galvanic isolator

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mfox1949

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Feb 8, 2018
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34023
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I am trying to install a galvanic isolator in my Carver 42. What would be a good location to intercept the shore power ground
 
Don’t know your particular boat but I’ve replaced them on my Sea Rays and they are usually hidden by the factory behind a panel very close to the shore power inlet. I’d be surprised if your boat doesn’t already have one stashed away someplace in-line on the ground between your inlet and 110 panel.
Getting in behind that inlet is also a good time to inspect the wires and make sure you have good clean copper back there.
 
Pull your power panel and look behind it. You probably have one there.
 
On my 45C Silverton it is installed under the cockpit up on a shelf towards the stern of the boat. Mine is very large and heavy. Mine is also about three feet or so from where the shore power connector is on the boat. Wherever you put it, try not to bury it so you can service it if you have a problem.
 
How do you know if it's working or if there are any problems? Any way to test them? Mines buried behind my electrical panel also and it's not something I have ever checked.
 
There is a way to test them with a multimeter once you get to it and pull it out. You can probably find something on YouTube that will walk you through it. It’s been a while since I looked in to them. The one thing I remember reading about them is that the newer ones will default to the open position if they fail so that if a Short happens and the electric has to escape out through the ground it can. I don’t think the older ones had that safety feature.
That’s why I swapped mine out.
 
Both my Carvers had them underneath the electrical panels.
Jim
 
When they fail, you have no shore power. Power comes into the boat to a big transformer, that transformer passes power to another transformer (induction, no physical hardwire connection) if it stops working, you have no shore power.
 
Here’s a link to a simple explanation of what they do and how to test them. It notes the fact that the older ones are hard to test and the newer ones are now required to be self testing:

http://www.pkys.com/FAQ/galvanic.htm
 
quote:
Originally posted by walterv

When they fail, you have no shore power. Power comes into the boat to a big transformer, that transformer passes power to another transformer (induction, no physical hardwire connection) if it stops working, you have no shore power.

Click to expand...


That would be an isolation transformer, not a galvanic isolator - correct?
 
No reply since 2/8. seems the OP is less interested that the folks here
 
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