Hunter 460 AC Ground Wire in Aft Port Locker - Connect to what?

BrontideRob

BrontideRob

.
Mar 7, 2012
21
Hunter 460 San Diego
Hi,
I recently purchased a 2001 Hunter 460 which had had significant work performed by a boat yard about a year before I took possession. In the aft port locker, I discovered a large (8 awg?) AC Ground Wire (green with a yellow stripe) neatly coiled up, but connected to nothing at this end. (See photo). The other end appears to go to a stud attached to my propeller shaft support strut (?) aft of the engine compartment. (See 2nd photo). The only wiring diagrams I have are for a Hunter 466 and are unclear as to specific connection points. Any thoughts on where this was originally connected, or if it is just 'pre-wiring' that was never used? My diver has reported rapid deterioration of my propellor zinc. So, I suspect this ground wire should be attached somewhere. But where?
Fair winds,
Rob

Disconnected AC Ground Wire Sm.jpg

Connected end AC Ground Wire.jpg
 
Last edited:
C

colemj

.
Jul 13, 2004
715
Dolphin Catamaran Dolphin 460 Mystic, CT
It isn't an AC ground wire, but a bonding wire. This is used to bond all underwater metal together electrically so they all remain at the same DC potential, with the goal of preventing current between them, thus stopping stray current or galvanic corrosion.

Likely candidates for the other end of that would be a thruhull, the steering system, or even the engine block if it is not meant to be isolated.

My guess is that your rapid anode depletion is not because this wire is disconnected. You might want to look for other issues like stray current.

Mark
 
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JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,860
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
It should be a #10 wire, that should ground most everything metal on your boat.

Then your engine is grounded by the [ - ] terminal on your battery, which should reduce Zinc loss.

Jim...
 
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Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

.
May 17, 2004
5,778
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
I agree with Mark on the anode deteriorating - having a bonding wire disconnected would leave the anode doing less work than intended, so it would corrode slower, not faster. So you may need to track down two problems.
 
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BrontideRob

BrontideRob

.
Mar 7, 2012
21
Hunter 460 San Diego
colemj said:
It isn't an AC ground wire, but a bonding wire. This is used to bond all underwater metal together electrically so they all remain at the same DC potential, with the goal of preventing current between them, thus stopping stray current or galvanic corrosion.

Likely candidates for the other end of that would be a thruhull, the steering system, or even the engine block if it is not meant to be isolated.

My guess is that your rapid anode depletion is not because this wire is disconnected. You might want to look for other issues like stray current.

Mark
Click to expand
Thank you Mark. This is VERY useful. There is an Air Conditioning thru-hull near there that's above the water line. Nothing else is close by. However, the cable is long enough that it could have gone to a lot of other locations. I'll continue to investigate.
Fair winds
 
BrontideRob

BrontideRob

.
Mar 7, 2012
21
Hunter 460 San Diego
Davidasailor26 said:
I agree with Mark on the anode deteriorating - having a bonding wire disconnected would leave the anode doing less work than intended, so it would corrode slower, not faster. So you may need to track down two problems.
Click to expand
Hi David. Thank you. The loss is definitely not slow. It's loosing >20% of its mass each month. I'll feel very fortunate if this turns out to be only two problems. (Smiling). Fair winds
 
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