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chuck chuck is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 50
Default A QUICK CHECK OF YOUR GALVANIC ISOLATOR.

Some observations:

Be extremely careful in measuring the
voltage across a galvanic isolator. If
the isolator should be "open", there may
be a dangerous (possibly fatal) shock
hazard between the two isolator
terminals. This is all the more critical
since you usually suspect an electrical
problem when you have to resort to
checking your isolator.

A DC voltage reading across the isolator
of zero or near-zero volts is a highly
desirable situation! It means that
galvanic (and other DC) currents passing
through the shore power ground system
are negligible, and that is always
desirable. A reading of zero volts does
not automatically mean the isolator
diodes are shorted!

Similarly for AC voltage readings of
zero or near-zero volts. A reading of
zero volts AC means there is no evidence
of appliance leakage on your boat and no
reason to suspect problems with AC
wiring on neighboring boats.

Chuck

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