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Boat Electrics
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In this module we cover onboard sources of AC power, including DC-to-AC inverters, onboard generators, and polarization and isolation transformers. We also talk about preventing corrosion caused by the shorepower grounding conductor and how to deal with varying shoreside voltages.
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In this short intro lesson, we discuss how to safely switch between various power sources.
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We get to know the various onboard power sources and how we can integrate them into a boat's AC system.
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We learn about mechanisms to prevent corrosion issues that can be caused by the grounding conductor of a shorepower connection.
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If you are venturing to foreign countries (or if your local marina is badly wired) you will have to deal with varying shoreside voltages and frequencies. In this lesson, we present a simple way to prepare a boat for such circumstances without the need for any expensive specialized equipment.
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In this bonus article, Nigel dives a bit deeper into criteria for selecting an inverter for onboard use.
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This course has been created in a joint effort by Nigel Calder and Dr. Jan Athenstädt. Nigel is responsible for the lecture notes and Jan will take the role of presenter and guide you through the lessons.
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There is a lot of confusion about the PE groundpoint of Victron Inverter Chargers.
Some people assume this is for AC grounding only, others say it has a DC safety grounding purpose also. What does ABYC and ISO tell us about the required cable size.
For example a Quattro 8000 needs an at least 90mm2 grounding cable on it PE ground poin to carry the full DC current an fase of a DC problem.
Peter,
Yes, there frequently is confusion but there should not be! It’s actually simple.
The AC grounding conductor is connected internally to the inverter case. Most of our boats have grounded DC systems in which the AC grounding side is tied to the DC negative. The DC side of the inverter is isolated from the case.
Let’s think what happens in the event of a short circuit from the DC side to the case. On the DC positive side, we have a large conductor with a fuse which may be rated as high as 500 amps. In the absence of the case ground, the short circuit current flows through the AC grounding circuit with the only protection being the fuse on the DC positive side. The AC grounding side melts down.
So the case ground has to be able to handle that worst case DC fault current, in which case it needs to be sized the same as the DC positive and negative conductors, except the ABYC allows it to be one size smaller.
Nigel