www.iFourWinns.com

When plugged into shore power, none of my galvanic isolator lights light up. What should I check first?

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

in the electrical cabinet is where the isolators are located. Its not fun getting in there, I remove the outer cabinet door and the door with the breakers on it to get better access to things. I would check and make sure they are not unplugged and they are getting power. It would seem to me if you are not getting red or green light they may not be powering up or they may be bad.

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

Remove the shore power cable, turn the main AC breaker off and use a meter having the diode test function. Test the isolator in both directions one each post and each reading should be between 0.7 and 1.4 volts. If you read a open or a short, its bad.

Where do they get power from? Seems their lights are only on when my panel lights are. Both lights...the panel indicators and those on the unit

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

> ... Where do they get power from?

I have a Guest galvanic isolator in my 258. It is always powered by 12VDC (I use the same source as the stereo's memory power) since I want to see if the boat has become potentially unsafe, which is possible at any time it is on shore power - and because it apparently does a self-test every few minutes.

While the unit's isolation function itself is "passive" (meaning it isolates the shore-power and boat grounds if it is healthy, whether powered by 12VDC or not), you won't know the state of the unit until it is powered.

_________________
Tom
Cape Coral

'99 Four Winns 258 Vista
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u VLF: Lightning, spherics

How can you tell if its powered or not? On mine, when I turn off the panel lights, the green lights go out on both the panel and the isolator itself.

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Well, it sounds like your isolator is powered when you turn on the panel lights, and otherwise not.

If you want the indicators to operate all the time you'll need to reconnect the isolator +12v supply wire to a continuous source, one that is not switched. In my installation, I had already pulled a fused continuous +12v supply to a post near the stereo for memory power, so that was a convenient source for the isolator.

Again, the isolator will function - powered or not; the indicators signal the operational state of the isolator [working (green) or failed (red)] and, when powered, my Guest isolator self-tests frequently; it sounds like yours is similar.


Tom

_________________
Tom
Cape Coral

'99 Four Winns 258 Vista
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u VLF: Lightning, spherics

So from re-reading your posts...it sounds like the isolator is working as long as its wired in correctly. The lights are just there to tell me the state of it...if its normal or in a fault state. If its in a fault state it will kill my shorepower correct? What would I need to do to "reset" it in case that ever happens?

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

No, it will not kill your shore power. An isolator failure means that your submerged metal might be at risk, and/or that the AC ground path, a safety circuit, is not functioning.

Tom

_________________
Tom
Cape Coral

'99 Four Winns 258 Vista
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u VLF: Lightning, spherics

How does it get reset? Fix whatever caused the fault?

Am I correct in my assumption in that its always on, and just the indicator lights is what I'm turning on and off?

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

> ... How does it get reset?

It doesn't. If your galvanic isolator has failed your boat is, or you are, at risk. Replace it.

_________________
Tom
Cape Coral

'99 Four Winns 258 Vista
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u VLF: Lightning, spherics

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

_________________
Tom
Cape Coral

'99 Four Winns 258 Vista
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u VLF: Lightning, spherics

This will tell you how to test and what the readings should be

http://www.pkys.com/FAQ/galvanic.htm

This thread can be put to rest.

Isolator works 24/7, the indicator lights are what's powered by the panel lights switch.

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225