Some important considerations when designing a shore power system

ABYC standard E11 covers AC and DC electrical systems on boats. 

Polarity:  In a 110v system a reverse polarity indicator is needed unless a polarization transformer is fitted or all of the circuit breakers are of the double pole type.

Overcurrent protection:  If the main breaker is more than 10ft from the shore power inlet an additional main breaker is needed adjacent to the shore power inlet.  Branch circuits need their own breaker at the main panel.

GFCI receptacles are recommended. These are ground fault circuit interrupters and are designed to trip if small amounts of leakage current are detected.

Wiring:  Conductors must be at least 16awg with a minimum rating of 600v  If AC and DC conductors are run together, the AC conductors must be sheathed or bundled separately.

Grounding;  All AC devices must be grounded.  The ground and neutral wire are connected together at the dock and must not be connected together on board (except at generators and internally in inverters)  The main AC ground bus must be connected to the engine negative terminal or the DC main negative, or the boats DC grounding bus (ABYC E11)

Galvanic isolation : Galvanic isolators (or isolation transformers) are recommended to prevent galvanic currents coming on board via the green ground wire.

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