Panel AC indicator lights

[TortolaTim]

I was reading up on reverse polarity and AC power issues here and realized that neither of my AC panel lights have been working (at least the green "available" light doesn't, polarity checks good at the dock and on board). The PO had the green one disconnected, so I wired it up yesterday, and re-wired the red RP light with proper connectors. Before I order new lamps from Blue Sea, does it matter which lead is attached to neutral or hot/ neutral or ground? Both wires are the same, and I just guessed. I'll probable go out and test them both with DC just to make sure, but I'm inclined to think they are burned out. I also wired up the yellow "DC available" lamp and it is toast. 1989 boat.

Secondly, I only have the "in panel" 30A double pole breaker, and want to install the breaker at the shore power inlet per ABYC code. Any recommendations on a reasonable product for this? I was looking at the Blue Sea ELCI breaker with the waterproof box and it's like $800 bucks! What is everybody else doing?

[Ron Hill]

Tim : My 1988 C34 A/C panel did not come with a AC green shore power ON light!!  So what I did was to wire in a RadioShack 110 AC (neon) light into the OUTLET circuit breaker. and leave that breaker IN.  So when shore power is switched ON it shows up on the outlet circuit light!!  I did the same for the water heater - so when it is ON the added light glows (too difficult to see that the breaker is pushed IN)

A few thoughts

[KWKloeber]

Tim

If you're using a glow-neon or incandescent bulbs then it doesn't matter the polarity of the leads (AC or DC bulbs.)
LEDs are sensitive to polarity.

[rmjohns]

I just happen to be browsing Catalina Direct and notice they sell the 30amp main breaker.

https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/catalina-38/electrical/breakers-switches/electrical-panel-transom-master-breaker/

They don't use ELCI breaker that I can tell and they don't say if it's single or double pole, but it looks like what is in my Mkii

[KWKloeber]

I just happen to be browsing Catalina Direct and notice they sell the 30amp main breaker.

https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/catalina-38/electrical/breakers-switches/electrical-panel-transom-master-breaker/

They don't use ELCI breaker that I can tell and they don't say if it's single or double pole, but it looks like what is in my Mkii

Earlier C30s had a single toggle main on the panel, which would outwardly appear to be a single pole breaker but was actually double pole. I'd suspect that this breaker is of that type.  When I replaced mine I used a double-toggle breaker simply because that was the easiest to put my hands on at the time.