Galvanic Isolator Testing

[Sunspot Baby]

We are recovering from a near miss lightning strike which took out fridge, battery charger, radar, and wind instrument. We think we have everything repaired, but before turning it over to insurance, we want to make sure the Guest galvanic isolator is functioning, but don't have the slightest idea how to check it.

Any advice?

George

[AnchorageGuy]

Why not contact the manufacturer and ask?

[Whimsical]

A galvanic isolator is just some diodes in reversed and parralell
Try this cct. Apply 12 volts in one polarity and you should measure between .6 and 1.2 volts across the isolator. Reverse the polarity of the battery and you should read the same voltage across the isolator but with the opposite polarity. If both voltages are the same OK but if either configeration or both read 12V the the diodes are open. If you read 0V then the diodes are shorted.

Sorry about the funny drawing, only have paint on this machine

Mike
[/IMG]

[Sunspot Baby]

Thanks.

I have contacted Guest, but they have a call back system and I didn't want to wait 48 hors.

George

[Whimsical]

Actually I should have added that if you increase the input voltage the voltage across the diodes should stay the same

[jscott]

Why not get a new one and then send it of to Insurance.

[Sunspot Baby]

Deductible. My electronics are covered with a $500 deductible but electrics are $3k. Funny I know, but that's the way my policy is.

Good news. Further research on our isolator shows it is self diagnostic and if there is a green diode, it's OK. Red it's not. I have green.

I may be a bit of a prude, but I resist charging something to insurance if it is not legit. One reason rates are high is that lots of folks figure the little guy should be able to take from the big guy. The big guys are in business to make a profit, and if they don't get a reasonable return on investment for their share holders, they will either raise rates and/or be harder to collect from.

Neither is to my benefit.

George

[jscott]

That a pretty high horse your riding.

[Alan Wheeler]

I don't think so. I say good on ya George. If we want change, we have to start with our selves first. I too don't like ripping off insurance companies, even though I feel I get ripped off by them. But it is due to others ripping them off, that I pay what I do in insurance and it is one of the main reasons why it is hard to insure FC hulls. Too many people that had badly built their boats, simply went out and sunk them and then claimed insurance.
We are currently buying a new car. But the insuarance companies are making it very difficult to insure, because it is a "black flagged" vehicle on their books. It is a high risk due to theft and drivers (usually young guy's) that can not handle the power.

[jscott]

Still don't buy it.

The OP had a close lightning strike. Without the little green light, and even with it the performance of the galvanic isolator, could be unknown or compromised.

The whole point of insurance is to put you back in the position you were in before the accident happened.

That means that you don't upgrade your equipment but replace in kind.

You are also allowed to effect the repairs in an expeditous manner, and are you required to perform the repairs yourself.

The cost of testing, or the risk of having a device not work is not your problem.

Change the damn thing.

The two points that make sense are the deductable, and the green light, (although I wouldn't neccesarrily trust that.