Galvanic Isolator location

[down...2 greens]

Afternoon all,

I'd like to install a galvanic isolator in my (fibreglass) boat. A lot of the advice seems to suggest fitting it as close as possible to the shore power inlet, but my boat is a bit unusual in that it doesn't have an inlet connector. Instead there's a continuous cable running from the RCD/consumer unit near the chart table, via the cockpit locker and terminating in the shore power plug.

Am I right in thinking that the physical location of the GI is irrelevant as long as it is inserted before any other electrical connections? If so the obvious place for it would be where the cable enters the consumer unit. Or is there some reason why it's better to have it near the input end of the shore power cable, in which case the plug-in in-line type might be the easiest solution?

Thanks!

 

[Trident]

Your thinking is correct - between end of the cable and the consumer unit would make sense in your case

 

[PaulRainbow]

Afternoon all,

I'd like to install a galvanic isolator in my (fibreglass) boat. A lot of the advice seems to suggest fitting it as close as possible to the shore power inlet,

This advice is incorrect, it's the RCD that should be mounted as close to the shore power inlet. The GI can be anywhere before any other electrical connections, as you guessed and Trident confirmed.

 

[lustyd]

Or buy an inline one and connect it at the end of the cable. Ive seen quite a few with this setup recently

 

[down...2 greens]

OK, that clears it up - thanks everyone.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

All a bit useless if he doesn't have an earth connection, to the water, in his boat. No?