Adding An Onboard Charger (connecting to shore power)

surfinjoe

surfinjoe

New Member
Feb 23, 2007
946
Michigan
Boat Info
220 Sundeck 2007
Engines
350 MAG w/Bravo III
So I am going a different route. I am looking to add an onboard charger that hooks to shore power. Is it as simple as adding the charger, hooking it to a shore power plug, and connecting to shore?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
 
surfinjoe,

What you're doing sounds exactly like what I'll be doing this spring. My dad does this on his, and yes, it is that easy. Just be sure to run the extension cord so it's not a tripping hazard (enough of the Mr. Obvious jokes).

Do they have the boats out of storage yet at Beacon Cove? I'm in cold storage there, and can't wait to get cleaning/waxing/etc.
 
If you don't already have a charger, or AC on the boat, I think this is something you should have a qualified marine electrician look at for you. Installing a charger that charges batteries from shore power is easy. The hard part is doing it so you don't:

1) electrocute anyone,
2) fry the boat's DC wiring and/or burn up the boat,
3) create an explosion hazard in the engine compartment,
4) create an electrical circuit that supercharges the galvanic corrosion process that will destroy you and your slip neighbor's below waterline metal.

I don't know how to wire a charger onto a boat. But from having a boat with shore power, I do know that there are several safeguards associated with boat AC.

Henry
 
Henry Boyd said:
If you don't already have a charger, or AC on the boat, I think this is something you should have a qualified marine electrician look at for you. Installing a charger that charges batteries from shore power is easy. The hard part is doing it so you don't:

1) electrocute anyone,
2) fry the boat's DC wiring and/or burn up the boat,
3) create an explosion hazard in the engine compartment,
4) create an electrical circuit that supercharges the galvanic corrosion process that will destroy you and your slip neighbor's below waterline metal.

I don't know how to wire a charger onto a boat. But from
having a boat with shore power, I do know that there are several safeguards associated with boat AC.

Henry
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
I agree - if you have a shore power connection already it is a pretty easy hookup. If you don't it is a lot more complicated. Maybe it would be easier to just install a battery isolator switch and a second bank if you are concerned about depleted batteries.
 
Henry,

Just re-read the mounting instructions. I don't think the risk is that great as long as you take the proper precautions (use proper extension cord, grounded plug, GFCI, proper ventilation, etc). I know there's always risk in anything we do, we just need to make sure we minimize it. as for galvanic corrosion from this, I don't think that'll be much of a problem, unless we let the cord hang in the water.

I hope I'm not wrong.
 
ghuskin said:
Henry,

Just re-read the mounting instructions. I don't think the risk is that great as long as you take the proper precautions (use proper extension cord, grounded plug, GFCI, proper ventilation, etc). I know there's always risk in anything we do, we just need to make sure we minimize it. as for galvanic corrosion from this, I don't think that'll be much of a problem, unless we let the cord hang in the water.

I hope I'm not wrong.
Click to expand...

Gushkin -
Hooking up a converter to a boat that has an AC system already in place is not that hard. Properly installing an AC system on a boat is a whole different animal. Drilling a hole for the shore power, installing a fuse box, galvonic isolator, ect. ect. ect.
 
ghuskin said:
Henry,

Just re-read the mounting instructions. I don't think the risk is that great as long as you take the proper precautions (use proper extension cord, grounded plug, GFCI, proper ventilation, etc). I know there's always risk in anything we do, we just need to make sure we minimize it. as for galvanic corrosion from this, I don't think that'll be much of a problem, unless we let the cord hang in the water.

I hope I'm not wrong.
Click to expand...

Read the Honda Generator thread. The electrical risks are the same.

Boat AC wiring is not as clear cut as wiring a new plug in your house. In your house the AC is isolated to AC only circuits. On a boat, the AC shares the grounding and bonding circuits with DC. This is safe with the proper safeguards. The biggest risk is reversed polarity that results in having 110 being live on the boat's ground circuit. From that people can get electrocuted and DC components fried.
 
Joe,

After hearing you replies in the other thread it sounds like you are looking for something like this to plug your charger into. You would mount it outside of the bilge are maybe on the port side, then just use a standard extion cord to plug it in. Are you going to be using this while the boat is in the water or is it something you would use when you boat is on the trailer? Some marina will not let you plug in nostandard shore power into their shorepower systems.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=14773
 

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It's supposed to be in the 60's tomorrow. Warm enough to wax! I didn't see any boats out of storage yet. I did walk on the ice at my well :-(

It doesn't sound like BC has an issue with extension chords vs. shore power chords. We just signed at BC this year (well H5). I just picked-up my boat last night and plan on getting her ready for the year this weekend! Hope to see you there (at BC).

ghuskin said:
surfinjoe,

What you're doing sounds exactly like what I'll be doing this spring. My dad does this on his, and yes, it is that easy. Just be sure to run the extension cord so it's not a tripping hazard (enough of the Mr. Obvious jokes).

