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Glenn Ashmore
 
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Default Isolation Transformer and DC corrosion

If you have 90 boats in the marina with the same problem then the problem is
with the marina and not the boats. The marina operator is just trying to
pawn it off on the boat owners. Trusting what the "electrician" say doesn't
cut it because it is very likely that he caused the problem in the first
place. I would get everyone together and chip in maybe $50 each and hire a
real EE to figure out what the problem is and force the marina operator to
fix it. $4K for a couple of days investigation by someone who knows what he
is doing is certainly better than covering the marina operator's ass by
spending over $100K to cover up the symptoms.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Russell" wrote in message
oups.com...
Since my post a few days ago, spoke to our marine electrician and the
on-staff electrical expert retained by the Harbor office. We are going
to have to install an isolation transformer in our dock box. This will
cost about $1,000 after parts, labor and some mods to the box. All 90
boats in our harbor that got the notices have to do this, move, or
unplug or disconnect the AC ground from the DC, not a good option.
So, now I see the West Advisor says that apparently solves the marina's
issue with the AC, but unless we separate all the underwater stuff,
like the through hulls, we still are subject to DC corrosion. Can this
be true? What is the real solution to the AC, the DC, the safety and
the corrosion problem? Is there one? We are one of 90 modest boats from
about 28-48 feet, mostly 1970's through 1990's vintage. We all have to
get these transformers now, but the issue is what else do we need to do
once we are on the transformer?