chuck wrote:



So are there any benefits to not having a capacitor? Maybe.
There is no such thing as a galvanic AC current, I guess,
but there can be an AC electrolytic current. Research
suggests these currents may be even more damaging than DC
currents. So from a corrosion perspective, it would be good
to block them from getting into the boat's green wire. An
isolator without a capacitor would at least block the
lower-voltage AC, but would allow the higher-voltage AC to
pass (once the 1.5 volt threshold was exceeded).

So where is the benefit to adding the capacitor? None that I
can see.

The only ways to fully provide for onboard safety and also
eliminate galvanic and electrolytic currents from traveling
through the green wire are to use an isolation transformer,
or don't bring shore power aboard.

Usually, a simple galvanic isolator is sufficient.

Regards,

Chuck

The AC currents are currents are all ready in your green wire from leaky
equipment in your boat. These currents are making a complete circuit to
where the grounding wire is connected to neutral on shore. The question
is whether or not this happens through the grounding wire via the
capacitor in the isolator or through a metal fixture on your boat,
through the water, to ground, grounding rod, and then to neautral.
The down side is if you have a capacitor and your neigbor doesn't than
her AC currents might use your underwater parts and capacitor in your
isolator as the shortest path to the neutral/ground connection point on
shore. This is why ALL isolators should have a capacitor and I think
ABYC may require one. If they don't they should. Or you could just spend
the money and valuable space for an isolation transformer and not worry
about it.

Hope my point is better made than in the previous posting.

Eric