I have a customer who is asking that I install a receptacle under the edge of his boat dock. He wants to be able to plug in the battery charger on his boat. He does not want to have a cord running across the walkway to a receptacle about 20 feet away. He wants to be able to have a short cord to a hidden receptacle under the edge of the walkway. I know it is not the ideal situation and would have to be GFI protected if legal. I know there a rules about receptacles around pools but this is the lake. I need to know if this would be a legal application or not. I would appreciate the help.
Receptacle under edge of boat dock for boat charger
- Thread starter Mike2006
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Engineer
I think the second paragraph of 555.9 would prohibit this installation. The outlet would have to be at least one foot above the walkway and at least 2 feet above the highest water level.
under8ed
Senior Member
- Location
- Charleston, SC., USA
With the multiple electrocutions of children on lakes one recent summer, I would be hesitant to install or own a receptacle on a dock. Even with the knowledge this can be designed safe, components can fail. If the code allows simply a GFCI receptacle at the location, an added measure of safety may be obtained by protecting the conductors before the waters edge. Personally, I would be inclined to explore other options such as a shore-side box for the charger with cables run down the dock for the low voltage, or a solar trickle charger mounted at the end of the dock.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
My biggest concern is not providing GFCI protection, but rather any voltage that may be present between the EGC and the water. This is not as big of a problem for people in the boat or on the dock, but if you are in the water just a couple volts on the EGC can kill you.
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