[cp4000]

Hi all,

I am hoping someone has had this issue before...Last year had no problems what so ever.  This year the club upgraded to GFCI breakers and now mine pops all the time.  No Heat / AC, no vac on outlets or pressure washer on outlets.  I understand the theory behind GFCI and why we want to have it but it's very frustrating.  To go from a perfectly fine working boat to one I can't even stay on now.  Pedestal next to me works fine. (Non GFCI)  My question, has anyone with a boat similar to mine (1988 3300 Open - No Genset) been able to track down the neutral to ground culprit or culprits?  Hate to re-invent the wheel if I don't have too.  Fridge / battery charger work fine and haven't tried the microwave or stovetop yet.  Suspect those will fail as well.  I take it each circuit needs to be addressed individually?  Hoping it is something simple like factory wiring for a generator or something...

Thanks for your help!

[Misdirection]

Tracking this down can be difficult. We had three different boats with three different problems so far as our club has been updating. One was the charger, one was the hot water tank, and the third was a microwave that had the ground and neutral connected. A fourth guy still hasn't figured out his problem.

I'd start with the shore selector switch off and plug your boat in and see if it trips. If yes, check the wiring between the shore connector and that switch, your looking for the ground and neutral connected.

If that passes, turn off all of your breakers, turn the shore power on.

If that fails, trace wires between the selector switch and the panel breakers.

Then, one by one, turn on and off each breaker. See if any trip the gcfi and try to isolate it.

Known areas to look are older ac units and their controllers, hot water tanks, microwaves, anywhere a neutral and ground are connected.

If you have two 30 amp services, check to see if there is a wire connecting the neutral bus bars.

Good luck and report back your findings.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[GeoDoc]

This happened to me on a previous boat and the marine electrician mentioned in this article fixed it. It was a small jumper wire on the ice maker circuit.

[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

[cp4000]

What do you guys think of going this route?

[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

[Misdirection]

I've read about them, i do not know of anyone who has installed one.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[bbunch]

Hi, our marine is in the process of upgrading our pedestals, ours been the first? and when we turned on both 30 amps the breaker tripped. But if we can run our 30 amps independently, 1 side on end the other side off, with out tripping the breaker. We would like to use both sides if we can find a solution .
Thanks for the help.
Bill

---

Hi, our marine is in the process of upgrading our pedestals, ours been the first? and when we turned on both 30 amps the breaker tripped. But if we can run our 30 amps independently, 1 side on end the other side off, with out tripping the breaker. We would like to use both sides if we can find a solution .
Thanks for the help. I have a 2005  Sovran 3600
Bill

[Misdirection]

Try a high quality splitter and run both 30 amp connections off of one outlet from the pedestal. Your neutrals might be crossed on a bus bar causing the imbalance.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[duchess]

I just found my problem, on my 1986 31', it was the reverse polarity indicator. I removed the connector, from the sensor to neutral, and the problem went away. What I can't figure out, is when I test the two sensor leads, they are open. Going to try and find a new one, hopefully Tiara can direct me.

[hiccup]

I just found my problem, on my 1986 31', it was the reverse polarity indicator. I removed the connector, from the sensor to neutral, and the problem went away. What I can't figure out, is when I test the two sensor leads, they are open. Going to try and find a new one, hopefully Tiara can direct me.

That's a new one!  It may be that the neutral wire to the indicator is somehow making connection with the panel itself, which is likely grounded.  Just a thought.

[Matta0413]

I am going to look there. I have looked everyplace else.