Smith Lake Topics: How to FIX Boat Dock Shock

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	Name:	Striper Jim -
	Subject:	How to FIX Boat Dock Shock
	Date:	8/19/2006 5:22:03 AM

Hi Folks,

I've been reading this thread about the SHOCK and it prompted me to sign up as a member just so I could post this and tell you all my experience with BOAT DOCK SHOCK and how to fix it.

Problem: Getting a small shock and it doesn't matter if the power is On or OFF?

Although this particular problem has nothing to do with the Ground Fault - everyone and I mean EVERYONE should install a GFI Breaker in your MAIN POWER BOX onto the Circuit that feeds your dock...

This one single circuit should be supplying your boat dock only. Do not connect anything else to this circuit except the Boat Dock...

At the boat dock you can have as many of the small GFI outlets as you like (like the ones found in a bathroom or kitchen), but do not use these alone as protection... DO install a GFI Breaker in your MAIN POWER BOX onto the one Circuit that feeds your dock... 20 amp is sufficient.

HERE'S HOW TO FIX the PROBLEM - and it's so simple you may kick yourself for not figuering it out - I DID!

When installing the Ground Fault Breaker in the MAIN POWER BOX (or for one that's already installed) DO NOT hook up the naked copper ground wire that runs with the black and white wires to the boat dock...

I.E. Connect the 1 White Wire and the 1 Black Wire as normal ... But, the COPPER ground wire should NOT be connected to the grounding bar strip inside the power box.

I know that sounds crazy and breaks every rule you may know about electricity - but - we were getting the small shock from our swim ladder and a Cullman Electric Line Worker came out to check it and said "ON BOAT DOCKS - YES! DO USE the GROUND FAULT BREAKER in the main box BUT DO NOT hook up the copper ground."

WHY? - because most power companies have a small feedback on "Their" Ground of about 3 to 12 volts... (apparently the voltage varies).

The only time you feel this feedback is if you are completely wet and touch something that's hooked to their ground wire... In our case that was the entire boat dock, as ours is metal and we did have the copper ground hook up to the Ground Bar in the power box ...

Doesn't matter if the power is OFF or ON - you still get shocked.

Of course, 3 to 12 volts won't kill you, but it feels like ants biting when you're climbing up the swim ladder...

So he (Cullman Electric Man ) pulled the copper wire that runs with the White and Black off the grounding bar strip in the Main Box and the problem disappeared.

He then CUT the copper wire off where it came out of the insulation with the other 2 wires so it couldn't even accidentally touch the power box.

His Explination? A ground fault breaker doesn't rely on the copper ground anyway.. It works only by sensing a fault through the white / black wires.

So - before you spend hours sinking more ground rods or re-wiring anything, just pull the copper wire loose from the main box and see if your problem disappears.

Note: I have heard there have been a few deaths on Smith Lake over the years due to electricity/water related combinations. One was a teen boy who was working on or helping to build a boat dock and had ran an extension cord down to the water's edge in order to use a Power Saw. The saw fell off the edge of the dock and natural instinct urged him to grab at it in order to keep it from hitting the water. Problem was, he grabbed the electric saw just as it went under water and it killed him...

HAD that extension cord been plugged into a GFI, this could have been a tragedy avoided.

So - let's all be safe and install a GFI Breaker on the circuit that feeds our docks.. but don't hook up the ground wire.

DISCLAIMER - I am not an electrician, just a fisherman. Nothing is guaranteed, but it fixed our shock problem. If in doubt, call your local electric company and ask them about the feedback on their ground wires.

See Ya
Striper Jim