[Electric Boats] Rewiring DC electric system and Grounding

Hi, Although not as boat (or electrical!) savvy as most here, I am refitting a gutted boat, and did get some insight from another forum a while back, re a caution they had about what I was assuming at the time.

I have what I thought was a negative (side of battery) grounding system throughout the boat.
It consists mainly of single strand heavy copper wires. They connect to a plate type item that has a through-hull connection, and to all rigging fittings. Down the centre of the boat it has copper straps.

Apparently this is all part of a ground plane system for vhf radio, as well as static protection.
The reason I am posting this is that apparently systems such as this should never be connected into the electricals as an overall boat negative ground system.

Also during that other forum discussion (liveaboard.com) it seemed to be that the highest rates of problems were from shore supplied current, and bad grounding in marinas generally. The end result for me was to set my mind on having no shore power wiring, and to avoid marinas.

my 2 cents,
John

1e. Re: Rewiring DC electric system and Grounding
Posted by: "John Raynes" johncraynes@gmail.com eboatdrives
Date: Tue Mar 1, 2011 2:57 am ((PST))

Brian,

Thank you for bringing the "Grounding" question to this forum. I hope there
is an expert among us who can really nail down how to create a ground for
electric propulsion. I recommend a ground bus bar wired to the underwater
metal, ie rudder and steering system and attached a ground wire from the
negative side of the battery for my ground. Please others on this forum
comment on this very important issue. Has ABYC finished the official rules
inregard to grounding for electric systems??

John Raynes

--
_______________________________________________
Surf the Web in a faster, safer and easier way:
Download Opera 9 at http://www.opera.com

------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/electricboats/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/electricboats/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
electricboats-digest@yahoogroups.com
electricboats-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
electricboats-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/