I always heard you NEVER mix the AC and DC ground together. Never.

Of course, I'd like to know if this is true, but it makes a lot of sense
not to.

You guys have bumped into the "green wire controversy". Some "authorities"
say you should not connect AC and DC systems. Charles Payne is of this
opinion in his book. I'm not sure, but I think Nigel Calder also thinks its
a bad idea. On the other hand I think Dave Gerr recently had an article in
Sail or Cruising World in which he said they should be connected together.
I think this may also be the current ABYC recommendation. The rational is
that if you somehow get 110V AC into your DC system you can be electrocuted
by touching the DC if it has no earth ground. Personally I think the
chances of getting AC into my DC system are so low that I intend to leave my
systems as the original manufacturer installed them, ie. separate.

"WaIIy" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 21 Apr 2004 19:37:43 -0400, Ed wrote:

All metal (on most boats) is bonded together (green wires). This
includes the outdrives, shafts, thru-hulls etc. The bonding wire is
usually connected to ship's ground (Negative battery) and to the Green
side of the 110/220 sytem. SOMETIMES... there is a device that sits in
the middle to help save your zincs in areas with lots of current in the
water... this aside... the Ground wire on your shorepower is connected
to the bonding system.

As far as shock issues... if you touch a hot wire... or are on the swim
platform when a wave hits you and the generator... or if the plug gets
wet and you touch it (or any number of things...) you will get
shocked.... GFIs help but will not eliminate the issue.

Ed


I always heard you NEVER mix the AC and DC ground together. Never.

Of course, I'd like to know if this is true, but it makes a lot of sense
not to.