Such a thing as an auto resetting AC breaker?

[cardude01]

I’m currently docked at the New Orleans municipal marina, and I’ve had lots of problems with the power here. I’ve asked the liveaboards here and they all have issues.

The main breaker on my AC panel on the boat tripps once every two weeks or so. All I have running are two fans and a large home size dehumidifier. My liveaboard dock neighbor is nice enough to come flip the breaker back on for me when I get an alert the power is off, but it’s getting old. His power also goes off quite often (breaker trips) and he doesn’t have much of a load on his little sail boat either he said. He in convinced it’s a problem with the dock power and has complained, but nothing ever happens.

Is there such a thing as a auto resetting breaker?

I have ohm tested the both of my cords as recommended by some here on the TF and they are good.
Anything else I could test?

The dehumidifier pulls less than 8 amps and I have two 30 amp cords plugged into a brand new 50 amp splitter.

 

[SteveK]

I have not heard of a resetting breaker. Hope to learn something new.

I am interested to hear what would from the shore pedestal trip your onboard main breaker. Is your main breaker a GFI?

Also wondering why two 30 amp cords into 50 amp splitter when hardly using more than 15 amps.

 

[Gdavid]

I don't think such a breaker exists, sounds like poor electrical service at the dock, specifically the voltage is dropping with load, drives up current (amps) requirements and trips the breakers to multiple boats. Since you said this is happening to dock neighbors including a low draw neighbor, there isn't much you can do but approach the marina management.

 

[Scottwb96]

*edit*
Just re-read your post, the breaker IS on your boat... OOPS!!!

same as below about rules (ABYC regarding this)... But you could do an on/off switch, prior to the auto breaker so you could disco power as needed. then add the breaker...

BUT!!!
I would check internal wiring. You may also have an issue with the dehumidifier. Could be bad wiring in/at the panel. Corrosion at the boat side internal plug wiring, etc...


I assume you're referring to the dockside shore power breaker, yeah? Pretty sure there's going to be a ton of rules why this isn't allowed! Safety/fire/shock (always on, since it won't have a switch)...

But I think you're looking for something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Ci...lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A4OJZQU3BU08X

I would see if any other breakers in your area are also popping. If it's just you and your neighbor, I would ask the marina about switching out the breakers at your pedestal for new ones. Check the wiring while they are in there.

If your marina doesn't want to help, and you know where the main breaker is for your pedestal, you could do it yourself, if you know how. lol, marina will prob NOT like this option...

 

[cardude01]

It’s the breaker on my boat panel that’s tripping.

I have that cord setup so I can run both ACs if needed.

 

[Comodave]

Back when Smart Plugs came out they incorporated an auto reset breaker but had to get rid of it due to ABYC rules if I remember correctly. It could be a danger to someone working on the electrical. They check power and have no power so they rip into the electrical and then the breaker resets and fries them. I think you just have to reset it manually.

 

[Gdavid]

I misread and thought it was the pedestal breaker, I would carefully inspect all of your inbound wiring, including the shore power cables, 30 amp connections and circuitry to the panel. I would start at the 30 amp connections, they don't provide much contact surface, the smart plugs are a good upgrade to address this.

 

[psneeld]

Was that breaker subject to any weather from the Hurricane Dorian incident?

Either way, might just be a bad breaker...could just swap it for a new one.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. c. Can't add anything to the already presented suggestions but a question...

Wouldn't a self-resetting breaker be dangerous? If some fault occurred to trip a breaker, in the first place, and it automatically reset (after some period of time) the fault would potentially still be there causing multiple re-sets. IF the breaker eventually failed due to constant recycling you might have more serious problems to contend with.

 

[jgwinks]

They make 12 volt self resetters, but not 120 volt that I know of. Cars have the 12v ones on things like the windshield wipers, so when they're frozen to the glass you don't have to change a fuse. By the time you get the ice scraped off, the breaker has reset. Winter is coming.

 

[cardude01]

Such a thing as an an auto resetting AC breaker?

Was that breaker subject to any weather from the Hurricane Dorian incident?

Either way, might just be a bad breaker...could just swap it for a new one.

Well duh, I didn’t think about that. Seems possible the breaker is weak maybe?

I will replace it!

Thanks.

 

[Pocoron]

...sounds like poor electrical service at the dock, specifically the voltage is dropping with load, drives up current (amps) requirements and trips the breakers to multiple boats.

+1 - Gdavid nails a likely culprit for your dilemna, particularly if you have motor loads. AC Motors like to run at a specific speed. If voltage drops, they will draw more current to maintain the speed they like to be at.

The circuit breakers found on most boats are dead simple devices which trip on overcurrent/overload or short circuit situations.

Being that you have a number of motor loads running and that your fellow dockmates have similar issues, I suspect that the marina has voltage drop issues and is the root of your problem.

The issue with an auto-reset is that it doesn't resolve the problem which caused the breaker to trip in the first place. This is a safety concern.

 

[cardude01]

Such a thing as an an auto resetting AC breaker?

+1 - Gdavid nails a likely culprit for your dilemna, particularly if you have motor loads. AC Motors like to run at a specific speed. If voltage drops, they will draw more current to maintain the speed they like to be at.

The circuit breakers found on most boats are dead simple devices which trip on overcurrent/overload or short circuit situations.

Being that you have a number of motor loads running and that your fellow dockmates have similar issues, I suspect that the marina has voltage drop issues and is the root of your problem.

The issue with an auto-reset is that it doesn't resolve the problem which caused the breaker to trip in the first place. This is a safety concern.

Other dockmates are definitely having the same problems. So it’s probably not a weak breaker issue inside my boat?

I have two AC fans blowing and that dehumidifier. I also have two DC fans I could use instead of the AC ones I suppose (to keep air moving inside to try to keep mold away),but didn’t know if I should leave them running 24/7.

