Shore power wiring for AC and DC?

I am working on my first boat and attempting to wire up the existing shore power and change the outdated AC/DC panel. I also would like to clean up the mess of wires that years of re-wires and additions has created. I am very handy at a lot of things but electric is still not one of my strongpoints.
The situation that I would ideally like to have will allow there to be AC power, via the shore power, when the boat is at dock to the battery charger, refrigerator, cabin lights, fresh water pump, electric toilet, stereo, and TV.
Right now the shore power is not even connected to anything. The panel that I am looking at is made by Blue Sea. It's a combination AC/DC panel. Is it possible to have the previously mentioned devices run on AC at the dock and DC on the water? Is there anything additional that I need to get? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Shore power wiring for AC and DC?

gregslezak said:

I am very handy at a lot of things but electric is still not one of my strongpoints.

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I recommend you do not attempt to install any 120-VAC wiring on your boat until you become thoroughly familiar with electrical practice in marine applications. Use of 120-VAC wiring on a boat can be dangerous for the boat and for crew, unless proper installation and protection is provided.

I do not believe you can gain the knowledge and skills for installation of 120-VAC from interaction in an on-line discussion forum like this. You need to purchase a well-written book on the topic and study it carefully.

Re: Shore power wiring for AC and DC?

To answer part of your question (the part about operating AC applicances while on the water) the answer is "maybe". If your AC devices are dual voltage or the panel includes an inverter, then those appliances can be operated on the water. HOWEVER, understand that an inverter takes power from a 12 volt battery bank (normally one or more very large deep cycle batteries) and converts that 12 volts DC to 115 volts AC. Also understand that if the device being powered draws 5 amps of power the battery bank would need to supply 50 amps INTO the inverter. Obviously the battery would be sucked flat in a short time. The higher the current draw the quicker it happens. And NO - on the water you cannot use an inverter to power a battery charger to charge the battery. Perpetual motion hasn't been invented yet. I offer that only because it gets asked all the time. As does using a 5 Watt solar panel to charge a trolling motor battery. I also agree that a shore power installation requires above average electrical skills that without, can get you or a passenger killed or seriously injured.

Re: Shore power wiring for AC and DC?

Something tells me your boat is already equiped for shorepower. Do you have a generator to supply the AC panel? Are there any feed (wires) going to the AC breakers? How does your boat utilize the battery charger? What AC breakers do you have? DC breakers? What make and model do you have?

Re: Shore power wiring for AC and DC?

And one more...the marine wiring requirements are different of that for residential wiring. An electrician will be helpul, but make sure he/she is knowledgeable in marine AC wiring.