GFCI - Ground Fault Breaker

[Rex Delay]

I have been ordered by my insurance company to install GFCI in galley and head. Just tried in the galley and failed. There is just not enough room in the electrical box for the outlet and wires. Wires are supposed to be attached to captive rings on the plug but this cannot work due to space limitations. The ring connectors stick out the side and break off when trying to bend flat to go in the box. One option is to solder the ends of the multi strand wire and install as per house wiring. Is this acceptable practice?

Another option would to put a master Ground Fault breaker on the 110 volt system but how and where?

[Stu Jackson]

If you can interrupt the wiring somewhere between the panel AC breaker and the galley outlet, find another place to install an outlet (receptacle) in that wiring. Then that GFCI will protect everything downstream from it.

[Rex Delay]

Brilliant, thank you.

[Stu Jackson]

You're very welcome. Enjoy. My f-i-l lives in Cowichan Bay and we get up your way by ferry & car often. Lovely place.

[Rex Delay]

Is it acceptable to solder the ends of the multi strand wire rather than use captive rings? It seems that the rings are the main problem I am having.

[OS2Dude]

You can also replace your 110 breaker with a GFCI breaker and have the same benefits with out having to install a new GFCI outlet.

I used rings on my GFCI outlet's side screws. You have to back them out which they may not want to be, but it works fine assuming you have the length of wire to be able to work on it. I put mine on the side, not sicking straight back because of the room issue. I eventually want to go to a GFCI breaker to cover the whole boat.

[Scott Berg]

Captive spades meet all codes and work much more easily...


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[nitpik]

ABYC since 2010 recommends ELCI at main AC panel. This one is a Carling, but other manufacturers also have them (BlueSea)

[mramoo]

They make outlet box extenders that attach to the front of the box, they are about 1/2 thick. most hardware stores carry them.

[Rex Delay]

Bought a box extender, it stopped the galley cabinet from opening. Wired with captive spade connectors but they stuck out just enough to stop the unit going in the box. In trying to lay them more flush, several broke. Just soldered all the wire ends and when the weather improves will complete. Thank you all.

[Cadence]

I think just for shits and giggles, you may consider putting all your AC outlets on GFIs. Finding a path to ground aboard " ain't that hard ". If you have room put in a small breaker panel and run all your AC through it. It would cost peanuts. JMHO

[SailorSpencer]

Originally Posted by nitpik

ABYC since 2010 recommends ELCI at main AC panel. This one is a Carling, but other manufacturers also have them (BlueSea)

ELCI Electronic Circuit Interruptor breakers are installed at the point where shorepower enters the boat typically before it reaches the main panel and within 5 ft of shorepower plug. By design they trip at 30mA of current. More to protect against stray current entering the water around the boat.

GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor protects the end user at the outlets. By design they trip at 5mA of current. Protects the end user of whatever device is plugged into an outlet.

It only takes 5mA of current to kill a person so the ELCI doesn't protect you like a GFCI does. So I have installed both on my boat.

Use the captive spade connector with a solid crimp, though soldering the multi strand wire will fulfill ABYC, it is not the best connection. Find another spot on the boat as recommended above and install an accessible GFCI outlet and then run wire from that to your other outlet, or go to a master GFCI breaker for your panel. And install an ELCI for your incoming shorepower if you do not have an Isolation Transformer.

[Rex Delay]

This is all retrofits in a 1985 boat. Not going to move the outlets, not going to rebuild the cabinets. Just trying to meet the demands of the insurance company. I argued that codes are not retroactive, lost the argument. Agree with all the comments and suggestions but not all practical without serious money and upgrades. Thank you.

[hamburking]

You can replace the AC breaker in your breaker box with a GFI breaker. Costs a bit more, but fits in the same space. Makes the whole circuit GF tolerant. I think they are blue around here.

On my 1974 Pearson, and several other previous boats, I removed ALL the AC wiring entirely. I don't need a mocrowave oven or a toaster on my boat.

[Rex Delay]

Have not found one that would fit without re-doing the entire AC panel.