Electrical mystery on my new-to-me 2007 Lagoon 380 S2

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by BrettB

Thanks everyone for the tips and advice so far. I'll grab some photos of each step in the system once it is light out. I've also email Lagoon asking for a wiring diagram.

Will also read up on the other threads.

Good thinin'. Does Lagoon not have them online?

[CarlF]

I've seen this arrangement before in a European boat being used in the Caribbean. I would bet that your air conditioning only now works on the genset because the owner didn't use air conditioning much or didn't stay in marinas much.

To avoid drilling a hole in the boat for a 120v inlet, he swapped the old 230 inlet for the new inlet and terminated the wires going to the origional shore power breaker. The new 120v 30amp inlet goes to a new breaker and then only to a battery charger (although check if there are one or two US style outlets somewhere in the boat that the owner may also have wired in).

When plugged into shorepower, the PO used a dedicated 120 charger to keep the batteries charged and used the 230v inverter for all the AC on the boat. It wouldn't surprise me if he retained the old inlet so that it could someday be returned to the original configuration if the boat returned to Europe.

The downside of this arrangement, is that the inverter can't run the air conditioner. If it is a big inverter, it can probably support the hotwater heater - or the genset can be run an hour a day to heat water.

[BrettB]

Boat has no generator(besides a Honda EU2000i) and no inverter.

I'm going to have another professional look at it, since I already have some other work getting done.

Will let you all know what I find out.

[Cadence]

I doubt any of the info. will solve the situation. You need a hand of professional help lest possibly doing damage. We can't chase the wiring.

[BrettB]

So far, I have no found a lot of experience with European powered boats in Kemah, TX. So I am still working through the mystery.

Here is what I have for Shore Power Inlet:



Here is what I have for Shore Power Breaker:

[dfelsent]

You mentioned a shore power adapter cable.
Is that a 220V plug on one and and the mate to your shore power connector on the other end?

Is it possible that --
The previous owner could not find a shore power cable that had a US shore side plug on one end and a european socket to mate with the boat.
He replaced the boat connector with something he could find, and made a custom cable to connect a 220V shore side connector to the new shore power connector on the boat?

If so, it is a kinda weird set of cable/connectors and could cause issues if someone assumed they could use the cable for another boat or assumed they could use a standard cable for your boat.

Pics of the shore power cable/adapter will help

[DeepFrz]

You have a hot wire there. Better get an electrician to look at that wiring in the 2nd pic.

[Hoofsmit]

Hot as in heat ( burnt) not as in positive

[dfelsent]

I totally agree. I think that the PO did a poor job with the wrong connectors.
Not good. Time for a competent electrician.

[Hoofsmit]

You gotta love the Atlantic divide!
I put a mega on a dock supply in Antigua and got 56 htz, no wonder every body complains about their induction motors running slow or burning out !
To the op, that MCB in the pic needs testing as it should have thrown with the look of the red/ brown wire in pic 2
I am no expert so I defer to those that are, just make sure they know the difference between European regularised ( which is what your wire colours show ) and the 2 phase systems used else where

[Three Sisters]

Originally Posted by BrettB

I finally made it out to my new-to-me 2007 Lagoon 380 that I recently purchased and while trying to figure out why the air conditioners didn't really work well, we discovered that despite being a 220V/50Hz boat, including the air conditioners and water heaters, for some reason the boat has a 125V/30A shore power inlet(with blue, brown, green/yellow wires). Boat was then connected to shore via a 220V/50A to 125V/30A adapter.

Not sure what's going on. I'm hoping it is as simple as replacing the inlet with 220V/50A. What all should I look for to know if this is the right call?

Thanks!

From your post I gather that you are attempting to run air conditioning and other equipment rated for 220v/50hz from a 120v/60hz shorepower connection.

This may cause particular havoc with the capacitor(s), if so equipped, contained in the air conditioning units.

[Ding Duck]

While your at it, just check with the Equipment manufacturer it is a 50/60Hz rating. Being in the US, you will be on 60Hz, so equipment runs faster. It should be OK, but while your checking......
Cheers

[boatbod]

Other than poor wiring practices, I don't think there is much to learn from the recent photos. Need to see photos of the equipment nameplates to know if they are capable of running on 120V.

[keepondancin]

Does your survey, if you had one, make any mention about the electrical system?

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by boatbod

Other than poor wiring practices, I don't think there is much to learn from the recent photos. Need to see photos of the equipment nameplates to know if they are capable of running on 120V.

I agree, get the info from the AC units.