T&T: 120/208 Power vs 240

[Ken Ongemach]

Yes, the truth is that most newer marinas are wired 120/208 instead of 120/
240.. The savings to the Marina, from the power company, are large, as running
120/ 208 V, 3 Phase, is much more efficient than 120/240 Single Phase... As to
the boat owner, this was transparent, as very few boats have any equipment
aboard that is connected across the line at 240 volt.. That is now changing as
boats get more & more power hungry, & it is getting harder to balance 120 volt
equipment across the 240 volt, 2 pole buss.. New boats are coming down the
line, now, wired "240 " VAC & 24 VDC.. As to the 240 vac, it now makes it
easier to balance the load, aboard, as the new boats come with  240 volt, A/C
units, water heaters, stoves, etc., also allow smaller wire sizes..

As to the marinas wiring 208, instead of 240 volt, yep, MR. Ohm says that
running a "240" volt piece of equipment on "208 will increase the current
required to run the equipment & years ago, when this was a problem, motors
heated, & reduced equipment life...Today, this is no problem.. Except for
exceptions , on the electronics & medical field, all motor mfgrs. & equipment
mfgrs, equipment will run on either.. It is silly today, to make separate
equipment for 208 vs 240 volts...

So, don't bother running to your dockmaster to find out how your docks are
wired.... It makes no difference...

Ken Ongemach BSEE
Tampa, FL