Summerland 40: Catlover

[Rfneonate]

Am looking at a 40' power cat in S France. After cruising in the Med plan to ship her back. What are my options re the electrical system. The boat is wired for 12/220 volts and I am ignorant as to what my choices are to convert to 12/110 volts. Would appreciate input?

[captainjay]

This is a complex and expensive process to convert the boat to US electrical systems I would not buy it it for import back to the states. I assume this is a used boat? A new one can be ordered with US electrics.

Jay

[DotDun]

EU wiring is sized to carry loads the same as US wiring codes. EU branch circuits are typically 10a, 16a, and 32a, you can use the same breakers and wire to run US 125v on these circuits with no problem. Obviously, this requires change of the receptacle. The shorepower cable and receptacle is different, that will need to be changed to match US shorepower. The AC main breaker (RCD) may need to be changed depending on what's already there and to match the US shorepower chosen. If you chose a US 30a shorepower, the change is pretty easy. If you chose US 125/250v 50a, you then have the issue of how to split the 125v branch circuits across the (2) 125v legs of the main service. Not insurmountable, it depends on how the main distribution box is setup.

The above is assuming you'll change the EU 230v appliances to US 125v appliances.

[captainjay]

Originally Posted by DotDun

EU wiring is sized to carry loads the same as US wiring codes. EU branch circuits are typically 10a, 16a, and 32a, you can use the same breakers and wire to run US 125v on these circuits with no problem. Obviously, this requires change of the receptacle. The shorepower cable and receptacle is different, that will need to be changed to match US shorepower. The AC main breaker (RCD) may need to be changed depending on what's already there and to match the US shorepower chosen. If you chose a US 30a shorepower, the change is pretty easy. If you chose US 125/250v 50a, you then have the issue of how to split the 125v branch circuits across the (2) 125v legs of the main service. Not insurmountable, it depends on how the main distribution box is setup.

The above is assuming you'll change the EU 230v appliances to US 125v appliances.

Yep the wiring is the easy part. When FP wires the boas for the US they use the same wires. They already use double pole breakers so one side simply becomes the neutral. Brown hot, blue neutral, green/yellow earth/safety ground.

Where it gets expensive and tricky. That boat will likely have a generator, three or four air conditioners, a charger, an inverter, etc. That can not be changed over to us standards without replacement or the installation of an expensive transformer. There are so many boats for sale that unless you can absolutely steal the boat don't buy it for the US.

Jay

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by captainjay

Yep the wiring is the easy part. When FP wires the boas for the US they use the same wires. They already use double pole breakers so one side simply becomes the neutral. Brown hot, blue neutral, green/yellow earth/safety ground.

Where it gets expensive and tricky. That boat will likely have a generator, three or four air conditioners, a charger, an inverter, etc. That can not be changed over to us standards without replacement or the installation of an expensive transformer. There are so many boats for sale that unless you can absolutely steal the boat don't buy it for the US.

Jay

There's a good chance the generator and charger can produce/use US power, the ACs and inverter are a crap shoot and most likely need changed.