Good observations. Thanks.
I agree that the jury is out on the value of capacitors.
I might install an isolation xformer later, but the cost is a bit
off-putting with so many other things to buy.
But that's boating, eh?
Norm B


On 20 Feb 2005 16:30:32 -0600, Your name wrote:

As a follow-up, I should point out that this is a somewhat controversial
issue, this business of AC vs. DC currents. Many students of galvanic
corrosion believe that AC can and does cause corrosion. If you choose to
believe this, then you will want an isolation device that limits both AC
and DC voltages.

Mercury uses a capacitor in their isolators because a sufficiently high
AC voltage will forward-bias the diodes and allow them to conduct DC,
even at low voltages. But bypassing the diodes for AC means that the full
AC voltage (if any) will pass through the isolator. The net effect of
this may be a benefit in isolating some DC voltages, but at the expense
of allowing AC to pass through unaffected!

If there is a chance that you will need to protect against AC as well as
DC with your galvanic isolator, you will be disappointed with a
capacitor. The best course then, is to use an isolation transformer. It
will provide complete isolation.




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