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This is a Maxum 1999 3300 SCR. We returned from a 3 day trip in which all went well. The one circuit that handles the 120 ecectric pluge is the one that shows "reversed polarization". The other one that ahndles the a/c works fine.

Submitted: 498 days and 11 hours ago.
Category: Boat
Value: $15
Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION
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Posted by Captain Dave 498 days and 6 hours ago.

Answer

Hello. Try unplugging everything that is plugged into that circuit and see if that clears the light. Sometimes an appliance can be mis-wired and cause the reverse polarity light to come on. Are you plugged into your normal dock? Any electrical work done recently?

498 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

Reply to Captain Dave's Post: No electrical work done lately. No new appliances that may be wired wrong. Only the same fans that I have used. Shore power the same as always.

Posted by Captain Dave 497 days and 16 hours ago.

Answer

Strange. It could actually be that the circuit that detects reversed polarity has failed for some reason. What you might want to do is double check - most hardware stores, Home Depot, etc. sell a small circuit tester for less than $10 that you can plug into any outlet and has LEDs to display wiring problems. I would use one of these to verify what your light is saying - I suspect you may find that the circuit tests out fine. BTW, the circuit tester is a handy thing to have anyway - you would be surprised how often home outlets are wired backwards, and that can be dangerous.

497 days and 15 hours ago.

Reply

Reply to Captain Dave's Post: Why would the polarity light suddenly come on. It has been fine for 3+ years while I have had the boat. No electrical work done no switches turned, just suddenly this. I'll try the tester route. What should the tester read if its ok? The circuit does not work. If I plug a fan into it the fan fails to work. Where should I tryn the tester if there is no power in the circuit? Obviously I'm not aa electrical genius. Please advise

Posted by Captain Dave 497 days and 15 hours ago.

Answer

OK, you didn't mention that the circuit didn't work now. That makes it a somewhat different problem. I am assuming you have a single shore power cable for both circuits, and the A/C circuit is OK, so we can eliminate the shore power and cable. Somewhere in your circuit - probably on the outlet closest to your circuit box - you probably have a GFI. If you have not already, check the GFI to make sure it hasn't tripped (there will be a "Reset" button on it, along with a "Test" button). Usually the GFI is on the first outlet so it can protect the entire chain. There may also be a regular circuit breaker for that circuit, but I would expect that on the panel and assume you would have checked it. If not a GFI fault, you will need to use a voltmeter to trace the AC voltage from shore power onward until you find where it disappears.

497 days and 14 hours ago.

Reply

Reply to Captain Dave's Post: I have dual 30 amp shore power lines. One is fine and runs the a/c. It is the other one that seems to be the problem. I do have a gfi plug. in fact it was stuck so I replaced it.

Posted by Captain Dave 497 days and 13 hours ago.

Answer

OK, then you really need to start checking power all the way back to the dockside outlet. There should be a breaker on that, so that could be tripped. Also double-check that your shore power cable is firmly connected at both ends.

Posted by Captain Dave 494 days and 4 hours ago.

Info Request

Hello. Have you made any further progress on this?

493 days and 15 hours ago.

Reply

Unfortunately the actual cause was not one of the items you suggested.   It was a burned out circuit breaker. I had a professional come and fix it. $337.00 later.

Answer

Thanks for the update. Actually, it was quite close to the last reply I had sent:

"you really need to start checking power all the way back to the dockside outlet. There should be a breaker on that, so that could be tripped."

But, this is the kind of problem that is almost impossible to diagnose "long distance". I'm glad to hear it is solved. I don't think I have ever heard of a breaker actually burning out - did he have any idea what caused it?

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Expert: Captain Dave
Pos. Feedback: 98.5 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 7/18/2008

Marine Mechanic

USCG Licensed Captain, 20+ Years Boating, Fishing, Maintenance and Repair Experience

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