Neutral wire not being used

[Fair Well]

Why is the neutral not used on the 240 volt side of the shore power? Mine are cut. Where am I getting my neutral when connected to shore power? I know the 220/240 volt items don't need a neutral like AC units, water heater etc. The ground wire is connected to the shore power plug body but this not connected to the neutral. I know on some older homes they have the ground and neutral tie together in the panel but on a boat I would think this would be a big NO NO. Has anyone else run into this? This is on the starboard side. I have not taken the port side apart yet. Rebuilding one side at a time so we have power in the boat during the retrofit. Sorry about pic's but you get the idea

 

[Avenger]

Your isolation transformer provides the neutral onboard.

BTW all homes are supposed to have the neutral and ground bonded at the panel. Not just the old ones.

 

[BOATER BOB]

That's the way it was for homes for the last 100 years but about 4 or 5 years ago code in fl started separating the neutral and ground now you install a ground bar and two ground rods a min of 8' apart all ground wires go to ground bar and neutral to neutral bar and in theory the neutral goes all the way back to power plant.
Bob

 

[Boatsb]

That's the way it was for homes for the last 100 years but about 4 or 5 years ago code in fl started separating the neutral and ground now you install a ground bar and two ground rods a min of 8' apart all ground wires go to ground bar and neutral to neutral bar and in theory the neutral goes all the way back to power plant.
Bob

And if neutrl drops the lightning supressor cuts over the 2 hot leads and blows up all your electronics.

My utility company paid over $15K to fix it too.

 

[Avenger]

We just had a 200A service put in at my house. New and inspected install all the way to the transformer. In the panel, neutral has it's own bus that's connected to the utility and safety ground has it's own bus connected to a ground rod and the plumbing ground. They're still connected by a bonding strap. Granted, this is NY, but our code still calls for bonding at the power source.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't do it that way, but bonding does seem to confuse electricians into thinking that the ground and neutral are the same. Maybe that's the issue.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Why is the neutral not used on the 240 volt side of the shore power? Mine are cut. Where am I getting my neutral when connected to shore power? I know the 220/240 volt items don't need a neutral like AC units, water heater etc. The ground wire is connected to the shore power plug body but this not connected to the neutral. I know on some older homes they have the ground and neutral tie together in the panel but on a boat I would think this would be a big NO NO. Has anyone else run into this? This is on the starboard side. I have not taken the port side apart yet. Rebuilding one side at a time so we have power in the boat during the retrofit. Sorry about pic's but you get the idea

This is correct. Your isolation transformers only need the two hot leads. That ground then only goes to the case of the transformer.

This is how the isolation transformer isolates your boat from stray shore current. Don't change any of it as you replace/upgrade plugs etc.

 

[Fair Well]

This is correct. Your isolation transformers only need the two hot leads. That ground then only goes to the case of the transformer.

This is how the isolation transformer isolates your boat from stray shore current. Don't change any of it as you replace/upgrade plugs etc.

Ok thanks. I thought maybe the PO did something. I know one thing next time I put new ends on the shore power cords I just might cut the neutral and leave it out. Sure would make it easier.

 

[Bob H.]

You might also want to consider doing some labelling here, just in case someone other than yourself works on your boats electrical system and or shore power cords.

 

[dottieshusband]

Last wall oven I put in....had 4 wires, 2 hot, neutral and ground.. We had to update the circuit at that time...about 15 years ago. Just put a new wall oven in before Thanksgiving, the ground and neutral came bonded together, and I had to separate them! Make up your mind! My shore power cords are all 3 wire, so the bonding or disconnected ground or neutral must happen past the shore power input. Your pictures must be how it works on my boat as well.

 

[Cricket]

Think it's a good idea to always wire the shore cords correctly with all 4 wires in case they get borrowed etc.

 

[Fair Well]

You might also want to consider doing some labelling here, just in case someone other than yourself works on your boats electrical system and or shore power cords.

I did label it not only for someone else but for me. With age comes wisdom but not memory.

 

[krush]

....and neutral to neutral bar and in theory the neutral goes all the way back to power plant.
Bob

Actually, the neutral only goes back to the closest transformer (be it on a pole, or sitting in the front yard). Look at the big transmission lines and you will only see 3 wires. BUT, most single phase distribution systems will have the hot wire (on insulator) and a ground (gives reference) lower than it. It's more complicated than that, but one has to get into power system engineer worlds to get all that.