Beginner's Guide to Marinas, RV Parks, and NEC Requirements for Both

Transcription

1 Eaton's Beginner's Guide to Marinas, RV Parks, and NEC Requirements for Both Beginner's Guide to Marinas, RV Parks, and NEC Requirements for Both Introduction This guide is intended to give you quick, base knowledge on standard industry terms, systems, and NEC guidelines driving safety and reliability. Use this guide as a quick reference, and get up to speed at your own pace. There are two main sections: - Marinas - RV Parks and within them are subsections: - Terminology - Components within Electrical System - NEC Requirements If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call and ask for Technical Assistance at One of our industry experts will be happy to help walk you through any questions you may have.

2 Marinas Terminology: o Docks: a structure extending alongshore or out from the shore into a body of water, to which boats may be moored. o Slips: a boat slip is the portion of a pier, main pier, finger pier, or float where a boat is berthed or moored, or used for embarking or disembarking. o Power Pedestal: a secure, weatherproof, electrical enclosure for safe utility connection between the Marina and the vessel. Can offer electricity, water, internet, cable, phone, with additional features like ground fault protection, as well. o Distribution Equipment: Refers to any electrical enclosure that safely routes electricity to circuits. Usually involves circuit breakers, but can utilize safety switches or fuses. Panelboards, Substations, or Enclosed Circuit Breakers are all examples of Distribution Equipment. o Direct feeding vs. Loop feeding: electrically having multiple pedestals on the same circuit saves on wiring costs, and can assist in capturing and protecting against leakage grouping (see NEC section below on Leakage grouping) o Demand factor: See NEC section, below o Datum plane: See NEC section, below o Upstream (electrical): refers to all electrical devices and wiring that feed power to the point of reference o Downstream (electrical): refers to all electrical devices and wiring that the point of reference supplies power to o Shore power: electrical provision for power to a vessel while its main and auxiliary engines are shut down

3 Components within Standard Marina Electrical System: Transformer o Electricity provided by utility usually arrives at voltage of 480V or 600V to enter Marina to distribute to docks o Transformer will drop voltage to a more usable voltage such as 120V, 120/240V, or 120/208V. o Transformer can be located within a Substation, which will also divide the electrical power to feed multiple subsidiary circuits Some facilities may not want to drop voltage, and choose to use 480V or 600V. These are usually facilities with very large vessels that can accept that voltage. Substation o A weatherproof enclosure that houses a transformer to step down voltage, and also divides electrical power to feed multiple subsidiary circuits. o Can route circuits directly to the pedestals, or to other Panelboards Panelboards o A weatherproof enclosure that divides electrical power to feed multiple subsidiary circuits o Can route circuits directly to pedestals, or to other Panelboards, or other Substations Pedestals o a secure, weatherproof, electrical enclosure for safe utility connection between the Marina and the vessel. Can offer electricity, water, internet, cable, phone, with additional features like ground fault protection, as well. Can be loop fed to have multiple pedestals on the same circuit from a panelboard or substation. Copper vs aluminum o Marine distribution equipment and pedestals generally use all copper conductors and connectors. This is due to the humid and (depending on location) salty atmosphere that marine environments tend to experience. Aluminum conductors can oxidize and slowly disintegrate over a few years, leading to necessary replacement. Copper conductors and components much longer, and do not suffer the same drawbacks as aluminum.

4 Stainless steel (316L vs 430) vs galvanized steel o Marine distribution equipment and pedestals generally use stainless steel instead of galvanized steel for their structural housings. This is due to the humid and((depending on location))salty atmosphere that marine environments tend to experience. Galvanized steel can rust and disintegrate, leading to an enclosure that is no longer weatherproof or structurally sound. This is why stainless steel is the default for the marina industry, as it does not suffer these same drawbacks. An example of a marina electrical layout

