Response to Tuggers|Summer 2015 article "Check Your Tug's AC"

Trev Croteau, Hjortie 37VT33

The article "Check Your Tug's AC"   [Tuggers Summer Issue No. 64 - ed.] was well done and timely.  To the right is a snapshot of one of Hjortie's 37VT33 AC Main 30A boxes.  The hazard is quite apparent.  It's was a very hot, humid Friday night.  I had been running my AC.  I woke up at 2am as the tug state room was quite warm.  I quickly noted the AC was off.  After careful inspection all outwardly signs of issues didn't reveal an issue.  But I shut everything down.  Knowing that it's best to work these challenges in day light.  With the help of Allen Hansen,  "go to" mechanic, a detailed inspection was done.  We took a meter to the entire circuit.  Inside the Tug and all the way to the on shore power outlets.  Luckily Allen decided to pull the panel of the box.  Wow!  The culprit, a loose neutral wire [red arrow points to it in the photo].  We suspect this was a situation existing for some time.

It's a reminder that issues can be concealed.  Perhaps my maintenance routine needs to include a neutral wire inspection?




Thanks to Ted Shawn, Tug E Bear 37VT62 for the article.