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#1
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Stray current from another boat??
I'm presently moored at a new dock with new modern electrical system. My
panel indicators and a handheld GFI tester tells me my hook up is ok. However another old boat arrived recently and has had a lot of shore power problems that caused me to suspect that he may not be wired correctly. I have tested his cable with my handheld GFI gadget when he complained of problems and it test ok (even though the shore side plug looks line it has had some past problems). Yesterday a local diver approached me about diving and inspecting my zincs the next time he replace the prop zinc on this old boat. He told me that he had just replaced his zinc 2 weeks ago and it is already being eaten away and would be gone in a couple months. I don't have a prop zinc and rely on a Professional Mariner Corrosion Control System that has all underwater metals fitting connected through the controller to a single zinc. This has work normally for 26 months when last checked 4 months ago my original zinc is still ok. With this other boats problem I'm wondering if I should be worried enough to pay this diver to check my zinc again?? I suspect that this other boat has a cheap A$$ battery charger going all the time, since he is living aboard (when no one is watching). I have known of cheap battery chargers that are "Hot" and shouldn't be use on a boat. This fellow is rather secretive about his boat system and from what I have seen of his shore power hook up, he may be a cause of serious stray current to other boats. Is there anyway, with simple equipment that I can determine if his boat is causing any problems? Should I test between the neutral lead of shore power and the water for stray current with a volt meter?? It should be easy to isolate any problems since there are only 3 boats hooked up to shore power right now. Steve s/v Good Intentions |
#2
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One "solution" might be to report him as a "sneak aboard" to the marina
management, and perhaps he'll get kicked out of the marina--or if not kicked out directly, required to pay the extra expense as a live aboard and then leave voluntarily. Problem solved! Even more worrisome than the electrolysis issue (as bad as that is) is the prospect of this derilect catching fire from some kind of electrical problem (e.g., through the cheap battery charger) and burning up your boat! --AG "Steve" wrote in message ... I'm presently moored at a new dock with new modern electrical system. My panel indicators and a handheld GFI tester tells me my hook up is ok. However another old boat arrived recently and has had a lot of shore power problems that caused me to suspect that he may not be wired correctly. I have tested his cable with my handheld GFI gadget when he complained of problems and it test ok (even though the shore side plug looks line it has had some past problems). Yesterday a local diver approached me about diving and inspecting my zincs the next time he replace the prop zinc on this old boat. He told me that he had just replaced his zinc 2 weeks ago and it is already being eaten away and would be gone in a couple months. I don't have a prop zinc and rely on a Professional Mariner Corrosion Control System that has all underwater metals fitting connected through the controller to a single zinc. This has work normally for 26 months when last checked 4 months ago my original zinc is still ok. With this other boats problem I'm wondering if I should be worried enough to pay this diver to check my zinc again?? I suspect that this other boat has a cheap A$$ battery charger going all the time, since he is living aboard (when no one is watching). I have known of cheap battery chargers that are "Hot" and shouldn't be use on a boat. This fellow is rather secretive about his boat system and from what I have seen of his shore power hook up, he may be a cause of serious stray current to other boats. Is there anyway, with simple equipment that I can determine if his boat is causing any problems? Should I test between the neutral lead of shore power and the water for stray current with a volt meter?? It should be easy to isolate any problems since there are only 3 boats hooked up to shore power right now. Steve s/v Good Intentions |
#3
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Steve,
Install a galvanic isolator which effectively "severs" the green wire as far as stray currents are concerned. At least I "think" that's the issue. Since I've gotten one, my zincs last longer. "Steve" wrote in message ... I'm presently moored at a new dock with new modern electrical system. My panel indicators and a handheld GFI tester tells me my hook up is ok. However another old boat arrived recently and has had a lot of shore power problems that caused me to suspect that he may not be wired correctly. I have tested his cable with my handheld GFI gadget when he complained of problems and it test ok (even though the shore side plug looks line it has had some past problems). Yesterday a local diver approached me about diving and inspecting my zincs the next time he replace the prop zinc on this old boat. He told me that he had just replaced his zinc 2 weeks ago and it is already being eaten away and would be gone in a couple months. I don't have a prop zinc and rely on a Professional Mariner Corrosion Control System that has all underwater metals fitting connected through the controller to a single zinc. This has work normally for 26 months when last checked 4 months ago my original zinc is still ok. With this other boats problem I'm wondering if I should be worried enough to pay this diver to check my zinc again?? I suspect that this other boat has a cheap A$$ battery charger going all the time, since he is living aboard (when no one is watching). I have known of cheap battery chargers that are "Hot" and shouldn't be use on a boat. This fellow is rather secretive about his boat system and from what I have seen of his shore power hook up, he may be a cause of serious stray current to other boats. Is there anyway, with simple equipment that I can determine if his boat is causing any problems? Should I test between the neutral lead of shore power and the water for stray current with a volt meter?? It should be easy to isolate any problems since there are only 3 boats hooked up to shore power right now. Steve s/v Good Intentions |
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