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Old 10-03-2014, 08:11 PM   #16
DavidM
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City: Litchfield, Ct
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Let me give it a try:

AC current from the shore power outlet goes down the black wire (I am using DC terms but bear with me) to the various appliances on the boat and then back up on the white (neutral wire). If you have any kind of fault- a short to ground in an appliance or wire then the current comes back on the green- the ground wire.

If you put an AC clamp on ammeter around all three wires you should see zero amps. The incoming black cancels out the outgoing white (or green).

But if you have a leak to the water (typically in the bilge) then some of the current will leave the boat through the water and there will be less current in the white or green wire and your clamp on ammeter will show some current.

It is a crude but effective test for AC leaks to the bilge.

But having said all of the above, AC leaks to the bilge don't cause what you are seeing. And I am not sure it is an electrolysis issue at all.

David
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