What are these outlets for?

[yonipainting]

I have 2 regular house outlets at the back of my 1998 Bayliner. Even though they are 110V outlets they are connected directly to the battery.
Nobody could tell me what the heck could I plug in them.
Help!

 

[scoutabout]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Intersting. Is there any kind of voltage converter installed behind them or anything that would bump it to a true 110? If not, perhaps a previous owner just installed them as a simple way to plug in portable 12 volt electronics then added a simple household plug onto whatever they wanted to plug in.

Years ago my dad did this with a compass he had on our boat. Looked kind of funny but worked as a connection point.

Or maybe for an electric thruster for fishing? My boat came from the factory with a receptacle although it doesn't look like a household one.

Kinda grasping at straws here...

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: What are these outlets for?

the Scat Cat/ Fishermans Wharf deep sea party fishing boat also uses regular 120AC looking pugs for thier electric reels (1000ft+ drops)

My dad used them to connect his trolling motor back in the early 1970s

My used Wellcraft has the male plug and not sure what it is far either.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Even though they are 110V outlets they are connected directly to the battery.

The PO might of had them set up for 12v lights ?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: What are these outlets for?

My guess is a previous owner using them for quick disconnects.

 

[yonipainting]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Well, they look like factory installed. They are located in the back (maybe I should take a picture), one on each side right beside back seats.
No converter, they are 12V DC (measured).
They are household outlets.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Maybe thats how they mixed their margarita's LOL.

 

[TexMojo]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Sounds like to me there for downriggers.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What are these outlets for?

disconnect them. sounds like an invitation for corrosion and a short.

 

[joed]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Downriggers. My Big Jon downriggers come with plugs like normal appliances but are 12 volts.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Seems like a really good invitation for someone to destroy some 110v appliances by plugging them in! Get rid of them or at least disconnect them if you don't have a need. And if you actually do need them, at least paint them a bright non-120v color. (not white, black, or orange)

 

[boomer2]

Re: What are these outlets for?

I have done this with boats in years past. My reason was for night fishing lights. You can buy a regular clamp-on type shop light (110v) and replace the bulb with a 12v one. Clamp the light to the gunwale of the boat. Works great. Makes for a neat installation without running clip-on type direct battery connections. Use protective wire loom for safe chafe-free routing of wiring. Never had issue's using these type outlets.

 

[gstanton]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Sounds like a quick/easy connection scheme to me also. If you plugged in a 110 volt light or anything - nothing would happen. Literally - nothing!

Now, if you somehow had a double ended male 110 plug and put 110 down to the battery... well, it would probably be ugly.

A plug is nothing more than a way of making a connection. We have standardized (mostly?) for the sake of making it obvious what we are dealing with. This installation is outside the standard.

 

[mike343]

Re: What are these outlets for?

The PO probably just wanted a decent connector for 12v loads and didn't want to use the "standard" plug-in cigarette lighter configuration. I have done the same thing. Too bad there has been no standardized 12v connector other than
the lighter.

 

[TexMojo]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Guess I didn't read the part about them being household plugs. Is there an inverter onboard? Shore power perhaps? Im not electrician but I would guess you could wired DR to a household plug type if you care to do so, I have three sets and one set has the scotty plugs, one has the canon plugs and the other set have the cig lighter plug. Kind of gets confusing remember which go to which boat sometimes. I have been thinking about changing everything out universal as well.

 

[86 century]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Have the same thing on a boat that was used to fish on the great lakes. It is just a cheep (all be it not very safe) way to get power.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: What are these outlets for?

Have the same thing on a boat that was used to fish on the great lakes. It is just a cheep (all be it not very safe) way to get power.

What is not safe about it?

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: What are these outlets for?

What is not safe about it?

Several risks.

1. Can the plug/outlet handle the current? The plug was designed for at most 15 amps at 120 volts AC. That is 1800 watts (15 amps*120 volts). When you reduce the voltage to 13.5 volts (A good well charged battery voltage) the new power available is only 13.5 volts * 15 amps or 200 watts. Probabaly not a problem with a lamp, but if you use that plug for a trolling motor which could easily draw 30 or 40 amps, you now have a strong probability of what we in the automotive industry call a "thermal event" (for those who need some translation, just read "FIRE").

2. What happens if someone plugs that load (be it a lamp or a trolling motor) into a real 110 volt outlet? Again, thermal event and/or electric shock is a strong possibility.

You will likely say, but I will never plug one of my boat loads into the wall. Can you garantee that one of your kids won't? What about the guy you eventually sell your boat to? Will he or his kid do that? Sounds like a law-suit waiting for a place to happen.

Please don't use 110 outlet plugs that way. There are some plug/outlet systems that are intended for 12v high current. Use them instead.

http://www.iboats.com/Trolling_Moto...2439147--**********.593014777--view_id.238353

Or use the "cigarette lighter" type outlets, just get a good marine type part.

http://www.iboats.com/Marine_Electr...n_category.f--**********.593014777--view_id.5

TerryMSU

 

[Knightgang]

Re: What are these outlets for?

I can understand the "plugging the 12v accessory" into a real 110v in the house/garage...did not think about that...

As far as the plugs onthe boat, I run 30 and 40 amps though the ones in my house all of the time on A/C current to run my camper. And you can get heavy duty outlets as well, and if the wire is a large enough gage, then there should be no issues. However, as always, there should be an inline fuse or circuit breaker on the line...

I really do not see an issue. If they were mine, I would be very particular about how they were used just to be cautious...

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: What are these outlets for?

I can understand the "plugging the 12v accessory" into a real 110v in the house/garage...did not think about that...

As far as the plugs onthe boat, I run 30 and 40 amps though the ones in my house all of the time on A/C current to run my camper. And you can get heavy duty outlets as well, and if the wire is a large enough gage, then there should be no issues. However, as always, there should be an inline fuse or circuit breaker on the line...

I really do not see an issue. If they were mine, I would be very particular about how they were used just to be cautious...

I hope that you are not running 30 or 40 amps thru a standard outlet. The line must be fused at 15 amps or for the heavy duty (larger wire size) lines, at most 20 amps.

You are (hopefully) using something similar to this...

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

This is rated for 30 amps, but not a "standard" outlet. If, on the other hand, you are using an adapter cord plugged into a standard outlet, then the outlet is limited to 15 (or 20) amps by the circuitbreaker in the panel.

TerryMSU