How does shore power work (DA 240)?

S

slagterd

New Member
Aug 25, 2008
17
Fairfax, VA
Boat Info
'08 DA 260 Sundancer
'96 DA 240 Sundancer
Engines
6.2L Mercruiser, Bravo 3
5.7L Mercruiser, Alpha 2
Folks - am a rookie with a 96 240 Sundancer. While using shore power, I noticed my cabin lights dim after 2 hours or so. Of course, the batteries were dead in the morning. I assumed that the shore power was running the cabin lights - but why was I wrong? Any help appreciated. Thx!
 
Shore power runs your 110v system which in turn should run your battery charger. Make sure the breaker is on (may be labeled "convberter") and it should keep the batteries charged up. If not, there's a bunch of other troubleshooting to go through.
 
Thanks much - I'm not even sure I have a battery charger. But will go look and start figuring this out. Thanks!
 
slag,
Im fairly new to this stuff too but Im pretty sure you've got a charger, a battery switch in the cockpit and probably an additional set of breakers in the bildge. If all your switches and breakers are set properly then you'll have to check for correct wiring. Start with your switches though, I bet that will get you going.
 
I also have a 96' 240DA, I do not have a charger, yet, or a converter. Peek down in the engine compartment and see if you see one near the batts. If not there follow any leads coming off of the batts to see if it is mounted where the factory hot water heater would have been. Like I said, I don't have one either but I am going to install one this spring. Good Luck.
 
Yeah, I think the first thing to note, after reading your first post, is that most of the lights in your cabin are run by your 12v system. That being said, in order for shorepower to do you any good in the lighting department, you have to make sure you have a converter/charger, that is restoring the batteries.
 
I justr curious, if you didn't have a battery charger what would you need a shore power cord for?
 
When I bought my boat, the original charger was bad. The key for shorepower to work it that you turn the main breaker on to allow the power to be on. I have the shore cord connection in the transom locker with a switch there to allow power into the boat and to the main panel. I assume you have a main breaker panel which should have a set of AC and DC switches. You'll have to turn the AC light/outlets/Fridge breaker on. On the ceiling in the cabin I have 2 switches, 1 for AC lights and 1 for DC. Not sure if your year model has that or not, but it's close in age to my 260DA.

The more info you give us as to what you have/don't have the more we can help you troubleshoot.
 
Here is a shot of a 02 280:

P1010796.jpg


The box on the left side is the OEM charger.

To get shore power to work:

1) the switch in the transom locker needs to be on,

2) on the distribution panel the main switch needs to be on, IF you do not have a reversed polarity warning,

3) Then the charger needs to be on. As Eric mentioned this may be labeled 'AC Converter'


Henry
 
The only thing my shore power gives me is power to my two outlets. One being right above the shore power connection and the other is right to the left of the ice box/fridge. What I was planning on doing was mounting the batt charger near the batt bank and running the power cord for the batt charger up to the 110V plug above the shore power connection. Thus giving me power to the batts once I plug into shore power and turn on the breaker down below to the outlet. Does this make sense??
 
Do they have a model that will work in the engine compartment? In other words, it should be sealed so that there are no sparks to make the fuel vapors explode. The marine environment is pretty harsh and I don't know if these could handle the vibration, pounding or exposure to the elements and water like a true marine charger is designed for?

Here is a snippet from their installation manual which advises against it:

There are no components within the IOTA Power Converters/Battery Chargers that, in their normal operation, produce arcs or sparks. However, all electronic devices have some potential for generating sparks in the event of failure. Therefore, never install this device in the same compartment with flammable items such as gasoline or batteries.​



 
Last edited:
All - thanks much. Main breaker panel near the sink/stove has only 2 switches (one for main panel and one next to "Outlets/AC". Thus, it seems that I dont have a converter/charger and that the shore power only provides elec to the two electrical outlets (to run a coffee pot, laptop, radio, etc I presume) since i don't have A/C.

Now since you've all been so helpful, any advice on:
1. best place to find a converter/charger?
2. recommendation for an A/C unit (my wife asked me for one!)

The boat is older but in really great shape (always in a boatel; all new canvas, etc) and we got it for a good price. I assume it's worth investing in a charger/converter and possibily, AC?

Thanks again
 
diggindmb said:
The only thing my shore power gives me is power to my two outlets. One being right above the shore power connection and the other is right to the left of the ice box/fridge. What I was planning on doing was mounting the batt charger near the batt bank and running the power cord for the batt charger up to the 110V plug above the shore power connection. Thus giving me power to the batts once I plug into shore power and turn on the breaker down below to the outlet. Does this make sense??
Click to expand...
Why not buy a sealed marine battery charger as mentioned above. Mount it in the engine compartment then tie in the power to the factory battery charger. Then when you flipped the battery charger breaker both would come on together.
 
slagterd said:
All - thanks much. Main breaker panel near the sink/stove has only 2 switches (one for main panel and one next to "Outlets/AC". Thus, it seems that I dont have a converter/charger and that the shore power only provides elec to the two electrical outlets (to run a coffee pot, laptop, radio, etc I presume) since i don't have A/C.

Now since you've all been so helpful, any advice on:
1. best place to find a converter/charger?
2. recommendation for an A/C unit (my wife asked me for one!)

The boat is older but in really great shape (always in a boatel; all new canvas, etc) and we got it for a good price. I assume it's worth investing in a charger/converter and possibily, AC?

Thanks again
Click to expand...

Kurt said:
Why not buy a sealed marine battery charger as mentioned above. Mount it in the engine compartment then tie in the power to the factory battery charger. Then when you flipped the battery charger breaker both would come on together.
Click to expand...

slagterd said:
Good help/advice from Sundancer. Here's a link to a marine product for approx $250. Seems like this would work (w/15 amp?)
http://www.wmjmarine.com/gus2614a.html
Click to expand...

Have you looked in your engine bay to make sure you don't have a Charger?

If there is one there let us know what brand model.
Read my story about replacing my charger last year.

If there isn't you may want to add a battery or two and install a Charger/inverter. I would have if Promariner made one and I could have taken advantage of their offer.
 
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