110ac panel 2 issue

[Mike28]

Hi Everyone,

Last year I bought a 1989 32 Montego.
Everything worked great. We put the boat back in the water about 3 weeks ago and everything seemed to be ok... until I tried to turn the heat on.

Before flipping the A/C/heat breaker "on" I had the main breaket on panel 2 "on" and the volt gauge was reading 110 volts. As soon as I flipped the A/C/heat breaker panel 2 went dead and I can't get it back. I run a Y splitter to the shore power inlets at the boat since my dock only has one 30 amp plug, which has not been a problem before. I tried switching the Y splitter to see if the problem moved to panel 1. The problem was still panel 2 is dead. I removed the panel and checked voltage with a meter and I have no power to panel 2.

The wiring diagram I have from Carver shows "dual shore transfer relays". My question is... wouldn't I only have those if I had a generator? I do not have a generator.

Does anyone know if there are hidden breakers somewhere? I feel like I've looked in every spot but there must be something I'm missing.

[Midnightsun]

You're going to have to dig deeper with a volt meter to see if you are getting power to then main panel 2 breaker. If so a defective, breaker may be the cause. Check the wires behind the inlet as they may be getting bad due to arcking/poor connections over time. Things like this do happen after all this time, the boat is 32 years old now.

A good reminder to all with an older boat, check the wires at the inlet connection as these do go bad. Will not hurt the least to remove, cut away a couple inches and reinstall on a fresh lead. Most boat fires originate at this connection.

Welcome to the forum by they way.

[Mike28]

I checked the back of panel 2 for 110 volts, there is no power at the panel. I pulled the inlet out and checked that connections also. Everything looks great at the inlet and I have 110 coming out of the inlet. Are there any more connection points or splices in the boat somewhere?

[Midnightsun]

Not sure on your boat, maybe some solenoids for automatic transfer? Will let someone else more familiar with your boat take over from here.

[g36]

My 405 has breakers at the shore inlet locations also

[Cooler]

Yep, check for breakers at the cord connection. There may be 2 square covers. One for TV/phone, one with two breakers A & B. Push button type. er

[chpsk8]

I found those breakers on ours this weekend after pulling all of my shore power cords out for the first time. Found 5 inlets. Two were shore power, one for cable/phone and two were breakers. Each one had two 30 amp breakers in them. I need to start keeping a book of all the odd places there are those random breakers!

[bud37]

Like they have all said ....check the breaker at the shore power inlet where you plug in.

[buster53]

My 405 has breakers at the shore inlet locations also

I don’t think builders were doing those breakers back in 1989, when the OP’s boat was built.

[tomschauer]

If you don't have a genny, you wont have the transfer switches. My 1988 27 montego had the 30 amp breaker above the shore power inlet. It was in a cubby, you really had to get down and look up to find it.
I assume you shut off the breaker for the a/c before reconnecting the power.
If you have a single 30 amp power supply at the dock, you most likely wont be able to run the a/c and water heater at the same time.