sequence for connecting shore power to boat

[Wild Bouy]

This may be a silly question, but I just got this boat that I can connect to my dock for 30A shore power. But I'm not sure what the sequence is to plug in , flip breaker on dock, flip breaker on the boat etc. Also, if my battery switch is turned to the off position, is the shore power connection going to charge my batteries? I'd appreciate some info.
Thanks

 

[slasmith1]

Re: sequence for connecting shore power to boat

Typical practice is to connect both ends of the cable, turn on breaker at the dock side, turn on ac main on your boat side and verivy your polarity indicator remains off.

As far as batt switch is concerned most times the main batt. switch needs to be on, but you can turn of all the breakers on your d/c panel if you are away from the boat (except auto bildge pump if it is on the panel).

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: sequence for connecting shore power to boat

Well, somebody will tell me I'm crazy but I don't think it makes any damn difference. I leave my shore breaker 'on' at all times and disconnect \ reconnect the other end to the boat without concern for anything. Just plug it in.

Once in a great while the main breaker on the boat's switch panel will pop, or the one on shore will pop, but they simply reset and are fine.

Lots of opinion on battery switches, too... mine is to leave it on Battery 1 at ALL TIMES (on my boat, this is actually two batteries both new deep cycle group 27s). My third battery is on Battery 2 and is a Group 24 starting batt. The charger will juice them up regardless of the switch position (as will the alternators).

The idea there is that you can anchor all day, play music, run the fridge, etc. and kill the two big batteries but so what? I can then start engine 2 on Battery 2 and then use the parallel switch to start engine 1 on Battery 2.

Same concept if you have a single engine with two batteries - always run with the swich set to Battery 1 (which should also have all the direct-connects on it like radio, bilge, etc.). Leave Battery 2 for when you really need it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: sequence for connecting shore power to boat

Whether or not shore power charges the batteries depends on whether or not the system includes the charger. Shore power provides 120 VAC to the outlets and 120 volt accessories on the boat. It is not necessary to have the battery charging capability to do that so that feature is optional. In other words, you may or may not have it. If you do have the feature, the next issue is how the battery switch is wired. If the charger outputs are wired directly to the battery(ies) then the switch does not need to be on. If the batteries charge through the switch then yes it does. And to add more complexity, your system may include an inverter that takes 12 volts from the batteries and converts it to 120 volts AC when you are NOT connected to shore power.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: sequence for connecting shore power to boat

I'm with Grand Larsony-- I leave the batt switch on both and then after I'm cranked up and running I leave charger & enerything "on" and then just unplug and returning just dock & leave- I do turn off everything in cabin ( lights & stereo ) and make sure the batt chg light is on-
I guess it is better to be lucky than smart .
I have a gen set and belive it would charge batts to jump start if needed.but I could be wrong.Lucky I have never had to try it.

 

[Wild Bouy]

Re: sequence for connecting shore power to boat

Thank you all for responding. You guys covered about every angle. Thanks.