As I am slowly approching the time when it comes to buy my own boat, and because I care about the boats electric, I have two questions that are not dependent (but connected somehow).
Number 1: It is clear that the boat-AC-ground must not be connected to the boat-AC-neutral as long as boat-AC-ground is connected to shore-AC-ground. However when an isolation transformer is installed (in isolation mode) then boat-AC-ground must be connected to boat-AC-neutral (both the secondary side of the transformer).
Question: shouldn't I install an ELCI on the transformer secondary side just before the ground/neutral connection?
Number 2 (esp. for metal boats): In my understanding for the 12V (or 24V) DC system the same rule should be valid - current back (e.g on the negative side) must be identical to current forward (positive side), or there would be some DC leak which might induce stray current corrosion, even if it is never harmful to persons and wouldn't be even felt. Assuming that the DC lines are generally carried out in a two-wire system (and not using the hull) couldn't be stray current detected by measuring/comparing amperage of positive and negative lines?
Question: is this reasoning somehow correct, and if yes do ELCIs for 12 (24) V DC exist?
Number 1: It is clear that the boat-AC-ground must not be connected to the boat-AC-neutral as long as boat-AC-ground is connected to shore-AC-ground. However when an isolation transformer is installed (in isolation mode) then boat-AC-ground must be connected to boat-AC-neutral (both the secondary side of the transformer).
Question: shouldn't I install an ELCI on the transformer secondary side just before the ground/neutral connection?
Number 2 (esp. for metal boats): In my understanding for the 12V (or 24V) DC system the same rule should be valid - current back (e.g on the negative side) must be identical to current forward (positive side), or there would be some DC leak which might induce stray current corrosion, even if it is never harmful to persons and wouldn't be even felt. Assuming that the DC lines are generally carried out in a two-wire system (and not using the hull) couldn't be stray current detected by measuring/comparing amperage of positive and negative lines?
Question: is this reasoning somehow correct, and if yes do ELCIs for 12 (24) V DC exist?