So I need to run a 110 ac circuit for my battery charger are they ground fault protected or not.
Battery charge circuit
- Thread starter dvx216
- Start date
Mike Blake
Active Member
- Jan 27, 2012
- 2,413
- Boat Info
- 89 340 Sundance all Raymarine.
- Engines
- Gas hogs 454X2.
Yes they are. Plus a breaker at the panel.
paulswagelock
Well-Known Member
I assume you already have shore power and are just adding a charger circuit?
yes 230 WE have shore power just didn't know if it the circuit to the charges are normally GFCI or a direct circuit that was not.
paulswagelock
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the clarification. In all the boats that I have owned, wired from the factory, none of them used a gfi circuit to the drymount charger.
The ABYC Standards call for GFCIs to protect receptacles and therefore the appliances that are plugged into the receptacle. However, the Standards do not require GFCIs for permanently-wired appliances such as hot water heaters, space heaters, battery chargers, air conditioners, etc. These devices are assumed to be protected by a solid safety ground connection to the case. However, it is good practice to also protect these devices with GFCIs. It is possible to use the output of one GFCI receptacle to feed other receptacles and permanently wired devices. By doing so, you can choose to provide more protection than the minimum in the ABYC Standard.
The ABYC Standards call for GFCIs to protect receptacles and therefore the appliances that are plugged into the receptacle. However, the Standards do not require GFCIs for permanently-wired appliances such as hot water heaters, space heaters, battery chargers, air conditioners, etc. These devices are assumed to be protected by a solid safety ground connection to the case. However, it is good practice to also protect these devices with GFCIs. It is possible to use the output of one GFCI receptacle to feed other receptacles and permanently wired devices. By doing so, you can choose to provide more protection than the minimum in the ABYC Standard.
If you plug the charger into a receptacle, then that receptacle must be GFCI protected (either by a GFCI breaker, or another upstream GFCI outlet). However, if the charger is in the bilge of your boat, then an outlet CAN NOT be used. In that case, it's hardwired through a breaker/fuse system.
Charger is above deck and needs to be plugged in . If it's circuit runs directly to the charger with a female plug then should it be GFCI
After reading paulswagelock thread two more times the best bet would be to install a GFCI recep. with outdoor cover inside my side storage area then drop down to the charger with a female plug to plug the charger into.I can't remove the plug on the charger or I will void the warranty on it.
No. You cannot have any electrical plugs in your bilge. IF the charger is approved for use in a gasoline bilge, then it can be installed in the bilge. You need to be 100% sure it is approved for that. But again, no plugs of any kind in the bilge. This includes alligator clips - use ring terminals that permanently attach (onto the battery post with a nut, anyways) to the battery.
eagleone
Member
I am thinking he has just bought a regular charger and not a marine one.
the charger above deck not in the bilge and it is a marine charger
eagleone
Member
place your charger and gfi above deck and run your charging wires with stake-ons direct to the battery.
Yes all of the above.Long weekend on the Ohio river or the smaller lakes I go to I'm not plugged into shore power plus its not uncommon to spend a few nights on the hook then it would be nice to go to a marina spend the night and charge the house battery on shore power.
Last edited:
paulswagelock
Well-Known Member
Since you are adding a battery charger, you are now potentially connecting AC and DC grounds through that charger. There are more steps to take if they are not already done - AC to DC ground bar jumper, through hull fitting bonding, and very important a galvanic isolator.
Failure to do these items can cause catastrophic failure to your boat, a neighboring boat, or human life.
Does your boat have all these items already?
Failure to do these items can cause catastrophic failure to your boat, a neighboring boat, or human life.
Does your boat have all these items already?
Thanks for bringing this to my attention I did checked for continuity between the AC ground and the engine block and I have a continuity without the charger plugged in. Even though my boat is smaller then most it is set up with factory shore power and even without a battery charger factory installed those components are needed to be in place it is all part of the Shore Power and Mercathode system which is address in the Sea Ray owners manual for my boat.
paulswagelock
Well-Known Member
Then the last step is to verify you have a galvanic isolator in the system. If you are not familiar, it breaks the green earth ground coming from the shore power with 2 diodes and a capacitor. Critical in a system to prevent galvanic corrosion, and potential shocking for anyone in the water swimming near the docked and connected boat.
With my boat having shore power install by Sea Ray I would think an galvanic isolator would be used. I did not know this for sure so with some hunting I found it mounted to the cabin wall under the counter top.
Last edited:
