I purchased a rectifier that will provide 24V DC to our Refrig unit when at
dock ( It has an internal switch that disconnects the battery connection
automatically when on A/C power)

This unit came with a two blade plug on the A/C inlet. In other words, no
ground connection. The two blade plug has, as usual, one blade larger than
the other.

I could install a new outlet and plug the unit in, or I could connect it
directly to the A/C panel.

Question: How do I determine which wire (plug blade) goes where when
connecting into the shore power system? Or does it matter?

GBM

It really shouldn't matter - the wires will essentially go straight to a
transformer in the rectifier box, perhaps through a fuse and/or a switch.
The secondary side of the transformer will have some diodes to "rectify" the
AC into DC. Part of their function ensures that the output polarity is
correct. There will usually be some capacitors there to smooth out the
output voltage, and maybe a regulator, if your fridge needs a narrow voltage
range (like a computer does...).

But, if you want to be correct, the long blade goes to the "neutral" side of
the mains, and the short blade goes to the "hot" side, per NEMA guidelines.

It would be very advisable to install anything directly connected to the AC
panel on a protected circuit, meaning on the downside of an existing or new
breaker. Don't just wire to the main distribution busses - if you were to
get a short in the rectifier unit, or in the cable, you would likely have no
overcurrent protection and you'd probably get a fire.

Good luck.
Dennis

"GBM" wrote in message
...
I purchased a rectifier that will provide 24V DC to our Refrig unit when at
dock ( It has an internal switch that disconnects the battery connection
automatically when on A/C power)

This unit came with a two blade plug on the A/C inlet. In other words, no
ground connection. The two blade plug has, as usual, one blade larger
than
the other.

I could install a new outlet and plug the unit in, or I could connect it
directly to the A/C panel.

Question: How do I determine which wire (plug blade) goes where when
connecting into the shore power system? Or does it matter?

GBM

Thanks Dennis - I do plan on installing a new breaker on my A/C panel. I may
just cut the plug off and splice onto a new cable. I will try to ensure
short blade goes to Hot side.

GBM

"Dennis Lee" wrote in message
...
It really shouldn't matter - the wires will essentially go straight to a
transformer in the rectifier box, perhaps through a fuse and/or a switch.
The secondary side of the transformer will have some diodes to "rectify"
the
AC into DC. Part of their function ensures that the output polarity is
correct. There will usually be some capacitors there to smooth out the
output voltage, and maybe a regulator, if your fridge needs a narrow
voltage
range (like a computer does...).

But, if you want to be correct, the long blade goes to the "neutral" side
of
the mains, and the short blade goes to the "hot" side, per NEMA
guidelines.

It would be very advisable to install anything directly connected to the
AC
panel on a protected circuit, meaning on the downside of an existing or
new
breaker. Don't just wire to the main distribution busses - if you were to
get a short in the rectifier unit, or in the cable, you would likely have
no
overcurrent protection and you'd probably get a fire.

Good luck.
Dennis

"GBM" wrote in message
...
I purchased a rectifier that will provide 24V DC to our Refrig unit when
at
dock ( It has an internal switch that disconnects the battery connection
automatically when on A/C power)

This unit came with a two blade plug on the A/C inlet. In other words,
no
ground connection. The two blade plug has, as usual, one blade larger
than
the other.

I could install a new outlet and plug the unit in, or I could connect it
directly to the A/C panel.

Question: How do I determine which wire (plug blade) goes where when
connecting into the shore power system? Or does it matter?

GBM

"GBM" wrote in news:MK8eg.39785$Hk1.12558
@read1.cgocable.net:

I may
just cut the plug off and splice onto a new cable.

Why not get the matching socket for the plug and mount it near the fridge,
making it possible to easily extract the fridge for repair, replacement or
just cleaning behind it, someday.

Any kind of inline splicing usually causes problems down the road from
coming loose to corrosion and certainly makes removing the fridge a pain in
the.....well, you get the idea. Install the outlet for the plug, ok?

Thanks!

The Reefer Guys.

I will install an outlet, but this won't help me remove or clean behind the
"fridge"! The "fridge" is a Waeco evaporator/condenser unit that is built
into the boats icebox

The item I am installing, is a small Mobitronics rectifier that will provide
24V power to the "fridge" when at dock . It automatically switches out the
12v battery DC when activated. Waeco recommend this so as to avoid any
voltage spikes that the on-board charger may cause.

Probably not essential with our Truepower charger, but the eBay price was
right and it provides a neat way of monitoring the "fridge" power usage
(Using a Kill A Watt). This was suggested by someone earlier when I asked
about ways of checking power usage with different amounts of additional
(temporary) icebox insulation.

GBM

"Larry" wrote

Why not get the matching socket for the plug and mount it near the fridge,
making it possible to easily extract the fridge for repair, replacement or
just cleaning behind it, someday.

Any kind of inline splicing usually causes problems down the road from
coming loose to corrosion and certainly makes removing the fridge a pain
in
the.....well, you get the idea. Install the outlet for the plug, ok?

Thanks!

The Reefer Guys.

"GBM" wrote in news:u6Ceg.76030$fd.34300
@read2.cgocable.net:

Waeco recommend this so as to avoid any
voltage spikes that the on-board charger may cause.



Hmm...Interesting. The only way I know of it making a "voltage spike" is
if it is connected to a battery with an open cell. Batteries absorb the
spikes, normally. It's how they charge...(c;