[C38] electrical leakage via ground of dock power

[Don Strong]

People: As per advice of an electronics engineer sailing friend, I simply 
unplug when not on the boat at the dock. Discreet Charm had the benefit of 
a professional rewire job, but she still has some leakage when plugged in, 
as described below by Les. Since I began unplugging, zinks last lots 
longer. Never disconnect just the ground; doing this could lead to 
electrocution of swimmers, someone touching the boat from the dock, or 
another boat. I am told that a device installed near the plug can prevent 
electrical leakage. Does anyone know this gadget? Tom?
thanks, Don


At 11:13 PM 07/03/2006, you wrote:
>HI, All,
>     Nancy and I joke that JACE was the last one of a run.  We found lots of
>5"-6" pieces of wire, and made a ball of electrical tape about 9" in
>diameter as I went through the wiring the first time.  I have a lot of it
>cleaned up and am now getting ready for a full wiring job.
>
>      Seriously, these boats have been through a few hands at this stage of
>their life, and as we all know repairs are seldom done in the luxury of a
>yard.  So you do the best you can and clean it up when you have time and/or
>money to do it.  There are some places that we need to pay good attention.
>One is ground, because problems there will sure mess up your hardware.
>Another is AC because it is so much power and its ground is shared with
>other boats in your dock area.  These bits will affect your electroylsis,
>and can have bad (BAD!!!) effects on all underwater hardware and on
>mechanical systems as well.
>
>     Checking your leakage to the ocean is a good idea.  Right now I have
>JACE down well below 1ma (I haven't checked it since my latest work, but it
>should be a bit lower now.  New boats should have no problem getting to 10
>microamps, but we do have some age and dampness in our boats, which will
>affect some of the numbers a bit.  Lower is better.  To check it, turn the
>battery switch to one or two, turn off all systems but turn on all switches
>at the power panel you can (don't use any that run automatically, such as a
>refer or autopilot)  Then put an ammeter (on the highest range like 10 amps)
>in the lead from the selected battery negative to ground.  The meter should
>read very close to zero if not zero.  The direction (+/- is not too
>important unless you are diagnosing electrolysis issues, but that is beyond
>the scope of this note) but the value should be well below 1 milliamp,
>preferably 0-10microamps.  You can have an electrician make this check for
>you if you are uneasy with batteries and wiring.
>
>     Grounding and paths between hardware will also affect your lightning
>protection.  I cannot advise, but there are books on the subject.  The shops
>in Florida all have good rules they follow I suspect.  Here in California,
>it is a bit more informal, and no one seems to have published a definitive
>guide, because in all my reading, the directions seem a bit different from
>book to book.  I haven't checked ABYC on this issue yet (another one on the
>to do list).
>
>Regards,
>Les H
>Les Howell Technical Specialist, Teradyne (retired) hlhowell at pacbell.net IM:
>OldETC (Yahoo) Professional Profile
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Mike and Jeannie Yount" <mandj3 at cox.net>
>To: "Catalina 38 Listserve" <listserve at catalina38.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 2:42 PM
>Subject: Re: [C38] Wiring Diagram
>
>
> > Hi All
> > I too would be interested in a wiring diagram. I think my boat was wired
> > by
> > a high school shop class,first year students.I have slowly been re-wiring
> > what I can. It is very frustrating trying to trace down wiring problems.
> > The
> > previous owner seemed to think that if he twisted the wires together and
> > it
> > lit up, that was good enough, after he cut a wire from somewhere and
> > twisted
> > into it.Anyway, please send or post a copy of the wiring diagram. Thank
> > you
> > Mike
> > "Moonraker" C-38 #204
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Charles Finn" <charles at finn.ws>
> > To: "Catalina 38 Listserve" <listserve at catalina38.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 11:31 AM
> > Subject: Re: [C38] Wiring Diagram
> >
> >
> >> Bill and Max!
> >> Can I post these (pictures and diagrams) on our website?  If so, please
> >> send me a copy and perhaps some explanatory text?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Charles Finn
> >> Mighty Quinn  #114
> >> Webmaster
> >>
> >>
> >> Bill Ferrera wrote:
> >> > Hi Max
> >> >
> >> > I believe I have the wiring diagram on Freedom.....I'll try to get by
> >> > there today and scan it tomorrow morning and send it to you.
> >> >
> >> > Your traveler risers pictures are great.  Although I don't have
> >> > problems with leaking at this time, I will store them for future.....
> >> >
> >> > Thanks
> >> >
> >> > Bill Ferrera
> >> > Freedom #297
> >> > Alameda, CA
> >> >
> >> >     ----- Original Message -----
> >> >     *From:* Max Soto <mailto:maxsoto at hotmail.com>
> >> >     *To:* listserve at catalina38.org <mailto:listserve at catalina38.org>
> >> >     *Sent:* Tuesday, June 13, 2006 7:47 PM
> >> >     *Subject:* [C38] Wiring Diagram
> >> >
> >> >     Hi,
> >> >
> >> >     Do any one has a Wiring Diagram for the C38????
> >> >
> >> >     I need to do some work on this area and it will be great to have
> > this
> >> >     around!
> >> >
> >> >     thanks
> >> >
> >> >     Max Soto
> >> >     C38 #198 ESTANCIA
> >> >     Puntarenas, Costa Rica
> >> >
> >> >     _________________________________________________________________
> >> >     Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's
> >> >     FREE!
> >> >     http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
> >> >
> >> >
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......................................................................................................................
Donald R. Strong
Professor
Section of Ecology and Evolution
                  and
Bodega Marine Laboratory
Division of Biological Sciences
University of California, Davis 95616
Phone, 530 752-7886
Fax    , 530 752-1449