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Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Discussion of batteries, chargers, wiring, generators, distribution panels, battery switches, etc.
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darylann
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Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby darylann » September 1st, 2021, 4:03 pm

I’m at my boat, with shore power connected and both gauges looking good, but I have no power to anything on the boat… No bilge pumps, no freshwater pump, no navigation or cabin lights, etc. The only thing that works is the fridge, because that’s on a converter. Where do I begin looking and for what? Someone at the marina suggested maybe a faulty transfer relay…? We’ve gone through the manuals and can’t seem to find a clue. The circuit diagrams seem to show two individual transfer relays (two circuits) prior to the main breaker. But these diagrams also include a generator output, and I have no generator. :cry: :confused:
1992 Carver 33 Aft Cabin
Peoria, IL (for now)
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Re: Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby Rocketman » September 1st, 2021, 4:13 pm

All the stuff that is not working is on your DC power side. Check you DC power panel for a main and/or all the breakers.
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Re: Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby km1125 » September 1st, 2021, 4:41 pm

Check your main battery switch too, because (as noted above) all that stuff you mentioned runs on D.C. Also check your battery charger and make sure it's getting power from the A.C. system and that the breakers on the circuits going to your batteries are not tripped.

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Re: Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby CaptDenny » September 1st, 2021, 4:46 pm

All the things that are working are DC things. Running off battery power. If your shore power hookup gauges AC show POWER then it has to be in the breakers on YOUR AC side power panel.
Are you sure all are flipped to ON?
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Re: Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby km1125 » September 1st, 2021, 5:00 pm

CaptDenny wrote:Source of the post All the things that are working are DC things. Running off battery power. If your shore power hookup gauges AC show POWER then it has to be in the breakers on YOUR AC side power panel.
Are you sure all are flipped to ON?


I think you misread his post... " I have no power to anything on the boat… No bilge pumps, no freshwater pump, no navigation or cabin lights, etc"
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Topic author United States of America
darylann
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Re: Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby darylann » September 1st, 2021, 5:12 pm

DC main and breakers are all good, nothing tripped. All the breakers are in ON position (other than things like water heater). I assume the battery charger is getting power from the AC system, as it’s humming and the gauge is at zero. How do I find if the breakers on the circuits going to my batteries are tripped?
1992 Carver 33 Aft Cabin
Peoria, IL (for now)
:captain: My first boat!
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Re: Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby bud37 » September 1st, 2021, 5:51 pm

Heh there....go down and put a volt tester ( DVM ) on your batteries and see what numbers you get....
The above is strictly my opinion always based on years of doing...remember to support local business , it pays back.

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Re: Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby tomschauer » September 1st, 2021, 5:54 pm

you should have two breakers near your battery switch. Salon main and bridge main. Turn them off and back on.
You should also have breakers at your 12v panel, one main and all your individual circuits.
Also a main on the bridge

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tomschauer
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Re: Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby tomschauer » September 1st, 2021, 5:56 pm

you should also have battery charger breakers near the battery switch, if they are off or tripped, your batteries won't charge.
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Re: Connected to shore power, gauges look good, but no power

Postby denders » September 1st, 2021, 7:33 pm

Hmmm - our old boat ( Mid 80's marinier ) had a "Master" 12 volt breaker at the bottom of the panel. It would occasionally blow and all the other breakers would be in position but all 12 volt power would be off. It was an odd looking breaker, it would pop out rather than flip side to side. The only way to tell was it had a little white ring at the base - white showing meant reset the breaker.

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