AC Panel Operation on Cutwater 28

[Century Bay]

The Cutwater 28 in question has a Blue Sea 360 style panel with a rotary switch to select shore, generator, or inverter AC power source.
Our understanding is that the shore and generator power can feed all down stream circuits with inverter power feeding only the receptacles and microwave side of the panel.
1. Is this accurate?
2. Do all three sources pass from the rotary switch through the 30 amp main breaker?
3. Has anyone experienced any power or voltage at any of the individual load breakers below the 30 amp main breaker when the main breaker is in the off position?
4. Has anyone experienced voltage between neutral side and the ground pin of a receptacle? i.e. Hot ground?

 

[BB marine]

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(1) This panel should be wired through the rotary switch to power shore power and generator complete panel and inverter half panel.
(2) All three power sources pass through the main 30 amp breaker. Breaker off no power to any circuits. The photo I posted is the panel in my Cutwater. Rotary switch is inverter on, 120V shown on analog meter and main breaker on. There will be power available to outlets breakers and microwave breaker. Main breaker off no power available to outlet breakers or microwave breaker.
(3) no
(4) minimal. With shore power plugged in, 120 V at panel and rotary switch on shore power position and main 30 amp breaker off. Fluke VOA, position ACV, meter will read has much as 3V. Should not read any higher than that. If you short Neutral to ground with shore power plugged into shore power, 120V at panel, rotary switch on and main breaker off the ELCI should trip.

If you pull the rotary switch compare the connections to this schematic.
http://assets.bluesea.com/files/resourc ... 344370.pdf

Remember each power source as the ground and neutral connected. Shore power at power company , generator at generator, inverter at inverter. The ground and neutral can not be connected in the boat just source. If the rotary switch is wired properly and working properly No impedance. The neutral and hot must be removed from any source not being used. If using the shore power, the neutral and hot from the inverter and the neutral and hot from the generator must be open. Best way to make sure this is happening is with shore power unplugged, generator battery switch off and inverter switch off test all the circuits with an ohmmeter .

 

[Century Bay]

Thanks Brian
You have exactly the same panel as mine. I posted on what I am seeing today in the Ask Cutwater Forum. Maybe you can take a look.
I have a major issue that still has not been figured out.
I have power when breakers are off and also hot ground wiring.
I really appreciate your input. The Technician will return Monday morning to take another look.
You have been very helpful.

 

[Century Bay]

Eventually we will get to the bottom of this. Hopefully this week. I understand and confirm the things you are relating. It sounds as if you have the exact arrange I have on my boat.
However, as I understand it the rotary switch selects the source and feeds power to the panels. How can one main panel breaker be used when as you mentioned the inverter should power only the half panel below the AC meter with the shore power and generator power going to both panels and all breakers. If the inverter power from rotary switch goes to the main breaker then inverter power would be able to feed all downstream breakers.
If the rotary switch routes power directly to the half panel then it would not be protected by the main breaker and the inverter power could also feed back into the other panel powering individual breakers even with the main breaker off.
The Cutwater 28 is a new boat with 30 hours on it but have had the boat since the winter of 2018. I have not used it much for a variety of reasons. Some of which are problems with safety and operability like this one.

 

[BB marine]

How can one main panel breaker be used when as you mentioned the inverter should power only the half panel below the AC meter with the shore power and generator power going to both panels and all breakers. If the inverter power from rotary switch goes to the main breaker then inverter power would be able to feed all downstream breakers.
If the rotary switch routes power directly to the half panel then it would not be protected by the main breaker and the inverter power could also feed back into the other panel powering individual breakers even with the main breaker off.

Honestly that is a good question. I can't answer that and maybe it doesn't. I'm not completely sure of the wiring configuration that Cutwater uses and what inverter is being used. I installed the inverter in my Cutwater ( Kisea SWX1220) wired it to power the compete panel and use the 30 amp main breaker with the inverter the same way as it is used with the shore power. We have an electric stove top, I also wanted to use the marine air unit fan, for air circulation while cruising (no generator) I did not use the transfer switch option so I only have a 120V inverter output there is no 120V shore power input.

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Rotary switch positioned to inverter, 120V present from inverter, power to 30 amp breaker and breaker on. All circuits breakers have power to them with main breaker on. If the main breaker is off there will be no power to any circuit breaker.


If the 30 amp main breaker is not used between the inverter and the 3 live circuits the over load protection or the GFCI from the inverter would be the protection combined with the individual circuit breaker for the circuit being used Example (outlet breaker) .

As I said in past post the issue will be a simple fix. After the ABYC electrician inspects the and troubleshoots the installation he will explain the installation to you so you have a better understanding. I would have the electrician sketch a simple schematic of what he finds for future troubleshooting and understanding.

What seems strange and I question is what happened between delivery when all systems were tested and signed off on by the factory and selling dealer and now. You will hopefully get answers this week.

 

[Century Bay]

Hi Brian

It seems you have been looking at and addressing electrical issues on cutwaters for some time and have seen a lot. We appreciate you sharing your experience with us.
We have not resolved the issues with our C28 yet but we know a lot more at this point. Keep in mind this is a new boat with 30 hours on it and the panel has never been removed. The technician removed and inspected the panel and this is what we have found:

1. The rotary switch is wired to power the right side 6 breaker panel from shore and generator power but not from inverter.
2. The rotary switch feeds the right side through the 30 amp breaker.
3. The rotary switch is also wired to power the left side 4 breaker panel from shore and generator.
4. The left side 4 breaker panel is fed directly from the rotary switch and does not pass through the 30 amp breaker.
5. The rotary switch is also wired to power left side 4 breaker panel from inverter power.
6. All power to the 4 breaker left side panel goes through the rotary selector switch directly to the panel buss.
7. No main breaker between rotary switch and 4 breaker panel.
8. The only neutral wire from the rotary switch goes through the 30 amp breaker.
9. When the 30 amp main feeding the right side is off the left side has no neutral and can not function properly.
10. When the 30 amp breaker is on the left side receptacles seem to function properly. 120 volts between hot and ground and 0 volts between neutral and ground.
11. When the 30 amp main is off the receptacles see 120 volts between hot and ground,41 volts between hot and neutral and 90 volts between neutral and ground.
12. We obtained the wiring diagram for the panel assembly and the rotary switch from Blue Sea and verified that our panel and rotary switch is wired as shown in the their design diagram.
13. We have requested any additional wiring diagrams from Cutwater but have not yet received them.

We would appreciate your thoughts on this.
Thank you
Gary

 

[BB marine]

Gary, I sent a PM