Surge Guard

[BeaconBluff]

Tugnuts:
Has anyone used a Surge Guard product, namely model 67030, surge protector that is plugged into the pedestal to protect your incoming AC? I have tried using it with several different marina pedestals and when I turn on the AC panel of my 2018 R29S I get the reverse polarity lights coming on. If I don't use the surge protector then all is fine. Any thoughts?
Rodney

 

[ohioan55]

Being somewhat familiar with electrical stuff like this, I'll take a stab at it. One, I'd test the unit at some other locations to see what it says. Two, consult with the manufacturer. If the unit is operating correctly, then there may be a problem with your marina power. It is not uncommon to find marinas with incorrect wiring, which is why you should never swim in a marina (cause you never know). Incorrect marina wiring and/or boat wiring is one of the leading causes of stray current corrosion. There is a lot of info online about this topic.

 

[iggy]

I would agree with Ohio! If it was me, I would use a volt meter and check the pedestal between hot, neutral and ground. As he mentioned, it could be miss-wired. That is what that device is made for. Remember to, 4 to 6 pedestals are on one leg/circuit and that leg could be miss wired.

 

[BB marine]

Your description of which polarity light is coming on is not clear. Panel ? or surge protector? If it is the surge protector polarity light then I would suspect the power pedestal is wired improperly or has some corrosion issues at the connections. The marina should have a tester to check polarity and test for voltage drops. If the surge protector polarity light is not coming on and the polarity light in the boat at the panel is coming on only when using the surge protector it may have an internal issue that is allowing trace voltages to the ground wire. A surge protector does have a relationship ( hot wire to ground wire). There are electronics involved but power surges from the 120V hot are suppressed by diverting the voltage to ground. I'm not familiar with the surge Guard product that you have but I would take the advise of Ohioan and call the manufacture to see if the surge guard could be allowing small trace voltages AC to the green wire (ground and causing the polarity light to illuminate at the panel.

 

[BeaconBluff]

Thanks all for the information. The reverse polarity light on the AC panel comes on when the surge guard is connected to the power supply. Without the surge guard everything is fine. I just connected the surge guard to the 30 amp power supply in my barn, which I have used to keep the boat's batteries charged for several years, and it does the same thing - causes the AC panel reverse polarity light to illuminate. I just sent a note to the Surge Guard company and am waiting for an answer. Maybe a faulty unit? I was just wondering if anyone else has had an issue like this.

Rodney

 

[iggy]

Could your surge guard be miss wired. I would take an ohms meter to it.

 

[bill46]

Awful expensive box.
I use a Square D 200 amp 240 volt hardwired in my home breaker panel.
Never felt need on boat, but would put hardwired in pedestal, or if not your pedestal hardwire after ELCI breaker.
Just tie two blacks together, keep white and green to proper colors.
Ace Hardware has for $80.00. Recall it is potted in plastic, so should be ok in marine environment.
Boat already has reverse indicator.

 

[Lenny and Louise]

We carry a 30A marine to 15A household pigtail. I hook that up to power pedestal and check the circuit with a little hand held gadget that plugs into it. Shows not only reverse polarity, but nature of the problem. Dockmasters may be a little peeved that we don’t have faith in their system, so we generally decline their help to hook up power, wait till they are gone, then test it.

In one newly built marina, found bad pedestal at my slip and adjacent one. Went and got Dockmaster and asked for help. He said he tested his pedestals every month. Turns out there was a 15A outlet on every pedestal in the marina, and that is what he tested with a gadget just like mine. Turns out these sockets were on a different circuit and nearly half of the 30A pedestals had hot and neutral reversed.

 

[BeaconBluff]

Thanks all for your responses. I just can't see how all the pedestals that I plug the Surge Guard into could be faulty. It must be in the unit itself and I will try to check it later.
Rodney