AC Outlet

[mytug]

Has anyone install a AC outlet in the cabin area on a R21EC. If so how did you do it.

Thanks,
John

 

[dloop]

Hi John,

I have not. Curious, what do you want to run on AC?

Dave

 

[Kamalani]

I have toyed with the idea of an AC outlet in the wheelhouse. I went back and forth between the idea of installing an inverter, or else simply running a paralell circuit from the shore power inlet. I had even gone so far as to buy a 1000 watt Xantrex, but I just couldn't bring myself to add the weight of additional house batteries. Without the beefed up battery bank, the inverter idea was a recipe for disaster, so I gave the inverter to my son, who is currently enjoying the resulting convenience on a 1 week cruise to Catalina Island.
So that left me with the remaining project of installing an outlet inside as part of the shore power system. And for what? I asked myself... so I might plug in a vacuum occasionaly. Would it kill me to just go a few feet out into the cockpit and connect to the shore power cord? Well, anyone can see where this is going. I love a boat project as much as anyone, but I'd better have a good excuse for cutting yet another hole in my wife's boat, and for now, the AC outlet is still in it's original box. (Maybe my son will want that too...)
Alex, "Kamalani"

 

[mytug]

Dave,
Thanks for the reply. My wife wants to run her hair dryer and I need to run my computer. Our boat is in the water at Alameda, so is at dock all the time when we are not using it. I think I will just run an extension from the shore power cord when I need AC.

Alex,
Thanks for the "GREAT" idea of using an extension cord. Sometimes I try make thing more complicated than they need to be. You are correct, I do not want to make a hole in my wife's boat.

Thanks all,
John

 

[Texas Steve]

If you get the right kind of three way grounded outlet with enough protruding length on it, you can plug it into your charger and then the shore power into the adapter. That way, you end up with two additional AC outlets in your boat. Works well for us.

Texas Steve

 

[dloop]

Hi John,

I thought a 'computer' might be one of your reasons cause I had the same desire. You can also get a power cord for most laptops the just plugs into your cigarette lighter.

dave

 

[JamesTXSD]

Assuming a 12v socket in the boat, we use small inverters like these...

http://www.amazon.com/PowerDrive-RPPD10 ... B002AP328U

in our truck and on the boat. Easy and inexpensive. I use them to run the computer, charge cell phones, or run the Sirius satellite radio boom box.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[Paradox]

My 2007 21EC was one of a few that has shore power line with an ac outlet in the cabin, and also a connection to the battery charger for the 3 house batteries on this boat. It certainly is convenient to have the ac outlet. We recently spent a week on the boat cruising the Intracoastal from Isle of Palms to Hilton Head. Had a way to keep the cell phones charged, the laptop batteries charged, and yes, allowed my wife to use the hairdryer. Beats having to dangle an extension cord over the side....

 

[Stan and Jayne]

If you get the right kind of three way grounded outlet with enough protruding length on it, you can plug it into your charger and then the shore power into the adapter. That way, you end up with two additional AC outlets in your boat. Works well for us.

Texas Steve

Please clarify how you got TWO additional outlets? Thanks. Stan

 

[Texas Steve]

I just used a standard three way grounded connector you can buy at Lowes for $3.00. Plugged one female end into the charger port, the male into the shorepower, leaving two additional outlets free. Hope this makes sense.

Texas Steve

 

[captain's cat]

I think Steve means one of these thingys. The female end plugs into the boat, leaving the male end sticking straight out into which you plug your shore power cable. Then you have the two outlets on the side as "extra" outlets.

 

[Texas Steve]

Thanks Charlie. You've proved once again, that a picture is worth 1,000 words. I'm not very handy with this e-stuff to be able to post pictures and all. That is exactly the gadget though.

Texas Steve

 

[Stan and Jayne]

Thanks. This info is very helpful.
Just one other question.. It seems that marina shore power is often 30 amp, so is it possible to buy adaptor that goes on the shore power cord before plugging into the unit in the picture?
A real novice here!

 

[captain's cat]

Easy fix Stan. Plug a regular heavy duty extension cord into that orange thingy, run the male end out to the pier receptacle, then use a Marinco Adapter (West Marine and others have them) to plug the male in to and then it will plug directly into a 30Amp Pier receptacle.