Lately, boaters are finding that their shore power systems are tripping the electric receptacles at newer docks. Is it a problem with the new power pedestals? Probably not.

New regulations for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) and Equipment Leakage Current Interrupters (ELCI) mean that new installations at marinas (and all in some states) have a lower threshold of leakage before the circuits trip. Keith Ruse of Deltaville Boatyard explained the issues and remedies on The America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association (ALGCA) Blog Talk Radio Show last Friday. Ruse recommends testing your shore power with a clamp-on ammeter – and include one in your toolbox ($100-150). The tool easily reads the sum of the current through the cord, which should read zero if no current is leaking.

Ruse also covers how to use the ammeter to determine which systems are causing a leak of current, and steps to take to fix the issues. Listen to the half-hour radio show: Great Loop Radio: Trouble Shooting Electrical Problems Aboard.

Some of the tighter regulations are in response to the high number of electric shock drowning (ESD) deaths in recent years. ESD occurs when faulty dock or boat wiring causes stray current to enter the water – dangerous for anyone in the water nearby, and mostiy an issue in fresh water. According to Ruse, even as little as 30 milliamps of current can incapacitate someone in the water, which can cause drowning.

Captain Jim Healy's "AC Safety Tips for Boats" also describes a series of test measurements intended to be performed in complete safety by boat owners/operators who have little or no prior knowledge or skills with electricity or electric circuits. Both Healy and Ruse believe boat owners should know how to test for issues; however, repairs should be performed by a qualified marine electrical technician.

So, test your systems now, before you find yourself inconvenienced – and perhaps dangerous – at an unfamiliar marina scrambling to find a technician. You're going to really want that air conditioning!

Here's an article at Scuttlebutt Sailing News about ESD: Understanding Electric Shock Drowning.

...and an article on how to recognize a person drowning NOT from ESD: Can you tell when someone is drowning?