Shore Power Pedestals

I really debated whether to post this comment or not, as I do NOT want to offend anyone.  My intentions here are strictly related to issues of safety, costs, value and enjoyment.

I know the Electrical Committee, Planning and Finance, Bridge and Board have put in a VAST amount of time, effort, energy and thought into the dock electrical project.

I fully support and am excited about the dock electrical upgrades, especially since we just got moorage after a four year wait! 

My only concern is in regard to the design of the white electrical shore power pedestals.  The design, in my opinion, is not as safe or beneficial as other designs.

A few points:

1. It appears these pedestals use incandescent bulbs, not LED's.  More power consumption, shorter life, more expensive to own and more labor for volunteers to change bulbs over LED.  Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

2. The cords seem to enter horizontally, which casues the most weight to be placed on the cord and prongs at the point of insertion, which can lead to a loose connection, arcing, restance and possible fire.  The pedestal design at Winslow enters from the bottom so if the cord loosened, it would likely fall out rather than remain in place poorly connected.  Ideally, we would have connectors that utilize locking rings as we do now.

3. In Winslow, we have alumimum cord hangers to hold excess shore power cord neatly and off the ground.  Without these hangers, the main station pedestals require wrapping the cord around the pedestal, which will be unsightly. See www.eaton.com for an example.

4. I cannot tell without the lights turned on, but it appears that these lights might not be designed to downcast the light onto the dock and may aim some light sideways or up, which would be somewhat of a hazard and less visually appealing at night.

Before the fire vents were installed, a sample was on display to view by members.  Given the choices and options available in shore power pedestal design and manufacturers, it seems that we could select a better choice.  It may be too late but we have purchasing power in buying well over 100 pedestals.  They have not been permanently installed or connected.  Is it too late?  I don't know.  But for $1.3 million, and given the likely LONG term life of these power pedestals, I'm wondering if we shouldn't return the unused pedestals and get a superior model.  Possibly slightly more expensive, but also likely safer, more attractive and a better long term value.  Price is what we pay, value is what we get.  Spread out over the life of the pedestals, the cost difference is likely very small.  We have a good example in Winslow of a better moustrap, and if LED bulbs were used and possible a locking mechanism, we'd have a winner.

Again, much respect and appreciation to John Alving and all invovled.  I simply have been bothered, mostly about the safety of the cord entry design, since I saw the first one on Dock 1 and felt I should comment.  The design seems to be from the past and not take into account improvements that have been made to make these pedestals safer.  Just so you know, I actually did bring my concern to John Alving directly, so I hope this does not catch him by suprise.  I hope my comments are taken as intended, purely in the interest of the safety and enjoyment of club members, both now and in the future, of our new electrical system. 

Respectfully,

Barry Rutten