External power doesn't work

S

Seevee

Member
Dec 3, 2015
238
St. Pete, FL
Boat Info
280 Sundancer 2004
Engines
4.3 Merc Twins, Alpha One, Kohler 5kw
All,

Plugged in shore power, light on cord shows power, but no power in boat. Manual is silent on even how to hook up shore power, what switches you need on, etc. and no trouble shooting at all. Manual shows main breakers, mine doesn't have them unless they are totally hidden. (Don't get me started on how bad the manual is). But suspect they are working because I just ran the boat and elect worked fine. (However, tilt motor didn't work and worked fine a few hours earlier.

Any ideas?

Will probably call Sea Ray tomorrow for some help, but should be a simple solution. Thanks if anyone has ideas.

280 Dancer, 2003, 4.3 MPI, Alpha Ones, gen II. New batteries.
 
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You should have a main breaker panel in the cabin, probably behind a cabinet door. Turn on all breakers, they will be labeled as to what they do.
 
If you just bought the boat, shame on the broker for not showing you this stuff.
 
bahamabreisus said:
You should have a main breaker panel in the cabin, probably behind a cabinet door. Turn on all breakers, they will be labeled as to what they do.
Click to expand...

Main breaker panel in the cabin... all breakers needed are on (didn't need AC, Micro, etc... just wanted to keep the batteries charged). When selecting the shore power... nothing. Also, there's no indication in the bilge of the charger working.

I've very familiar with boats but just wish the Sea Ray manual was a LOT better, in case there's something specific that I missed.

I can't believe, it takes any more than plug in and hit the shore "on" switch. If there's a main breaker hidden somewhere that I've missed.
 
There may be a breaker near the shore power cord hook up. Look for another cover that looks just like you shore power hook up. It will contain a breaker.


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Seevee said:
Main breaker panel in the cabin... all breakers needed are on (didn't need AC, Micro, etc... just wanted to keep the batteries charged). When selecting the shore power... nothing. Also, there's no indication in the bilge of the charger working.

I've very familiar with boats but just wish the Sea Ray manual was a LOT better, in case there's something specific that I missed.

I can't believe, it takes any more than plug in and hit the shore "on" switch. If there's a main breaker hidden somewhere that I've missed.
Click to expand...
Do you have the 'AC Converter' breaker on? If you want other DC stuff to work you have to have the correct breaker and battery switch on also.
 
Woody said:
Do you have the 'AC Converter' breaker on? If you want other DC stuff to work you have to have the correct breaker and battery switch on also.
Click to expand...

Yes, and the batt switch was on, too.
 
Seevee said:
Yes, and the batt switch was on, too.
Click to expand...
You said the shore power cord has power....does the indicator light on your "main distribution breaker panel" come on? If not make sure the switch above the shore power plug is on. The only other breaker to check that I know off would be those by the keys. I don't know which battery charger you have but it might have indicator lights on it.
 
Seevee said:
Thanks, but item 17 is the phone jack, 26 is the AC plug in. I've looked in there for a switch but couldn't find any. I'm getting power to that plug.
Click to expand...

#23 on that diagram is the breaker housing that needs to be flipped on. Should be a white plastic cover.


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I have a selector switch that switches shore power ac to gen power, do you see that switch? Mine was in an aft rope locker.
 
That is the big question. Was the boat surveyed? If not were any of the systems checked?


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mquiet said:
That is the big question. Was the boat surveyed? If not were any of the systems checked?
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Click to expand...

First off, found the problem, there IS a switch in the rope locker where AC plugs in that was not labeled. Now works fine. Thanks for all the help. There was no shore power available for the pre purchase inspection, nor any within any reasonable distance.

No, the boat was not surveyed. I am not a big fan of surveyors. What 90% of what the surveyor does can be done by any competent boat operator. Check specs, numbers, operational numbers, engine ops, systems ops, etc. And most surveyors don't really know how to operate the boat anyway. They don't the specifics. The only thing they do (sometimes) that requires special tools is the hull water content. I hire specialists. I hired an engine mechanic, a specialist in generators, and an electrical guy and got MUCH more info. Still not necessarily specific to THAT exact model. The former operator wasn't real knowledgable, like more boaters.

Overall, I'm tickled pink with this boat. Price was excellent, allowing me to put a lot of new stuff on, and a lot of preventative maintenance items in, and still be way ahead on the cost. It's a terrific boat for the dollars. And there's a ton of them out there, so if I sell, I won't take it in the shorts. When I finish the upgrades, it will have new seats, canvas, rebuilt genny, new outdrives, new VHF, new depth finder, and a ton of little things and I'll still be way below retail price.

Right now, most of the above it done and I'm just going to run it this season, and perhaps replace the drives next fall. Might keep it for a few years or forever. If I step up, it will probably be another Formula or a Chaparral. SeaRay is a great boat, but don't like their designs over 30ft, except for the Ventura. But over the years, I've had excellent luck with SeaRay, from a 27 to 45 ft boat.
 
Just an opinion, you mention not liking surveyors and what competent boat owners are capable of yet you bought a boat with the AC system in a completely unknown state with the exception of the owners word (the guy that didn't know how the electrical on his own boat worked!???)?

Brave.
 
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northshore said:
Just an opinion, you mention not liking surveyors and what competent boat owners are capable of yet you bought a boat with the AC system in a completely unknown state with the exception of the owners word (the guy that didn't know how the electrical on his own boat worked!???)?

Brave.
Click to expand...

Brave,

It's a matter of risk vs. benefits... The price was low enough to spend a bunch of money.

As for the electrical system.... everything was checked with the exception of the shore power. Genny, engines, and all electrical appliances, from all the lights, galley, AC, radios, etc..... And the owner spend around $2K getting all of that stuff up to snuff.

So, no, it was not really unknown. Far from it. The only downside would be if the shore plug and switch has some sort of failure. I was willing to take that chance.

As for surveyors, I'm not going to say they are bad, but a lot of folks really don't understand what they do. Generally, they will not get into the "meat" of the systems, only the indications that things are a certain way. I've hired many and they do have value, but I could argue to get specialists for the details.
 
Seevee said:
Brave,

It's a matter of risk vs. benefits... The price was low enough to spend a bunch of money.

As for the electrical system.... everything was checked with the exception of the shore power. Genny, engines, and all electrical appliances, from all the lights, galley, AC, radios, etc..... And the owner spend around $2K getting all of that stuff up to snuff.

So, no, it was not really unknown. Far from it. The only downside would be if the shore plug and switch has some sort of failure. I was willing to take that chance.

As for surveyors, I'm not going to say they are bad, but a lot of folks really don't understand what they do. Generally, they will not get into the "meat" of the systems, only the indications that things are a certain way. I've hired many and they do have value, but I could argue to get specialists for the details.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you got away clean! I bumped into a couple of - lets say, less than genuine people when I was looking to buy. One called me about 10 hours before the survey and told me he sold the boat. Funny, a month later, it was still there........
 
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