New Carver Owner

[Pchauvin05]

Hi All!

We just purchased a 2002 Carver 396. Above all, we wanted a covered slip. The only available covered slip right now has 30amp service. What can we run on 30 amp shore power? More importantly, what can’t we run on only 30 amp?

[bud37]

If your boat has twin 30 amp power then all you do is get a splitter to go from the one on the dock to split to the two on the boat.......after doing that you will have to manage your power usage on board, always remembering there is only 30 amps total available. Each 120 vac appliance has a limit, usually obvious by the breaker ratings.

Easy enough, have done that for years with different boats.....the only real issue will be the hvac.

[Pchauvin05]

We were wanting to always keep the fridge and 1 ac running while docked.

[bud37]

Just try your desired set up where the boat is now and watch the amp gages........you could do the same running the genny. The fridge will use very,very little, and the AC will be mostly the start up inrush.

[buster53]

Ok, when you say you only have 30 amp service, you weren't clear. Do you only have 1 plug or do you have 2 plugs.
If you have 2, you can run a lot, maybe not everything, but quite a bit.
If you only have 1 plug, it's going to be difficult and you will have to learn power management. If yo want to run A, you need to turn of B, maybe even C.
Let us know if you have 1 or 2 power outlets. If 1, I can give you a trick to use that I did on our 3807 which wasn't much smaller than your 396.

[Pchauvin05]

Thanks for all the info!

Sorry, wasn’t clear. Yes it is (2) 30 amp plugs.

[buster53]

Assuming your AC units are on one plug. And everything else (house) is on the other plug. You are in good shape.
I'm guessing you have 3 AC units. You certainly can run 2. Maybe 3. Try. Turn on the 2 biggest first and save the smallest for last as it will have the smallest start up surge.
As far as the house is concerned, you will quickly learn how to manage that. If you are cooking dinner on the stove top and someone wants to run a hair dryer, flip off the water heater. the water heater was the first thing we would turn off if we knew we were going to go over the 30 amp limit.

[denpooch]

Two 30amp plugs should do it all.
When traveling at transient, I get 2 - 30 amps and am able to run both a/c units and everything else. (I have 2 compressors, not 3)
At home port, I have one 30amp, use a splitter and as suggested by other folks, and I manage the load. I keep an eye on the gauges and in general I can only run 1 a/c unit without going below 100 volts.
When utilizing the Genset (when the sum-o-bitch is working!), I can run both compressors without a hitch.
Just watch the gauges.