50 amp female to a 30 amp male

[Serendipity]

So I finally got my 98 405 in my slip and it has 30 amp outlets. Marina has given me permission to install 50 amp and they will reinburse me.

In the meantime, can I convert the 50 amp using a 50 amp female down to a 30 amp male converter and it work? So I dont have to run my generator all the time.

I have 2 16k btu a/c units currently and I plan on adding a 3 16k btu unit next summer.

Electrical is not my strong point, so if I run separate convertors from the 2 connectors on my boat will it power everything from the 30amp connections? I have two separate connections on my shore power pedestal I can use.

I havnt even started adding my large screen tvs, so i appreciate any thoughts or suggestions ya have

[Midnightsun]

I am assuming you have a 250v 50a system. That being the case, no issue whatsoever however the correct adapter is rather spendy but required quite often at other marinas so might as well bite the bullet and get one. My home port connection is dual 30a at the dock pedestal to 50A inlet at the boat. Just do a search for "reverse Y adapter".

If you do not know what you have, post a picture of the plug end of your 50A cord. The side that plugs into the pedestal showing the prongs in the picture.

[buster53]

Midnightsun is spot on. I'm guessing you do have 250v on your boat. Had your boat been 8-10 years older, there would be a good chance it was 125v-50 amp as Carver use to offer that service. I used to have a 1988, 3807 and it came from the factory with 125v-50 amp and I've never seen a marina offer that configuration. The previous owner had new cords made with 50 amp female and 30 amp male ends. We could plug in anywhere.

[buster53]

I might add that with a reverse Y, connected to 2-30 amp plugs, you can manage just fine. Obviously, you can't run everything at once, but with decent electrical management, you'll be good to go.

You might want to rethink that 3rd AC unit. 48000 BTU's for that boat will be overkill. Nothing wrong with having a 3rd unit, but drop back to a 6k or 9k unit

[Serendipity]

Okay here are the pics of the connectors.

I had hoped to duct a couple a/c vents up into the helm and the area under the hard top from the 3rd unit. Boat is parked under a covered slip and I am going to back it up to listen to bands at a restaurant. So you are correct, it may be overkill with another 16k.

I do agree, I think it is a 250/125 system but here are the pics.

[buster53]

the male plugs should say what they are. Kind of hard to tell from the picture, but I'm sure there are some electrical gurus here that can easily tell what they are.

I can clearly see the 50a, but I can only see 125v. Does it also say 250 as well, but just hidden by the plug blade?

BTW, a large screen LED TV, uses very little power. AC, cooking and water heating is your big power draws. We used to turn off the water heater whenever we were cooking or anytime someone wanted to use a hair dryer. It's all about electrical management.

[Midnightsun]

By looking at the prongs you unfortunately have a 125v/50a AC system. (125/250 has dual bent prongs) Nothing wrong with that however it is rather uncommon and not used in any newer installations any more. That being said I am not familiar enough with that system to tell you what is required to adapt. Personally I would probably change the boat socket to a more common and comparable 125/250 type plug or even better, a smart plug.

As for a 3rd AC. I also think that would be overkill. I have a 9 an 11 and a 14 for a total of 34,000 btu. Apart from electrical draw there are other things to consider such as the increased water flow demand to address if you add to the existing system. Just food for thought.

[buster53]

Ok, now that we know you have 125v-50 amp service on your boat, get what we had on our old 3807. Have power cords made with 125-50 female ends to connect to your boat and 125-30 amp to plug into shore power. That way, you can connect to your current shore power and shore power at just about any marina you go to. Finding marinas with 125-50 service...ain't going to happen.
The only other option is to replace your current boat side plugs with 30 amp.

We had our 3807 for 7 years. Up thru year 5, we just used the special cords we had. Year 6, we replaced the boat side plugs. Halfway thru the job, past the point of no return, we decided we wished we had left well enough alone.
Have new cords made. It is the simplest option.

[Midnightsun]

You say the marina will let you install 50A service however I seriously doubt they want an outdated 125v 50a service. As mentioned this is almost impossible to find and discontinued long ago. They will like 125/250 50a service but you cannot connect to this. If they do let you install a 125v 50a receptacle you will still not be able to connect at other marinas without an adapter.

[Serendipity]

This was the power cord that came with the boat from the last marina. Let me send pics because I unplugged this from a y connector and not the boat side or boat side connections.
I am still wondering and hopeful the boat is different. So let me take some pics in the next couple days