17-09-2024, 09:19   #8
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Re: Marino 50A 125v/250v to 30A/125v pigtail question

Thanks everyone! I totally agree about having the correct over current protection at the pedestal, or appropriate conductor size.
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