The IET is carrying out some important updates between 17-30 April and all of our websites will be view only. For more information, read this Announcement

Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 31 replies
  • Subscribers 41 subscribers
  • Views 6111 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

SMALL BOATS ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

John Peckham

I have been asked about electrical installations in small boats. Now I know they are out of scope for BS 7671 but I do not know if there is a similar standard for small boats. Could I ask the forum please if you do installations in small boats? If so do you install to a specific standard or best practice and do you certify the end result after inspecting and testing to the standard or best practice? I thinking here about canal boats, yachts and cabin cruisers not bigger vessels such as ships as these are covered by an IET publication and insurance company requirements. I have looked at a canal boat and it was more like a floating domestic installation in twin and earth and a domestic consumer unit! Given the amount of boats and pleasure craft around I cannot believe there is not a common standard or publication, or maybe there is?

Thanks

JP

Parents
  • 0

    Geoff got the number wrong - it is 60092-507 which covers small craft from 24m to 50m but is primarily for ac three phase. The RCD is applicable to all craft sold for non-commercial use, from jet-skis to canal boats and beyond.

    The RCD specifies which standards provide presumed compliance (i.e. if you follow the standard your installation is presumed to comply with the directive) but there is still a need to follow best practice in areas not covered/not clear in the standard.

    That said, it also depends on whether you are looking at a new vessel or a modification to an existing vessel since existing vessels tend to work to the rules at the time of build, potentially even if you are doing a complete new installation on an old vessel, though that is a much more complicated issue and following the latest rules is much safer, in all senses of the word.

    Alasdair

  • 0 in reply to Alasdair Anderson

    My copy of the standard I have quoted (dated 2000) has a scope which covers Ac single & three phase and DC.  It is for vessels from 24 to 50 metres. It also covers vessels less than 24 metres for 3 phase systems only.

Reply
  • 0 in reply to Alasdair Anderson

    My copy of the standard I have quoted (dated 2000) has a scope which covers Ac single & three phase and DC.  It is for vessels from 24 to 50 metres. It also covers vessels less than 24 metres for 3 phase systems only.

Children
  • 0 in reply to GeoffBlackwell

    electrical.theiet.org/.../marinas-and-similar-locations.pdf

  • 0 in reply to GeoffBlackwell

    Hi Geoff,

    I agree 60092-507 does also cover single phase and DC which is why I said 'primarily covers'. Forgive me if I gave the impression that it only covered three-phase, since having spent 9 years as Chairman of the Technical Committee that produced the Standard I am confident that it is a better standard for electrical systems on boats, even those with single phase ac and dc, than the two ISO standards mentioned by the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD), but ISO seem to have more influence with the EU decision makers regarding which standards should be followed for presumed compliance.

    If the RCD is applicable then the ISO standards may be the ones that are more or less mandated.

    Alasdair

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines