We have a really bad electrolysis problem i our marina. I go through a prop shaft zinc in less than 6 weeks. I have been told by some sailors to electrically bond all my through hulls to the engine. Other sailors have said this will cause more problems than it will solve. Ant thoughts? Also, if bonding is good, what is the best way to make the connections to the through hulls? Russ Her Diamond Ring
- Status
The Marina needs to check ground/neutral..
Check the ground-to-neutral voltage at your shore plug with a digital voltage meter and see what you read. I think that it should read zero if there is good grounding. At my slip I have read as little as 1.5 volts from neutral-to-ground thru the week to as much as 40 volts this past weekend on my dock when there was a lot of activity. What got me to checking was the 'poke' that I got when my sweaty arm came between the fuel tank and my engine block. I don't plug in unless I REALLY have to charge my banks or need 110 volt power just to avoid the damage. Our management is currently reviewing the costs for repairs and electrical upgrades. It becomes a safety thing beyond a point...not just electrolysis damage to metals. I can't attest to the merits of bonding in this case....
Check the ground-to-neutral voltage at your shore plug with a digital voltage meter and see what you read. I think that it should read zero if there is good grounding. At my slip I have read as little as 1.5 volts from neutral-to-ground thru the week to as much as 40 volts this past weekend on my dock when there was a lot of activity. What got me to checking was the 'poke' that I got when my sweaty arm came between the fuel tank and my engine block. I don't plug in unless I REALLY have to charge my banks or need 110 volt power just to avoid the damage. Our management is currently reviewing the costs for repairs and electrical upgrades. It becomes a safety thing beyond a point...not just electrolysis damage to metals. I can't attest to the merits of bonding in this case....
Sounds like you're leaking
Russ, Check out the article on related link. Apparently, there is another ground source (shore power?) on your boat that's eating your zincs. Happy sails *_/), MArk
Russ, Check out the article on related link. Apparently, there is another ground source (shore power?) on your boat that's eating your zincs. Happy sails *_/), MArk
Try a FISH
Hi Russ, Large zinks in the shape of a fish are available at WM and others. Connect to engine block - drop over the side and will reduce frequency of replacing shaft zink. No personal experience but have seen them used. Good luck, Bob
Hi Russ, Large zinks in the shape of a fish are available at WM and others. Connect to engine block - drop over the side and will reduce frequency of replacing shaft zink. No personal experience but have seen them used. Good luck, Bob
Electrolysis
Russ The issue is twofold. One, inside your boat, and two, what's outside your boat, including shorepower and neighbors' boats' electrical systems that may or may not be plugged in. If the 'outside your boat' area has problems, like the responses about dockside wiring, all you'd do by bonding inside your boat would be to make things worse. Mark's related link was very helpful. I recommend that you read Calder's Boatowner's Manual or other suitable reference material to gain a better understanding, in depth, of the issues you are facing, and that are much too detailed to go into on this forum (or else we 'wudda' wrote a book and sent you to that THAT website
) Stu
Russ The issue is twofold. One, inside your boat, and two, what's outside your boat, including shorepower and neighbors' boats' electrical systems that may or may not be plugged in. If the 'outside your boat' area has problems, like the responses about dockside wiring, all you'd do by bonding inside your boat would be to make things worse. Mark's related link was very helpful. I recommend that you read Calder's Boatowner's Manual or other suitable reference material to gain a better understanding, in depth, of the issues you are facing, and that are much too detailed to go into on this forum (or else we 'wudda' wrote a book and sent you to that THAT website
) Stu- Status