5 NEC 2017, Section 555: Marinas, Boatyard, and Commercial and Noncommercial Docking Facilities Be familiar with the entirety of NEC 2017, section 555 Datum plane: All electrical devices must be mounted higher than the datum plane: Land Area Subject to Tidal Fluctuation. Horizontal plane 2 ft above highest tide level under normal circumstances Land Areas Not Subject to Tidal Fluctuation. Horizontal plane 2 ft above highest water level under normal circumstances Floating Piers. The horizontal plane 30 in. above the water level at the floating pier and a minimum of 12 in. above the level of the deck. NEC 2017, Section for ground fault protection o New to the 2017 National Electrical Code: The overcurrent protective devices that supply the marina, boatyards, and commercial and noncommercial docking facilities shall have ground-fault protection not exceeding 30mA o Electric Shock Drowning (the reason behind 555.3) Electric Shock Drowning occurs when faulty wiring on a boat or in a marina causes underwater metals to become energized. Examples of underwater metals that could become energized: Boat Props, Dock Frames, Ladders This creates an electrical field in the water. The magnitude and intensity of the electrical field is determined by how much current is being leaked into the water. A swimmer enters the electrical field and completes the electrical circuit to ground. The swimmer becomes a target for the electrical current leakage because the human body is a better conductor of electricity than fresh water. Fresh water is close to 70 times more resistive than salt water. This makes electric current leakage in fresh water marinas a major concern. Depending on the amount of current in the water and a swimmers location relative to the electrical field, a person may experience effects ranging from a slight tingle, to complete loss of muscle control, causing drowning. Even more electricity leads to ventricular fibrillation. As little as 10mA can start to cause significant issues.

6 o o Leakage Grouping Occurs when multiple vessels are producing stray current on the same piece of ground fault protection or ground fault monitoring device. The leakage produced by a single vessel may not be high enough to trigger a circuit breaker or alarm, but the collective leakage produced by multiple vessels can be extremely dangerous for anyone in the water. This is why it s important to think of an entire zone in the water and not just individual vessels or pedestals. Two vessels might only leak 20mA each, but that s potentially 40mA at the peak location between the vessels! Eaton Solutions to combat ESD: 1. Distribution equipment with ground fault protection Eaton s distribution equipment combines space-saving designs with modular construction and increased systems ratings to provide economical and dependable electrical system distribution and protection. Combined with powerful ground fault technology, the distribution equipment can protect downstream pedestals from ground leakage and prevent ESD. Ground fault monitors with shunt trip circuit breakers help evaluate the level of electrical leakage being released from specific power sources and then intervene to interrupt the circuit. The ground fault monitoring system operates 24 hours a day and provides a visual status. A variety of options are available but standard features include: an adjustable trip level of 10mA to 10A; visual alarms; controls for up to 13 circuits; and a heavy 316L stainless steel housing that is powder-coated with a polyester resin to minimize corrosion.

7 2. Ground fault pedestals Eaton MP&L was the first to introduce ground fault protection with notification at each and every slip with its industry-leading ground fault pedestal solution. The newest power pedestal features integrated ground fault breakers and visual trip fault notification. A flashing red light immediately lets marina staff know that power has been disconnected, potentially avoiding a dangerous situation. Eaton s most popular, practical and durable pedestal styles include the Lighthouse and Lighthouse SS. The pedestals have lockable weatherproof doors to protect the breakers and receptacle while in use, and a heavy resin housing with a two-part UV resistant polyurethane finish to guard against weathering from the elements. The NEMA 3R rating pedestals offer circuit breaker protection for all receptacles and feature copper bus bars with ratings from 250 to 500A. A 'hingeless base provides easy access for both installation and maintenance. The user-friendly pedestals include a photocell-controlled LED light with amber lens that gives 360 lighting, and a backlit universal faceplate is included for easy receptacle plug-in at night. Optional features include high-speed internet connections and single or dual phone and/or cable TV connections, surge protection, and wireless remote metering for electricity and water.

