I've recently had an interesting, perplexing, and disturbing situation come
up. I connect my boat in the usual way to the dock box supplied A/C. It can
easily sit for a week (without me visiting) or more during the colder months
here, especially during the holiday season between late November and early
January.

I believe it's a 20 am circuit. In any case, I have very modest A/C
requirements when I'm not on the boat, namely, maintaing the two bilge pumps
and keeping the two batteries (starting and house) topped up. I have a
newish 30 amp rated cord, and the charger is very new, as well as the
batteries. Haven't had any problems aboard, as far as circuit tripping or
even a fuse popping. I tested both bilge pumps, and they work fine, dumping
the small amount of water without a problem.

In the last month, I've arrived at the dock to find that the dock box switch
in the off position three times. The first time I chalked it up to me
forgetting to switch it on when I arrived back at the slip. The second time
to my neighbor perhaps switching it off by mistake. However, the third time
I did some checking. My neighbor didn't do it (hasn't been to his boat in
over a month), the marina hasn't been working on the docks (check with the
maintenance guy), and I haven't been there to forget (unless I forgot going,
which is unlikely LOL).

When I spoke with the maintenance guy on the phone, he went down to take a
look, then tried to claim that it was an old cord (it's less than two years
old, shows practically no weather wear, and the terminals look fine - no
charring/pitting - on either end). The boat connection is secure with a ring
lock, so none of that flies. I'm fairly certain that no one else who has a
boat has even been around this last month, except for possibly the rich guy
on the end tie who rarely leaves the dock.

So, I'm left with a couple of possibilities... either someone has been
deliberately turning off the A/C (not necessarily maliciously) or something
in the box is tripping the switch. Am I missing something? Could it be
something else?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com