Breaker Panel lights issue

[Bay Retriever]

Yesterday, after returning to my permanent marina slip, and after restoring shore power, several of the “off breakers”, displayed a dim light. I double checked everything, including turning everything off and starting over. However, I am truly stumped. I even wiped down the female end of my shore power 50amp chord. I had left it out (uncovered) coiled on the dock ready for our return as usual. It did rain yesterday and I’m wondering if a bit of water in the female end can cause this type of effect on the breaker lights.

 

[rwidman]

I doubt that a bit of water in the female end would cause that. If there is enough water to cause a problem, the breaker on the pedestal would trip.

It's pretty easy to borrow someone else's cord and see if that cures the problem. It's also pretty easy to try a different shore power pedestal receptacle and see if that cures the problem.

Without knowing anything about your boat's circuit breakers (mine have no lights), that's about all the help I can give you.

 

[diver dave]

I would worry about a open neutral situation. Immediately measure the wall outlet voltages.

 

[Bay Retriever]

Breaker Pannel lights issue

I tested both Air Conditioners and neither would turn on when their respective breakers were in the off position. Also weird is that my boat does not have a washer/dryer or central vacuum, which also dimly glowed “on”!

Today, I plan to try another shore pedestal first and than another 50amp chord if needed.

 

[danderer]

Might want to check that you have 120V on both of the hot legs. I've seen something similar when only one of the legs had power.

 

[STB]

Does it happen on generator or just shore?

Can you tell if those are LED or lamps? LED only light when current is flowing the direction it should, lamps work both ways.

Is it several circuits? Or just those Two right next to each other?

If it was several circuits at one time and just those two when the picture was taken, what changed in between?

Do you have a reverse polarity light? Is it glowing at all?

 

[Bay Retriever]

Update: tested 50amp chord by switching pedestal at home marina tonight. Had same “dimly glowing” breaker lights on for breakers turne off. Couldn’t test the chord but am on the verge of buying another 50amp 50’ chord that will be either a new home chord or traveling shore power chord.

 

[KnotYet]

If the plugs on your cord are removable see if one of the wires is loose or worn inside.

 

[STB]

I'd do a little more investigation before replacing the coed, unless toubreqlly wanted another anyway. Those things ain't cheap.

If you have q good meter, disconnect both ends and check for low resistance bkade-to-corresponding-blade from one end to the other and then nearly infinite resistance if not infinite resistance from blade to blade for each pair of blades on either end (or even both ends). Try ibwith the cord straight-- and also bent near the ends as they normally might be.

 

[SteveK]

This past week the reverse polarity light came on dimly when on inverter mode no shore power. Just started checking today.

Mentioned it to see if your problem is with inverter off or on invert mode.

 

[diver dave]

Uggg, reread post 3. You can be damaging devices that are not being supplied the correct voltage. There must be a portable voltmeter aboard?