Galvanic isolator wiring

[nickj]

Hi all,

I'm about to install a Victron 32a galvanic isolator on our steel boat to protect her while on shore power. The installation appears simple enough - in that I just interrupt the earth wire on the backside of the shore power plug and place the isolator inline.

My only query is, how do I know whether the shore power earth is earthed with the boat? Because if it's not, it would be a redundant installation.

Can I simply test for continuity (unplugged) between shore power earth and say, the engine block? Or is there another way to actually test the isolator is functioning once wired?

Nick.

[smac999]

Yes you can check for ohms between the shore power inlet and your ac ground bus at the panel. I would go to the ac ground bus as total proof. Going to the engines ect assumes other things are also corect.

You can do it before and after the install. . And you should see it go from 0 to infinite ohms.

Once wired you test with in diode mode. You should see 0.7v or so from shore inlet ground to ac ground bus.

You can also check between the ac ground bus and the engines. Or dc ground bus. to See if you have that bond or not.