The marina has admitted to having problems but they don’t seem to want to fix it.

 

[twistedtree]

And chance you can measure, and ideally monitor and record the voltage at your panel? It would be interesting if it’s low or drooping when the breaker trips.

I’d also start by replacing the breaker. They do go bad from time to time.

If the problem is shore power, I don’t think you will get anywhere with repairs unless you can demonstrate what it’s doing wrong. Or maybe all the tenants can ask for a cost reduction until the power is fixed? Just trying to think of ways to create pressure on them to pursue the issue.

 

[Bacchus]

How new / old are the breakers on your and others boats?
Breakers aren't all that expensive to see if a new one helps.
Root cause can be V drop by marina but it manifests itself at a place other than the pedestal.
If you have an inverter you could try running some of those loads in it. Battys should smooth out any dips. / spikes

 

[cardude01]

How new / old are the breakers on your and others boats?
Breakers aren't all that expensive to see if a new one helps.
Root cause can be V drop by marina but it manifests itself at a place other than the pedestal.
If you have an inverter you could try running some of those loads in it. Battys should smooth out any dips. / spikes

Breakers are original to the boat. 2007.

I have some DC fans I could run to eliminate some AC motor loads. Think it would be ok to run a DC fan 24/7?

 

[Choices]

Voltage and current move inversely. On a given induction load, (motor), the current will go up as voltage goes down.

I bet low voltage is the issue, and knowing New Orleans, your lucky if that is it.

Drop a fan and it should be fine. If breaker is for just one circuit, move a fan to another one.

Since it seems cyclic that would make sense.

 

[cardude01]

And chance you can measure, and ideally monitor and record the voltage at your panel? It would be interesting if it’s low or drooping when the breaker trips.

I’d also start by replacing the breaker. They do go bad from time to time.

If the problem is shore power, I don’t think you will get anywhere with repairs unless you can demonstrate what it’s doing wrong. Or maybe all the tenants can ask for a cost reduction until the power is fixed? Just trying to think of ways to create pressure on them to pursue the issue.

Current voltage. Not sure how I could monitor that when away from the boat however.

 

[diver dave]

Self reseting breakers for haz voltages would fail even basic safety specs.
In my home, i have panel breakers that are monitored, via wi-fi, with email/text alerts, including measured current drain. So that might be a option for you. At least for debug.
Is this a ELCI or GFCI breaker that is tripping?

 

[psneeld]

Well duh, I didn’t think about that. Seems possible the breaker is weak maybe?

I will replace it!

Thanks.

It why TF pays me the BIG bucks......

 

[cardude01]

Self reseting breakers for haz voltages would fail even basic safety specs.
In my home, i have panel breakers that are monitored, via wi-fi, with email/text alerts, including measured current drain. So that might be a option for you. At least for debug.
Is this a ELCI or GFCI breaker that is tripping?

This is the breaker

 

[diver dave]

Odd to have a 3 pole breaker for 120v systems. [emoji848]

These mechanical breakers are pretty cheap. I third the vote to replace.

 

[ScottC]

Greetings,
Mr. c. Can't add anything to the already presented suggestions but a question...

Wouldn't a self-resetting breaker be dangerous? If some fault occurred to trip a breaker, in the first place, and it automatically reset (after some period of time) the fault would potentially still be there causing multiple re-sets. IF the breaker eventually failed due to constant recycling you might have more serious problems to contend with.

I agree. If such a breaker existed, I would certainly not want it on my boat!

 

[Lepke]

Probably low voltage. The marine could be on the end of a long line or the wiring of the docks is too small. As the voltage goes down, items draw more amps, watts stay the same.

Amps x volts = watts. Watts/volts = amps.


If so you could add a constant voltage transformer. Usually used ones on ebay.
Each time a breaker trips, it gets a little weaker.

 

[cardude01]

Probably low voltage. The marine could be on the end of a long line or the wiring of the docks is too small. As the voltage goes down, items draw more amps, watts stay the same.

Amps x volts = watts. Watts/volts = amps.


If so you could add a constant voltage transformer. Usually used ones on ebay.
Each time a breaker trips, it gets a little weaker.

Thanks. This thing has tripped many many times before so I guess it’s pretty weak by now.

 

[Bacchus]

If you want to try to convince the marina you will need data as a start.
Here is a $50 recording multimeter that might do the trick. Maybe dock neighbors would chip in to get hood data?

https://www.amazon.com/Multimeters-...mzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc

 

[Circumnavigator]

Hmm. I doubt very much that a good 50A breaker is popping because of low voltage feeding an 8A dehumidifier and two fans. While the comments above are entirely correct that AC motors will draw more current at lower voltage, it wouldn't go up by factor 5.


I would first replace the breaker, they do go bad from time to time.
Second, I would unplug the dehumidifier and see if that solved the problem, then the fans.
Are you sure there are no other loads on the boat -- battery charger?


Jim

 

[Comodave]

It is a 30 amp main breaker that is tripping I believe. He said he has a 50 amp to 2 30 amp splitter on the dock.

 

[cardude01]

Hmm. I doubt very much that a good 50A breaker is popping because of low voltage feeding an 8A dehumidifier and two fans. While the comments above are entirely correct that AC motors will draw more current at lower voltage, it wouldn't go up by factor 5.


I would first replace the breaker, they do go bad from time to time.
Second, I would unplug the dehumidifier and see if that solved the problem, then the fans.
Are you sure there are no other loads on the boat -- battery charger?


Jim

Oh yes. Forgot about the battery charger.

 

[psneeld]

Oh yes. Forgot about the battery charger.

Still shouldn't be popping a good breaker.

Unless you have some kind of intermittent short in something... but you would probably smell that at some point.