Adding a second shore power

Britinusa

Hi all, I’m adding a second shore power receptacle, it will be on the outside of the boat to make it easier to connect and move the cord from inside the rear seating area where it is now.
question is, what type of electrical cable do I need, does it need to be marine rated? 

randy56

Yes there are some differences. Sorry, but if there ever was a fire or problem the insurance company. May not pay out. I know it is cheaper to use household type. 

Britinusa

I figured it needed to be marine rated, what gauge should I get.

Handymans342

30 amp is 10 gauge

04FV270riverrat

10/3 boat cable, Amazon, EBay, some boat stores have it. Green/white/black and it’s “tinned”

Liberty44140

We did this on my dads sailboat, he had only a port side inlet and so a starboard was added. For around $100 you can get an automatic switch box that senses the electricity and switches from one shore power inlet to the other, that way both work. 

Cableguy Greg

You also need a breaker within 5 feet of the shore power input. It is a 30 amp breaker.

04FV270riverrat

http://www.bestboatwire.com/10-3-awg-marine-grade-wire-tinned-boat-cable-flat-by-the-ft

Britinusa

Thanks everyone! This is probably going to be a fall project! 

skennelly

Piggy backing on this thread.  Anyone add an outlet to the stern of a 270?  How did you route the wire from the stern to the breaker panel?

diggin2day1

skennelly said:

Piggy backing on this thread.  Anyone add an outlet to the stern of a 270?  How did you route the wire from the stern to the breaker panel?

Have thought about doing this every time I have to climb up on the bow and hang over the side to connect it. Such a silly location 

skennelly

Agree @diggin2day1.  It's the worst.

Britinusa

Thanks for the replies everyone, so I need a second breaker the only place to put it would be in the engine room, is that doable? Also I’m planning on leaving the existing shore power, so I will have 2 can I use some kind on junction box to connect both cables? The reason is that the tube that power cable runs through to the power panel is not large enough for 2 cables.

04FV270riverrat

I added a second one right under the shower on the transom on my 270. I don't have a genny, so I ran the wires to the breaker panel and wired it into the generator side. I just simply flip the switch from Shore power to Generator whenever I use the rear plug, this keeps the other plug dead when not in use. 

Routing the wire was a PITA. I went through the spot where the water lines and the factory shore power went, behind the water heater.

diggin2day1

04FV270riverrat said:

I added a second one right under the shower on the transom on my 270. I don't have a genny, so I ran the wires to the breaker panel and wired it into the generator side. I just simply flip the switch from Shore power to Generator whenever I use the rear plug, this keeps the other plug dead when not in use. 

Routing the wire was a PITA. I went through the spot where the water lines and the factory shore power went, behind the water heater.

Oooh... that’s a great idea!