My boat is wired using two double pole breakers feeding the AC panel, with a lockout: either the genset (50A) or the shore power (30A) can be on, but not both. I am intending to reconfigure it with a 2 pole rotary switch to choose between generator and shore power. That done, is there any reason to have a double pole breaker feeding the panel from the rotary? Or can I just connect the neutral and have a single pole on the line?
The genset has a double pole 50A in its output. The shore power has a double pole 30A near the cord connection (these are in addition to the ones at the AC panel). There is reverse polarity detection on both. What hazard is the second pole at the panel protecting against? Originally, since the breakers were used to switch sources, two poles were necessary for isolation, but isolation would be enforced by the rotary which switches both L and N. My sailboat is wired this way, only one pole for the panel.
Beyond something I haven't thought of, the only problem with this scheme is I must choose between a 30A and a 50A single pole breaker to feed the panel. I would go with a 50A to accommodate the additional power from the genset, as the shore power already is limited to 30A by the double pole near the cord connection.
Does the ABYC prohibit this?
The genset has a double pole 50A in its output. The shore power has a double pole 30A near the cord connection (these are in addition to the ones at the AC panel). There is reverse polarity detection on both. What hazard is the second pole at the panel protecting against? Originally, since the breakers were used to switch sources, two poles were necessary for isolation, but isolation would be enforced by the rotary which switches both L and N. My sailboat is wired this way, only one pole for the panel.
Beyond something I haven't thought of, the only problem with this scheme is I must choose between a 30A and a 50A single pole breaker to feed the panel. I would go with a 50A to accommodate the additional power from the genset, as the shore power already is limited to 30A by the double pole near the cord connection.
Does the ABYC prohibit this?