Seabis System Corrosion

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Crusoe
Crusoe
QLD
1197 posts
QLD, 1197 posts
11 Mar 2015 6:41pm
Are any of you familiar with this system for monitoring and eleimnating/reducing the issue of electrolysis to an acceptable level.

The theory for the system is based on Kelvin'sAbsolute Law.

When the battery 0 volts (actually at minus 12 volts), is connected to hull or engine, electrons, as they are negatively charged, are repelled from your metal and attracted to the positive 1 point 2 volts of the Earth causing electrolysis capable current.


The system requires you to fully isolate your boat electrics from any metal wetted surface. In the case of the engine you need to install an isolator for the negative as well as the positive So it can be fully isolated after use.

I was thinking of going through my boat to see what connections there are to the hull and also back to shore power supplies. Having a 240Vac system on the boat as well as a permanent inverter and battery chargers should make the exercise interesting.

If the Seabis system is set up correctly it alleviates the need for a galvanic isolator on the earth conductor for your shore power connection.


www.seabis.com/
Ramona
Ramona
NSW
7757 posts
NSW, 7757 posts
12 Mar 2015 9:49am
Warships have a system like this. For normal yachties it's probably a losing battle but I can see opportunities to make money here. Good management is probably the best you can hope for. There is no way you can isolate electrical currents once the vessel is in the ocean. We all need 12volts all the time [even when the main battery switches are off] to keep the radio presets, 12v bilge/float switch to pump out the boat while away [I don't]. Condensation or water in the bilge or water running down the sail track or even grime on top of batteries is enough to give stray voltages. It's the low voltage stray currents that are the problem. Timber vessels with normal moisture levels and metal fixings and you have a current while that boat is floating. The correct number of anodes and connected to what is being protected is what is important.

240 volts is much safer for a vessel floating. If your using shore power always use an earth leakage system on the wharf. On the boat, earth leakage switches on the systems you actually handle, TV, toaster, kettle etc is pretty much the minimum and fairly cheap to achieve. Pumps etc in the engine room don't matter so much.

Much of the low voltage problems we have can be reduced by simply a good paint system.
Ramona
Ramona
NSW
7757 posts
NSW, 7757 posts
12 Mar 2015 9:52am
I should add that once you have solar panels and the wires enter the hull, you have plenty of opportunities for more stray stuff!
Crusoe
Crusoe
QLD
1197 posts
QLD, 1197 posts
12 Mar 2015 6:34pm
Started on the project today and installed an isolator for the main engine negative connection point. Did some testing then and found there was another small engine negative from the starter panel wiring loom. Still have to sort out the alternator charge light circuit. This I would image is only the tip of the iceberg.
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