Nigel Calder & Jeff Cote Talk Marine Electrical - Part 3 of 11 - AC Ground to DC Ground Tie
9 April 2023 · 4 min · 4K views
What this video covers
Jeff Cote and Nigel Calder discuss the necessity of bonding the AC grounding circuit to the DC grounding system on recreational boats.0:18 Many boat owners intentionally disconnect this tie to prevent galvanic corrosion, but this practice creates a significant safety risk.0:23 Shore power connections rely on pin-and-sleeve plugs that frequently corrode in salt environments, leading to unreliable grounding paths.1:25 If the shore ground fails during an AC fault, the boat’s metal components can become energized, creating a lethal shock hazard for anyone on board or in the water.1:49 While European-built boats historically omitted this connection in favor of Residual Current Devices (RCDs), current standards require the AC-to-DC ground tie to ensure a reliable fault path.2:54 Modern galvanic isolators are designed to fail closed, maintaining the grounding connection even if the device malfunctions.3:30 Installing an Equipment Leakage Circuit Interrupter (ELCI) mitigates the shock hazard created by this necessary grounding bond.2:11
More from Pacific Yacht Systems
From Pacific Yacht Systems — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.