C42 as a battery

Re: C42 as a battery

feeds@yuku.com (CaptNorm42) — Mon, 22 May 2006 14:00:26 GMT

Ernie,
I do have a galvanic isolator. I actually built it myself & ran their tests when I installed it. Everything checked out fine. My impression is this isolator only works on the green ground AC wire. When I did my voltage checks just before starting this thread, the AC wire was unplugged. Main DC battery circuit breaker in the OFF position.

Actually, the guys that sold me the kit have a very good writeup on electrolysis. Their opening...

Re: C42 as a battery

feeds@yuku.com (ernieapril) — Mon, 22 May 2006 11:16:03 GMT

Norm-

Do you have a galvanic isolater installed on your ground wire? Low current leakage here (in either direction) is a major cause of rapid sacrificial (zinc) and non-sacrificial (bronze, etc) corrosion. These units prevent small current leakage, but open when the ground needs to do what a ground does. There are several brands. I installed a 30A ProMariner "Zinc Saver" and the zincs last well.

These units are quick...

Re: C42 as a battery

feeds@yuku.com (tinolanza) — Wed, 17 May 2006 06:34:35 GMT

One more thought brought on by the legend of Ben Franklin flying a kite. He did not actually get a lightening strike, but did successfully measure a voltage between the atmosphere and ground. Are we doing the same with the mast 60+ feet in the air? That would account for the sea being positive as the atmosphere can be negatively charged. I would be curious to check the voltage under different weather conditions.

Tino Lanza, Dancing Dolphin (#739/3 cabin pullman,...

Re: C42 as a battery

feeds@yuku.com (yorkrose) — Wed, 17 May 2006 06:34:16 GMT

I am not a chemist either, but I believe the electrode you stick in the water makes a difference. You might try testing by using a bare copper wire, a zinc, and a lead sinker. See if you get the same answers.

In other words, you might be creating the battery simply by performing the measurement.

Regards,
Gene Fuller
Yorkshire Rose, C42 #870

Re: C42 as a battery

feeds@yuku.com (tinolanza) — Wed, 17 May 2006 06:02:08 GMT

I noticed a similar reading when I checked the voltage at the forestay when my roller furling froze. I am a little rusty in my electric theory, but is voltage equal to potential, not actual current flow? Therefore a battery may read 12.5 volts with no current flow. Is that also true with the boat?

I am equally rusty on my electro-chemistry, but with the boat being positive is that not the wrong direction for the zincs?

Tino Lanza,...

C42 as a battery

feeds@yuku.com (CaptNorm42) — Tue, 16 May 2006 13:36:29 GMT

I thought I knew everything about electricity , but was surpised about an electrical measurement I just made. If I put a probe in the salt water (floating the boat) and another probe on either stay or shroud, I see .7 volts being generated. This is in the very low, milliamp range. Also weird is that the sea is positive and the rig is negative. I do remember in chemistry class making a similar battery, but didn't expect it here.

In case you're...