110 V in Bilge

[B BARKER]

Does anyone know if there is a 110v feed in the bilge other than hot water heater on a 1987 390 EC.....??? I need to hook up a 110v rec box...

 

[Creekwood]

No there is not because it is against ABYC rules.

 

[B BARKER]

OK, I didn't know that. Thank You for the information....

 

[Little Ducky]

There's probably 120v at the battery charger.

 

[Gofirstclass]

B Barker, be VERY careful of what you are thinking of using in the bilge if you have gassers down there. Almost all non-marine rated appliances are not safe to use because of the danger of a spark. It just ain't worth the risk.

 

[northern]

Our generator is in the bilge (Engine room).
Never thought of it but guess it is explosion proof.

 

[JVM225]

I long for a 110 outlet in my bilge too but since it probably isn’t a good idea I think I’m going to settle for installing one in the cockpit very close to the hatch so I can plug in to it when I need to.

 

[Lazy Daze]

It's not just the appliances - as Creekwood said, the outlet, itself, is not allowed in a gas bilge. Simply plugging or unplugging things can cause a spark.

 

[Dani-Lu]

I long for a 110 outlet in my bilge too but since it probably isn’t a good idea I think I’m going to settle for installing one in the cockpit very close to the hatch so I can plug in to it when I need to.

I don’t know what ABCY rules say, but I would think with diesels, a 110 GFI protected outlet would be ok. A spark is not gonna cause an explosion with diesel fuel. I am interested in this, because I too want to install an outlet in my ER.

 

[fr8dog]

There is a 110V gfi outlet in my engine room. Standard from Sea Ray, so it must comply with the rules.

 

[hottoddie]

There's probably 120v at the battery charger.

The charger in my 390 is in the cabin under the dinette. I assume that's because it's not explosion rated. Maybe some are rated so the ER would be OK. If I need 110 in the ER I just plug into one of the 2 receptacles up above in the cockpit.

 

[Creekwood]

The issue is with a 110 receptacle in gas powered boats. Its acceptable for diesels. That is why Sea Ray put 110 outlets in the cockpit but not the bilge on gassers. The 110 powered items are required to be designed for use in an environment with explosive fumes with no sparks or sealed switches where fumes cannot meet the sparks.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I also have a GFI outlet in my engine room. It's where I plug in my Boatsafe heater, which is spark protected. I also have a 110V trouble light and a reciprocating fan down there.

When I had a 330 with gassers I sometimes used 110V tools in the bilge, but only after having the hatch open for 10 minutes or so and running the exhaust fans during that time.

Mikey no wanta be a fireball.

 

[The Bill Collector]

I long for a 110 outlet in my bilge too but since it probably isn’t a good idea I think I’m going to settle for installing one in the cockpit very close to the hatch so I can plug in to it when I need to.

With diesel you are fine. FW told me how to install mine & I really like having it down there, my block heaters are plugged into it right now.

 

[Dani-Lu]

John,

I will help you install your’s if you help me install mine .

Also, my boat is hi and dry, so I can show you the southbay strainers when you have time.

Merry Christmas!

Jeff

 

[JVM225]

Thanks Jeff. Same to you.
Now that I know it’s ok to do I’m going to look around the bilge to see if I can find a suitable chase to get me to the electric panel in the cabin. Would be great to have a dedicated 15 amp breaker if possible. Can’t remember off the top of my head if there is any blank spots on the 110 panel though.
The other option would be to run it off of the existing 110 outlet on the port side that is right outside the cabin door, but it may be easier to just go directly to the panel if there is a chase in the bilge area to get a snake through.
Wondering if anyone else with a 410 has run one and where they got the power from.
I’d like to take a quick look at your South Bay strainers if it’s okay. What yard are you in?

 

[The Bill Collector]

I removed a lug out of the Pro Mariner battery charger and tapped into 120v. I mounted an outlet on the firewall with a rainproof cover over it.

 

[Dani-Lu]

I am at Rutherig. Do you know them? I’ve been in Florida the last 3 weeks and will be flying home on Sunday. If we don’t go skiing, I will be local all of Christmas week. I literally brought my boat to them the same day I headed south, so I have no idea where they blocked it. If you know the Rutherigs, feel free to take a look without me.

 

[JVM225]

I am at Rutherig. Do you know them? I’ve been in Florida the last 3 weeks and will be flying home on Sunday. If we don’t go skiing, I will be local all of Christmas week. I literally brought my boat to them the same day I headed south, so I have no idea where they blocked it. If you know the Rutherigs, feel free to take a look without me.

Thanks Jeff! I don’t know them, but I know their place. I kept my old boat next door to them in Karl Tank years ago before I owned my dock property and use Gulf Fiberglass down the block when I need something done.
I’ll swing by there one afternoon next week.

 

[my3sons]

Thanks Jeff. Same to you.
Now that I know it’s ok to do I’m going to look around the bilge to see if I can find a suitable chase to get me to the electric panel in the cabin. Would be great to have a dedicated 15 amp breaker if possible. Can’t remember off the top of my head if there is any blank spots on the 110 panel though.
The other option would be to run it off of the existing 110 outlet on the port side that is right outside the cabin door, but it may be easier to just go directly to the panel if there is a chase in the bilge area to get a snake through.
Wondering if anyone else with a 410 has run one and where they got the power from.
I’d like to take a quick look at your South Bay strainers if it’s okay. What yard are you in?

It was a little more work to run the wire, but I used the blank I had on the 110 panel. That way it is stand alone and marked as such and when you're not using it, it can remain de energized by simply not flipping the breaker on. I have my pan heaters plugged in to the outlets normally and just pull one of the plugs if I need to use it for something else. It's mounted on the forward bulkhead center. A lot more convenient than stringing extension cords through hatches.