AC Safety Tests You can Do Yourself

The National Electrical Code is changing.  Don't get caught in the dark.  The following is from Jim Healy's blog, "Cruising Aboard Monk36 Trawler Sanctuary".  His write-up is an excellent step-by-step approach to make sure your tug's electrical system is ready.  Included below is only the article's introduction.  The rest of the article can be found here.

This article describes a series of test measurements intended to be performed safely by boat owners/operators. Little or no prior knowledge or skills with electricity, electric circuits or the regulatory codes, components, materials, workmanship and techniques involved in installing and servicing AC electrical systems is needed. There is never a need to contact a “live” electrical circuit. The tests assess the safety status of a boat’s AC electrical system. These tests can a) expose non-compliance and/or b) confirm compliance with a key subset of safety elements of the ABYC E11 electrical standard. Compliance of the boat to ABYC electrical standards is becoming more and more important. As shore-side facilities upgrade to the requirements of newer versions of the National Electric Code (NEC), boats that do not comply risk being left without AC electric power. For background information on that concern, see my article, “Emerging AC Electrical Concern".   Continue reading...