Shore Power Pedestals: Why They Trip, Wiring Diagrams, and Troubleshooting Tips

A boat might leave one marina where everything worked fine, but arrive at another marina and trip the breakers. Keep in mind that while tripping a pedestal can be frustrating, marinas that update, expand, or renovate their docks do not have any choice other than to upgrade to the more sensitive pedestals – and, more importantly, the new pedestals will ultimately save lives. 

Even fairly new boats have had wiring deficiencies from the factory, so your best move – rather than berating marina staff, which never works out well – is to be prepared and proactive with our latest boater guide.

Note: In this post we will not be providing guidance as to how to fix an electrical issue. This is a guide to troubleshoot. We highly advise with all things electrical that you hire someone trained and certified.