Project - Electrical Outlets

This particular electrical project was more gratifying than the mast leak project.  It is always more fun to improve functionality then repair a maintenance item!  For some unknown reason to me there were two sets of outlets at eleven locations around the boat.  The expected 120vAC (household) outlets were there, but next to each was a two pronged outlet that was wired to 12vDC (auto/boat).



 



I had no use for a two prong 12vDC outlet so after some research for a better 12vDC solution, I found these great Magnadyne outlets that fit the standard outlet box and use standard faceplates.  They only require a single 12vDC power connection and internally convert the USB ports to the standard 5vDC almost all portable devices need these days (phones, iPad, etc). 

2 Port 5vDC USB with a 12vDC Outlet

4 Port 5vDC USB Outlet

Each USB port puts out 2A, so will charge tablets that most standard USB wall plugin bricks supplied with phones will not.  A lot of electronics from headsets to flashlights use the USB 5vDC standard, so quite useful!



This was one of the easier outlets since I could access the back...I think it was the only one

For older 12vDC (auto) electronic plugs, the 2 port unit has the standard "cigarette lighter" style 12v plug.  Only Gen X and earlier generations will know why they call it a "cigarette lighter" socket.  So no "spilling the beans"!  I ended up swapping eight of the eleven older two prong outlets with the 2 Port +12vDC socket and the remaining three with the 4 port USB outlet.  If all boat projects could be so easy!  Well sort of....



New USB/12vDC outlet along side the AC outlet...just waiting on the cover...

As you saw in the pictures above, the old two prong outlets had two standard roundish openings and the new USB outlets have the single rectangular opening.  We could have purchased all new black plastic rectangular covers for less than $1 each, but we had all the great looking teak outlook covers... and every $11 counts!  So with a Dremel and drill (and a few hours) we were able to change the two openings in the original teak covers into one rectangular opening.




Julie precisely drills the new mounting holes in each cover!

As most boat owners know one project leads to another.  I figured while I was doing the 12vDC sockets I might as well change out the two AC outlets to the GFCI protected AC outlets recommended from our purchase survey.  I did tell the insurance company I would take care of the critical recommended items after all.

Modified cover installed...now about that required GFCI AC outlet

 

It was not so easy... the new GFCI outlets would not fit the old opening.  So after many hours of enlarging openings, which took more time than all eleven 12vDC outlets, I was ready to move on to the next project.