On Dec 9, 7:40 pm, Brian Whatcott wrote:
On Sun, 9 Dec 2007 22:29:15 -0500, "Ernest Scribbler"

wrote:
"Brian Whatcott" wrote
the famous "American Neutral to Ground" connection.
That's the way American consumers are wired, after all!

Say what?

What is it that you don't understand? See code of practice for first
drop at domestic distribution transformer.....

Brian W


I think this is the problem.

Theoretically, both "sides" of the AC should be "floating" - that is,
both Line (black) and Neutral (white) should only be connected to the
load, not to ground, or case, or anything. The third wire is Ground
(green) and should be connected to ground/chassis/frame/etc.

In the "two-wire" system (with the polarized plug), the Neutral is
also ground. So... a lot of systems connect neutral to ground.
Everything goes OK until some Bright Individual says both AC lines are
floating so it doesn't matter which one is which.... so you end up
with Line going to Neutral and vice versa. This works OK until someone
grounds the Neutral, and POOF.

I suspect either your boat, your marina, or your cords have line and
neutral reversed, and then grounded. You or a licensed Electrician
needs to check what wire goes to which connection on all the plugs and
connectors.

BTW: If you're a Vancouver boater, check out the BC Boatnet forum!

druid - "Coatue" Crown 28
http://www.bcboatnet.org