Do they have the boats out of storage yet at Beacon Cove? I'm in cold storage there, and can't wait to get cleaning/waxing/etc.
Click to expand...
 
I already have a second battery and a isolator/selector switch. What I am really concerned with is having a boat in the water that has a limited supply of 'juice' for the pump. I would hate to leave my boat for a week and get a call saying that my boat is full of H2O. Not a good call to receive.

As already stated, I am not at all interested in having true shore power. Just an onboard charger connected to the shore power to keep my batteries charged & ready to go.

Maybe I am over-simplifying things, but I don't see the difference between installing a charger on my boat (connected to shore power) and wiring a room in your house (been there, done that many times). Two months ago, I installed a 220V steam generator in my shower at home. Everyone including the contractors told me that I needed a professional to install it, but wouldn't touch it themselves and couldn't recommend a qualified contractor. I did a lot of research and ended up calling the company for advice. They sent me to their training class for contractors at no charge to get certified. At the end of the day, all they talked about was common sense, general electrical AC circuit principals and following local codes to be 'legal'. It took me more time to route the wire through two stories than it did to hook up the appliance. Now I am an 'expert', certified installer of residential and commercial steam generators.

From what research that I have already done, it seems that I need the following components:

1) Charger - check
2) Weather-tight fitting @ boat - need
3) GFCI Plug @ shore power end - need to confirm/test @ marina
4) Shore power chord (30A) - need
5) Ground AC system to boat motor (green wire) - check
6) 10 gage marine wire
7) On-board, dual pole breaker (30A) - need


Helpful link: http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/36.htm


berth control said:
:thumbsup:
I agree - if you have a shore power connection already it is a pretty easy hookup. If you don't it is a lot more complicated. Maybe it would be easier to just install a battery isolator switch and a second bank if you are concerned about depleted batteries.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Chuck - My intent is to use this system at my well. I like your idea of being able to plug an extension chord into the boat (on land or at the dock), but I don't like the lack of a water-tight seal and locking connector. Not sure if my marina will allow a simple extension chord, but I am leaning towards the shore-power style.

Thanks again for all the input!

chuck1 said:
Joe,

After hearing you replies in the other thread it sounds like you are looking for something like this to plug your charger into. You would mount it outside of the bilge are maybe on the port side, then just use a standard extion cord to plug it in. Are you going to be using this while the boat is in the water or is it something you would use when you boat is on the trailer? Some marina will not let you plug in nostandard shore power into their shorepower systems.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=14773
Click to expand...
 
Joe,
Good luck and keep in eye on your drive. Since it looks like you are "kinda" adding shore power to your boat your going to have to watch for an increase in galvanic corrosion.
 
Surfinjoe,

I will only be at BC long enough to get her ready for launch. I have other summer arrangements. Hopefully we'll run into each other. If you see me there, stop by for a pop.

Gregg
 
surfinjoe said:
From what research that I have already done, it seems that I need the following components:

1) Charger - check
2) Weather-tight fitting @ boat - need
3) GFCI Plug @ shore power end - need to confirm/test @ marina
4) Shore power chord (30A) - need
5) Ground AC system to boat motor (green wire) - check
6) 10 gage marine wire
7) On-board, dual pole breaker (30A) - need
Click to expand...

I would add a galvanic isolator unless you like corrosion on your drive and other metal parts.

Do a google search for marine galvanic isolation and you will come up with lots of usefull (and some useless) information.
 
Will do Gregg. I hope to have my boat in the water as soon as it thaws (say mid-April). Do you go attend the raft-up? What a party! Can't wait.

ghuskin said:
Surfinjoe,

I will only be at BC long enough to get her ready for launch. I have other summer arrangements. Hopefully we'll run into each other. If you see me there, stop by for a pop.

Gregg
Click to expand...
 
surfinjoe said:
Chuck - My intent is to use this system at my well. I like your idea of being able to plug an extension chord into the boat (on land or at the dock), but I don't like the lack of a water-tight seal and locking connector. Not sure if my marina will allow a simple extension chord, but I am leaning towards the shore-power style.

Thanks again for all the input!
Click to expand...

I'd install the proper 30A wiring inlet on your boat and then when you want to use this 30A to 15A adaptor for plugging it into a home source.

41BPL703WTL._SL500_AA280_.jpg


The issues many have brought up here are valid. The biggest would be exactly the same concerns raised on the Honda Generator thread regarding a proper ground. Make sure you do your homework on that. When I installed my charger, even though I had the 3 wires including ground from the shorepower side, I had instructions of running a groud to the ground block attached to the engine.
 
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