AC Shorepower Breaker?

[Pitou]

Merry Kate had mentioned on a post under shaft zincs not finding a DC to AC ground. I've just discovered while looking through my AC system
to install a galvanic isolator that the only breaker for AC power is the Main Switch that powers up my AC panel. Does anyone know / Can that be right?

My genny runs through a 35 amp breaker on the panel then to an AC Selector switch then to the AC Main Switch / 35 amp breaker looks like 1st layer of protection.

Shorepower runs directly to Selector switch then to AC Main / no 1st layer
I would think it would be as important to protect that switch from Shorepower as it is from the generator.

The generator is an Entec 4200D installed by Albin when the boat was originally built. The Entec Manual shows the 35 Amp Breaker protecting the switch from the generator.

Any thoughts or knowledge shared would be appreciated.

[Mariner]

I would imagine that that is correct. However, there is nothing stopping you from changing that. You have to remember that your shorepower is most likely protected at the dockside plug with a breaker. The addition of another breaker, at the boatside plug, would be pretty much redudant. However, if you want to add one, it would likely be an easy fix. Our old Catalina 36' had one. It was a bit of an annoyance to turn on and off, and, IMO, didn't offer any additional protection except in the rare case that you were plugging into a shorepower plug that did not have a breaker, or didn't trust that breaker.

[Pitou]

Thanks Mariner.

What you shared makes alot of sense. At my marina the shorepower connection has a GFCI on the post before the outlet that I plug into and of course a breaker inside the building.

I just got concerned when taking off the the main panel in the cabin and seeing the genset going into a breaker before the AC switch and not seeing the same for the AC shorepower. It makes sense to me now having an AC breaker before the selector switch for the genset and not the shorepower .

I have always considered Nigel Calder's book Boat Owners Mechanical & Electrical Manual / maybe now's the time. It sure can't hurt to have around.
Thanks again.

[Mariner]

What kind of shorepower plug do you connect to? Is it a standard 15 amp or is it a 30 amp? Is there a breaker right by the plug that you turn off whenever not connected? Does the plug have a provision for a locking collar and, if so, do you use it? I would personally consider any setup that did not have a breaker right by the plug, or didn't utilize a waterproof locking collar at all connections to be a serious electrocution and fire risk.

[Pitou]

The shorepower connection is anything but what I could wish for.

The connection is a 15 amp 3 prong straight blade. I use a pigtail adapter with waterproof collar. The straight blade plugging into shorepower cannot be waterproofed. 3 boats plugging into the box. (enough juice to run the battery charger for the DC fridges for each boat / That's it. Not the best set-up for sure. On the box is a GFCI breaker. If I shut this down I would shutdown the other 2 boats.