Name:	realfast64 -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/10/2021 9:57:32 AM

   Rumors are saying a boatlift accident last night. Any truth to this rumor?

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/10/2021 7:56:54 PM

It would seem so.  A woman was electocuted on her boat dock and it had something to do with her boatlift not be properly grounded.I heard that her husband tried to rescue her, but was unable.  

Name:	CRD -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/10/2021 10:47:23 PM

No electrician here, but I have certainly read about properly grounded lifts that can still emit stray electical current while the lift is in the water.  As electricity takes the course of least resistance, it will not always head toward the grounding rod and if you happen to be touching a cable or standing on the lift, while the lift is in water, you are at risk.  So very sad, and I offer my deepest condolences to this family.  Such a tragedy........

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/11/2021 1:19:30 PM

Thisi is certainly a terrible tragedy. Hopefully others will read this and realize the dangers that exist from boat lifts. I certainly want to get mine checked by a reliable electrician before I use it again. Hopefully there will be some electricians who will read this and wiill offer their services or recommend someone who can check for proper grounding.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/11/2021 3:42:20 PM

A tragedy for sure, but properly grounded circuits can still kill you. 

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/11/2021 7:13:49 PM

I want to heed your advice, but what recommendations do you have as the best way to approach the grounding of boat lifts?

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/11/2021 7:54:26 PM

I use GFCI circuit breakers.  

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/11/2021 8:37:14 PM

Installed by a licensed eledtrician! And then use common sense when around it.

Name:	Maverick -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/11/2021 9:16:47 PM

I installed a GFI breaker in the main panel box, and also used GFI plugs on the dock outlets in outdoor covered boxes for the green fishingw lights.

Name:	krtracker -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/12/2021 4:15:03 PM

lifer is right!  ANY voltage inside home can bleed back through system ground. boat lift circuit can be energized back through its ground very easy if it is used around water.  had a pump for irrigation out of lake pop me when it was off. was in lake knee deep to move pump and got nailed. it was not on. found out it was bleeding back from house ground system to the pumps ground. add me standing in water and BAM! BE SAFE NO ELECTRICITY AROUND WATER!  l know you need a boat lift...... so did she!

Name:	smb -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/12/2021 9:54:01 PM

Electricity has always been a bit mysterious to me.  Assuming the electric wiring for a boat lift is in the rafters of the boat house, and it connects to a lift motor sitting 12 feet above the water, how is that dangerous?  The motor connects to a drive shaft that has cables to lift the pontoon (or other) boat.  How is that a shock danger to someone in the water?  

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/12/2021 10:04:14 PM

As far as technical stuff, GFCI breakers and outlets compare current going out to current going back into it.  If enough current to hurt someone as a difference is pulled,   ----click-----   it goes off.

The four wire power versus three wire power might also help.

Neutral is ground potential but carries current. This means there is always some voltage between a current carrying neutral and ground.

For four wire systems, you get two ground potential wires, one carrying power and one not.  Should give a "colder" ground.

If you feel "pins and needles" like your leg is asleep,  SWIM AWAY from the electrical source.

To test your grounds, take a 100w light bulb and connect from each hot to grounded metal cases.  It should light up bright.

You can also take a quality voltmeter and test your ground to the water directly with each probe.

An isolation transformer is safest and practical for smaller loads.

Using 12 volts for as much as possible also works.

220 volts is usually not more of a shock hazard than 110v.

My condolences to the family.  Hopefully some of this might save someone.

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/13/2021 2:20:23 PM

If the motor is ungrounded and hot, then the motor case and shaft is hot.

All the steel cables are hot. The boat in contact with the cables becomes hot.

When the boat or lift hits the surface, the water in the area is hot.

Name:	smb -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/13/2021 10:14:34 PM

Shortbus, I think I follow your explanation.  Thanks!  It seems as though a rubber interface would be in order for those manufacturing lift devices for boats, but their liability may be limited by the trail of manufacturer-wholesaler-retailer-installer-owner. It is not the first time I have heard of someone being electrocuted at their dock on Lake Martin.  Sad!!

Name:	boataholic -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/20/2021 10:18:06 AM

My motor was acting up last year, so rather than repair it I replaced it.  New one came with a GFCI built into the cord.  Is that sufficient protection?

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/20/2021 11:52:05 AM

In most cases, yes.

For a disaster to happen, you need three things.

1st, the ground connection goes bad or open.

2nd, the hot side of the line somehow makes contact with the ungrounded motor case.

3rd, someone bridges between the hot metal and true ground, the lake.

Say a jackleg electrician says the lift doesnt need a ground wire to work and doesn't hook it up.

Then he strips the insulation on the black (hot) wire wrong and lets it touch the metal case of the motor.

Thats all you need for disaster to strike.

Even if your ground fault power cord or breaker is hooked to the jackleg example above, you still should be safe.

Name:	Summer Lover -	Reply
Subject:	tragedy in Sandy
Date:	7/28/2021 7:25:12 AM

I thought that you were a plumber, not an electrician...