50 Amp to 2 - 30 amp Smart Y

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walterv

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I think I understand this but just want to make sure, I also have a few questions.

First, new boat has a 50 amp cord (50-240)

My understanding is if I go to a marina that only has 2- 125V 30amp plugs I nee the following adapters:
If the outlets on the power pedestal are on the same phase I need a Smart Y
If the outlets on the power pedestal are on different phases I can use a standard Y adapter.

IS That Correct???

I have the "standard" Y and need to get a "Smart" Y
Which one would you get and why and if there are others could you let me know?

The ones I am looking at are:
Hubbel Yq-230
Charles Y93

Thanks
 
Also,
Do I need both adapters or will the Smart Y, work in both cases???
If No, then is there a tester you use to see if they are on the same phase or different phase, or do I need to break out a volt meter?
 
I only use the smart Y, never had an issue.
 
Get the smart Y, don't mess around with the other.

Charles Marine is the Rolls of the group, Marineco is the Cadillac.

I have Marineco and it works as advertised.
 
Don't over look Hubbell smart Y's. Hubbell products are just as good if not better than Charles IMO.

"My understanding is if I go to a marina that only has 2- 125V 30amp plugs I nee the following adapters:
If the outlets on the power pedestal are on the same phase I need a Smart Y
If the outlets on the power pedestal are on different phases I can use a standard Y adapter.

IS That Correct???"

No. A smart Y only works properly if the receptacles are OUT of phase. It senses if the receptacles are in phase and does not allow the connection to be made if they are in phase. Also they will detect if both the plugs are properly connected or not so there can not be one live plug hanging there with no cord plugged into it and if the over all polarity is correct.

The Hubbell smart Y will also work with 3 phase power. Not sure about the others.
 
I use a Hubbell
HUBBELL YQ-230 SMART Y

I Have to use it at my new marina they only have 30s unless I want to pay to install a 50, I may have to go this route The 30s aren't locking in real well. I went to the boat yesterday and found I had no power I had to play with the connections to get it to work.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

I use a Hubbell
HUBBELL YQ-230 SMART Y

I Have to use it at my new marina they only have 30s unless I want to pay to install a 50, I may have to go this route The 30s aren't locking in real well. I went to the boat yesterday and found I had no power I had to play with the connections to get it to work.

Click to expand...


If you have to "play with the connections" you should do something about this sooner, not later. A poor connection is a fire waiting to happen.
 
Walter, the need for a smart y is determined by the appliances installed in the boat and the power panel configuration.
If you have ANY 230 volt appliances you need the smart Y ,,,,,Period.
If ALL air conditioners, stoves and other accessories including the transfer switch for the ac pump are 110V you can use a dumb Y.

Check the power panel as well.

You might want to apply to your condo board for permission to change out the outlet in your power tower.
Two of us did that with our Marina Power towers on our dock. We ordered the complete faceplate with the
50/230 110 outlet, breakers and wire as an assemply from Eaton and changed the towers to a single 50/230/110
outlet from the twin 30's originally installed.
It is so easy to just plug right in at the home dock and not have to worry about an expensive adapter taking a walk.
If your power towers are any of the Marina Power group of products they sell repacement assemblies of faceplate, breaker plate and pigtail with all outlets and breakers installed.

http://es.eaton.com/MarinaPowerCatalog/pageflip.htm
try page 19 and 20.
The assembly allowed me and my dock buddy, who is a master electrician,to cut powerto the tower and change the assembly in 20 minutes.

There may be others in your condo that may want the same thing.
 
Walter, I'm looking for a standard Y adapter, but came across this used smart Y adapter on craigsist on long island...newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/boa/2919621894.html
 
I got my Charles Smart Y from Boat Fix 4 or 5 years ago, and it has come in very handy the few times I have had to use it when cruising. The only one you will need, and at the time, easily the best price I could find.
 
The only thing I've even heard called a "smart" Y is a Y that plugs into 2- 120volt 30 amp. dock side power and if the box on the Y sees that the plugs are out of phase it will click and turn on a green light on the box and now the Y's other leg is 220/240 30 amp.
I've got the simple one that turns a 220 50 amp dock line to 2 30 amp 120 volt.
 
quote:
Originally posted by caltexfla

I got my Charles Smart Y from Boat Fix 4 or 5 years ago, and it has come in very handy the few times I have had to use it when cruising. The only one you will need, and at the time, easily the best price I could find.

Click to expand...


Looked at boat fix can't find anything about this.
Looking for something like this on boat fix is like looking for a needle in a haystack, just saying.
 
http://www.boatfix.com/shop4/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1538 Took me 3 minutes, lame looker.

You don't need a "smart" Y to go from 50 amp 220 to 2 30amp 120 just a right type of a Y adaptor.
 
lame looker.

Actually no patience :)

Thank You

Gary,
Got that covered at my slip, they wanted 550.00 to put in a 50 amp receptacle, breaker, etc. Rather than that, I kept the two 30 amps and they gave me two different phases. With that said, I picked up a Marinco 167RY adapter to use at the home dock.

Gary, you said:
Walter, the need for a smart y is determined by the appliances installed in the boat and the power panel configuration.
If you have ANY 230 volt appliances you need the smart Y ,,,,,Period.

My understanding is this is not true if you have different phases of 30 amp plugs at your dock, same phase I agree, am I wrong??? I am told that the Marinco 167Y will work perfectly to give me the power I need of of two 30 amp plugs if each plug is on a different phase. The Smart Y allows you to use two 30 amp plugs that are on the same phase. Is this correct info???
 
I have the other, ordered the Charles from boat fix hope I don't need a third :)
 
The smart y is designed to work ONLY if there are two different phases. If you have two matching phases you do not have 230 volts and all your 230 volt appliances do not have power.

When cruising it is your tester to find opposite phases it is also a failsafe to prevent you from not plugging in one leg if only one outlet is available and leaving a shock hazard with the other plug.
 
quote:
Originally posted by rawidman

quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

I use a Hubbell
HUBBELL YQ-230 SMART Y

I Have to use it at my new marina they only have 30s unless I want to pay to install a 50, I may have to go this route The 30s aren't locking in real well. I went to the boat yesterday and found I had no power I had to play with the connections to get it to work.

Click to expand...


If you have to "play with the connections" you should do something about this sooner, not later. A poor connection is a fire waiting to happen.

Click to expand...


The marina has been real good about things I but in a work order I'm sure they will take care of it.

The problem is the unit is a bit heavy and this pulls down on the two 30 amp plugs if they don't lock in real good they will pull out.
 
quote:
Originally posted by The Other Gary

The smart y is designed to work ONLY if there are two different phases. If you have two matching phases you do not have 230 volts and all your 230 volt appliances do not have power.

When cruising it is your tester to find opposite phases it is also a failsafe to prevent you from not plugging in one leg if only one outlet is available and leaving a shock hazard with the other plug.

Click to expand...


I'm so now confused??????????????

I was told, the "dumb y " will deliver 240v for two 30 amp 125v outlets if they are on different phases.

I was told if you don't have different phases at the 30 amp plugs you need a "Smart Y"???

So what be it?
 
The smart Y requires two 30s of different phases. If they are are of on the same phase the unit doesn't activate and there for doesn't pass any power.
 
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