Thanks Tom, that's good to know, I've been told I was not in compliance by letting it float and that it was technically suppose to be grounded, although many do not.
What about the 120V house power system? I've left that ungrounded as well and I'm pretty sure that is not in compliance but it would be nice to know if it was. I know every set of directions I've ever seen shows it should be grounded. I've spoken with the inverter supplier and he said it was technically wrong but would not hurt the inverter and that many people do it that way. Seems it is a disputed subject.
The risk of a shock hazard is there I know, but it is minimal. First I'd have to have a significant ground fault in my system, then I'd have to be grounded good enough myself to pass current if I came in contact with a component that was hot. While possible, it seems unlikely since the boat itself is not really grounded so you would have to be in sumultaneous contact with your neutral which is possible but unlikely.
You know you can stand on a rubber mat and stick your finger in a light socket and not get shocked. I've seen it done more than once. Actually tried it myself once. While you rise to a 120V potential, if you are isolated from ground, there is no current flow and thus no shock. Kind of spooky and I don't recommend doing it but it does work. No ground, no shock!
One professional installer of solar systems I talked to said that oil rig operators absolutely forbid grounding of a system on thier rigs and insist on letting it float for the same reason I have. Fear of a ground fault causing excellerated galvanic corrosion.
Carter
From: Tom <boat_works@yahoo.com>
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 12:59 AM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] proper grounding for electric yachts
To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 12:59 AM
Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] proper grounding for electric yachts
No worries, Carter. ABYC allows your configuration. And as far as I can tell, the USCG hasn't addressed electric propulsion for recreational boats.
Re ABYC Standards:
For DC systems 50V or less:
E-11.5.4.74 allows, but does not require, the DC negative side to be connected to the DC grounding bus.
E-11.16.1 allows, but does not require, a DC grounding bus.
For electric propulsion systems >50VDC but <1000V:
TE-30 requires the propulsion electrical system to remain isolated from the boat's grounding system. Non-current-carrying conductive parts (e.g. motor case) should be tied into the boat's grounding system.
My copy of the standards is a few years old now, these documents may have been revised by now.
-Tom
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Carter Quillen <twowheelinguy@...> wrote:
>
> That's the way I set up my boat as well and a lot of people do it that way but I believe it is in direct contradiction to the ABYC standards. However I don't think it matters unless you're trying to get your vessel certified by the Coast Guard for commercial endeavors. If you have a steel, or in my case, ferrocement boat, grounding your system to the boat can cause a disaster if a ground fault develops in your system.
>
> If your vessel is for private use, not being in compliance with the ABYC guidelines is usually not a problem, (unless you're doing something realy stupid), except maybe to qualify for insurance. But when you're talking about old refurbished boats, it's almost impossible to get affordable insurance anyway and most people simply self insure anyway.
>
> Carter
> www.archemedesproject.blogspot.com
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Fred Liesegang <fred4936@...>
> To: "electricboats@yahoogroups.com" <electricboats@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 5:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [Electric Boats] proper grounding for electric yachts
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hello, I converted both a truck and my boat to electric. They both have floating grounds. It is best to keep the two systems completely isolated.
>
> Fred Liesegang
> Tartan 27-2 Eagle
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: semicolonsutra <no_reply@yahoogroups.com>
> To: electricboats@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, July 20, 2013 1:54 AM
> Subject: [Electric Boats] proper grounding for electric yachts
>
>
> Can anyone give me pointers on how to properly ground my DC electric system on my electric powered boat? Previously the negative ground wire went to a Perkins engine and now I have a ME0913 from Thunderstruck and not really sure or competent as of yet as to how to properly ground it or if this indeed is possible. Any tips or references, or pictures would be appreciated.
>
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