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Post by wilkinsonjc on Apr 26, 2011 8:27:58 GMT
Hello,
I am shipping my Merry Fisher 925 from France to Florida. Do I have to make any electrical conversions (like a transformer) for using the external power on the docks?
Thank you for any advice,
John
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Post by Zanshin on Apr 26, 2011 17:13:52 GMT
I assume that the French boat is set up for 220V/50Hz and the plugs are the standard european 2-rounds-plus-one-ground instead of the 110V double-spade type.
Many marinas in the USA have the 220V plugs, but achieve that by doubling two 110V legs; this results in sufficient voltage but you will get 60Hz instead of the expected 50Hz.
Normally the battery charger can handle both 220V/50Hz as well as 110V/60Hz so that is not a problem, but sometimes the A/C units have electric engines that are not geared to take the higher 60Hz and would thus run 20% faster and potentially overheat. If you have a Climma (Waeco) system then they should take both Hz values.
If you wish to convert your boat to 110V/60Hz then you would need to reduce the maximum load and use an appropriately smaller breaker, since the same diameter cabling can carry less power at 110V than at 220V - best see a marine electrician to get the correct values.
What AC electrics do you have aboard and do you know the make/model of your battery charger?
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Post by rxc on Apr 30, 2011 15:01:58 GMT
You will need new shore power cables, or will have to make up an adaptor because the ones in the US are not compatable with European standards. If you decide to use just US shore power cables, you will have to change the connector to the boat, which is different in the US. ALso, shore power cables are MUCH more expensive in the US than in Europe.
You will also have to do something about voltage, or else limit yourself to 220v hookups, which are generally much more expensive in a US marina, when they are available. And they are NOT usually available in slips for your size boat.
As Zahshin notes, your internal wiring will be undersized if you decide to convert the boat to 110v, and there is a potential fire hazard there. Also, you probably have a French Ground Fault Circuit Breaker somewhere in your system, and it is probably in the wrong place(circuit-wise) for US systems, so it might have more trips than you would otherwise expect. Oh, and if you want to make all the outlets inside the boat 110, you have to change all the outlets to US flat-blade ones. Changing the interior wiring is a real pain.
I don't think the frequency difference will be a big problem. 50 hz motors will run faster, but they will also receive more cooling, so they are actually less likely to fail. Going the other way is more problematic, because the lower frequency causes the current to be higher, with higher internal heating, and the slower speed means less cooling.
You dont say how long you will be in the US. If just a short time, a transformer and an adaptor for cables might be sufficient. I think that the 110v transformers that are sold in the UK can be used the other way to produce 220.
If you are going to be there a long time, and maybe even sell the boat there, then it becomes a bigger job. I have a US boat in France, and have kept it mostly 110v inside, with a few 220 outlets and some 220v equipment, but I have a big isolation transformer that I think is an important piece of equipment in strange marinas. Do you intend to buy and start to use many 110v applicances?
Ralph Caruso
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