Shore-power leakage testing for Texas marinas and boaters.

Why does my boat trip the breaker when I plug into shore power?

Since the 2020 code, every shore-power receptacle at a marina has listed ground-fault protection set at 30 milliamperes. A boat that leaks more current than that trips the pedestal as soon as it connects, even though the same boat may have worked at an older dock or at home.

Leakage usually means a wiring fault or a failing appliance on the boat, and it is a shock hazard in the water around the dock.

• We measureH2O Services measures the boat's leakage current with the listed device.
• We reportYou get the number, so you know what to have repaired.

What does NEC 555.35(D) actually require?

This is the text of 555.35(D) in the 2023 National Electrical Code, the edition Texas has adopted:

Where more than three receptacles supply shore power to boats, a listed leakage current measurement device for use in marina applications shall be available and be used to determine leakage current from each boat that will utilize shore power.

Exception: Where the shore power equipment includes a leakage indicator and leakage alarm, a separate leakage test device shall not be required.

In plain words: more than three shore-power receptacles at a marina, and a device listed for marina use has to be on hand and used to measure the leakage current of each boat that plugs in.

It sits inside a group of ground-fault rules for docking facilities:

• 555.35(A)Feeders to docking facilities need listed ground-fault protection of equipment (GFPE) at 100 milliamperes or less.
• 555.35(B)(1)Every shore-power receptacle needs listed GFPE at 30 milliamperes or less.
• 555.35(B)(2)Other outlets at the dock need GFCI protection for personnel.
• 555.35(D)The leakage current measurement device, listed for marina use, available and used on each boat that plugs in.

There is one exception. A marina whose shore-power pedestals already include a leakage indicator and a leakage alarm does not need a separate test device.

The dates

• 2020 NECThe rule first appeared, as 555.35(B).
• November 1, 2020Texas adopted the 2020 NEC.
• September 1, 2023Texas adopted the 2023 NEC.
• January 1, 2026The listing requirement took effect.

Texas adoption of the code: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The code itself is NFPA 70, and NFPA offers free online access to the full text with a free account.

Does my marina need this?

If the marina has more than three shore-power receptacles, yes, unless its pedestals already have a leakage indicator and a leakage alarm.

The H2O Services program covers:

• Vessel leakage-current testing
• A listed marina leakage current measurement device
• Individual vessel test documentation
• Records kept for marina management
• Identification of vessels with potentially hazardous electrical leakage
• Recurring testing programs

Pricing is by program quote.

The code's own informational note calls an annual test of each boat a prudent step. A recurring program is that annual test, kept on a schedule.

What records does a marina get?

A documented program leaves behind a dated test result for each vessel, kept for marina management, identifying any vessel with potentially hazardous electrical leakage.

• Per vesselA dated test result.
• KeptRecords held for marina management.
• FlaggedAny vessel with potentially hazardous electrical leakage, identified.

Request a program quote.

• Phone(844) 262-8869
• Emailmike@h2oboattow.com

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