Offshoreonly.com - Galvanic Isolator ?????

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Galvanic Isolator ?????

would a galvonic isolator serve any purpose whatsoever on a boat not equipped with shore power ?? can one even be hooked up ?? sorry if this is a stupid question, but after all my corrosion problems I an trying to explore any possible solution so it does not happen again..

Re: Galvanic Isolator ?????

there are not stupid question here! some one will be able to help you, will see.

Re: Galvanic Isolator ?????

This is actually a good question - I am no electrician or marine electronics expert but I have been losing zincs like crazy and I keep my boat plugged in for A/C or to turn on the charger. I was told by a solid boat electrician to add galvanic isolators (two since I have two shore power connections - one for house and one for the A/C) to resolve the issue.

If you don't hook up - I dont think you need them. I believe the galvanic isolators are simple devices put in-line before the shore plug (inside your boat) to isolate the boat ground from the house. Houses that are on a canal for example will eventually ground to the ground water and to the canal water...this creates a loop between your boat's grounding system in the water -metal parts in the water - and the house which is a bad thing. The more the current flows, the more metal will get consumed.

Also- if you are having electrolisys probs and you are not plugged in ....My guy also told me the old school way of having a ground wire daisy-chain from throughull to throughull to outdrive to zinc etc does not work. You should instead have ground buss on the interior of the transom with multiple dedicated runs to zincs and each fixture should be a dedicated home run to ground bus. I have yet to rewire my grounding system but it is on the list. Mine's wired like christmas tree lights - dohhh

Re: Galvanic Isolator ?????

All you need to know:

http://www.yandina.com/galvanicIsolator.htm

They are specifically designed to be used on the "green" of the shorepower connection.

Re: Galvanic Isolator ?????

Thanks guys,,, no shore power whatsoever on my boat, just doing a lot of reading about corrosion and trying to get my info straight...