Ground wire fault
- Thread starter Sunnybank
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
tiltrider1
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2017
- Messages
- 4,346
- Location
- Pacific North West
- Vessel Name
- AZZURRA
- Vessel Make
- Ocean Alexander 54
Are you talking about a Galvanic Isolator? Which brand?
porman
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2014
- Messages
- 1,042
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Beach Music II
- Vessel Make
- 2003 Mainship 430 Trawler
Does it happen with different shore power outlets, different marinas? Our galvanic isolator test circuit (replaced last year for an isolator without the test circuit, due to problems with GFCI shore power) had shown a ground wire fault a couple times. One time they opened up the shore power pedestal and found a loose ground wire. I think maybe your boat is fine and the problem is with the pedestal. After replacing the isolator I bought a tester that you plug into the power pedestal to test for problems. I use it before plugging my cord in. Not all shore power outlets are trustworthy, believe me.
I suspect it is an open ground fault meaning an open connection somewhere. It could be your boat, but it just as easily be the marina's power supply. There is a fairly low cost way to find out:
Get a 30A to 15A 120V adapter and a simple 120V 15A plug in tester. Should be able to get both for less than $30 total. Unfortunately the marine 30A twist lock adapter is at least 4 times as expensive as an RV 30A spade adapter.
Then plug in both to the shore power pedestal. If ok then work your way downstream to the end of your shore power cord where it plugs into the boat and finally to various outlets on the boat.
David
Get a 30A to 15A 120V adapter and a simple 120V 15A plug in tester. Should be able to get both for less than $30 total. Unfortunately the marine 30A twist lock adapter is at least 4 times as expensive as an RV 30A spade adapter.
Then plug in both to the shore power pedestal. If ok then work your way downstream to the end of your shore power cord where it plugs into the boat and finally to various outlets on the boat.
David