8 3. Ground fault monitor, integrated into safety disconnect Eaton manufactures state-of-the art D64 ground fault monitors, which - when integrated into a safety disconnect -do not require the marina to retrofit pedestals or distribution equipment. This device, combined with a standalone safety switch disconnect, can be installed anywhere in a circuit to protect it. The downside to this solution is, although easy to install, it can be difficult to pinpoint where the ground fault originates Demand factor o There is a demand factor to allow a discount on electrical calculations. Refer to to identify the demand factor for your particular situation. For example, five shore power receptacles can assume a 90% rating factor. o For situations where two receptacles are provided to accommodate one slip, and these receptacles have different voltages (for example, one 30A, 125V, and one 50A, 125/250V), only the receptacle with the larger kilowatt demand shall be required to be calculated. Map of the US and NEC level adopted, by state. Handy link Sign up for our Listserv to hear in advance about Eaton s new products and trainings we offer, once a quarter.

9 RV Parks Terminology: o Sites: a location rented out or owned, where one can park a Recreational Vehicle, usually with provided amenities such as electricity, cable/internet/ phone, and sewage. o Power Pedestal: a secure, weatherproof, electrical enclosure for safe utility connection between the Marina and the vessel. Can offer electricity, water, internet, cable, phone, with additional features like ground fault protection, as well. o Distribution Equipment: Refers to any electrical enclosure that safely routes electricity to circuits. Usually involves circuit breakers, but can utilize safety switches or fuses. Panelboards, Substations, or Enclosed Circuit Breakers are all examples of Distribution Equipment. o Loop feeding: electrically having multiple pedestals on the same circuit saves on wiring costs, and can assist in capturing and protecting against leakage grouping (see NEC section below on Leakage grouping) o Demand factor: See NEC section, below o Upstream (electrical): refers to all electrical devices and wiring that feed power to the point of reference o Downstream (electrical): refers to all electrical devices and wiring that the point of reference supplies power to

10 Components within Standard RV Park Electrical System: o Utility Electricity provided by utility usually arrives at voltage of 480V or 600V to enter Marina to distribute to docks o Transformer Transformer will drop voltage to a more usable voltage such as 120V, 120/240V, or 120/208V. Transformer can be located within a Substation, which will also divide the electrical power to feed multiple subsidiary circuits Some facilities may not want to drop voltage, and choose to use 480V or 600V. These are usually facilities with very large vessels that can accept that voltage. o Substation A weatherproof enclosure that houses a transformer to step down voltage, and also divides electrical power to feed multiple subsidiary circuits. Can route circuits directly to the pedestals, or to other Panelboards Panelboards o A weatherproof enclosure that divides electrical power to feed multiple o subsidiary circuits Can route circuits directly to pedestals, or to other Panelboards, or other Substations Pedestals o a secure, weatherproof, electrical enclosure for safe utility connection between the Marina and the vessel. Can offer electricity, water, internet, cable, phone, with additional features like ground fault protection, as well. Can be loop fed to have multiple pedestals on the same circuit from a panelboard or substation.

11 NEC 2017, Section 551: Recreational Vehicles and Recreational Vehicle Parks Be familiar with the entirety of NEC 2017, section 551 Key takeaways: o Each RV site shall supply at least one 20A, 125-volt receptacle o A minimum of 70% of all RV sites shall supply a 30A receptacle o A minimum of 20% of existing and 40% of new RV sites shall supply a 50A receptacle o There is a demand factor to allow a discount on electrical calculations. Refer to to identify the demand factor for your particular situation. For example, 5 RV sites can assume a 65% demand factor. Map of the US and NEC level adopted, by state. Handy link Sign up for our Listserv to hear in advance about Eaton s new products and trainings we offer, once a quarter. For more information, please us at MarinaSales@eaton.com or call Eaton is a registered trademark.all other trademarks are property of their respective owners Eaton Corporation All Rights Reserved Printed in USA October 2018 Eaton Corporation Marina Power and Lighting 149 Warwick Court Williamsburg, VA United States