Galvanic currents – what does this mean?

Among boats the galvanic current destroys engine parts , rudder etc. Mains operated equipments with earth protection is the cause.

A lowcurrent path is created from the earth point at the power service ashore , via the equipment onboard down to the metal parts in the boat and out in sea. Usually several sacrificing anods are installed to protect the metall parts and must be replaced every season.

In order to permanently avoid the problem an insulation transformer has to be installed between the power ashore and the equipment onboard. This will break the current-path. All at a high cost , approx. 160 – 450€ depending on selected size.

One alternative is to install dual-insulated (reinforced) products instead – they contains the insulation transformer. A reinforced product is easy to recognize – no grounding terminal and a two-square-inside- each-other sign.

Compare with your hair dryer or TV-set. Reinforced chargers are more expensive to produce compared to cheaper earth protected chargers. A reinforced charger must have two independent insulations barriers, increased internal insulation distances and use a higher classified type of insulation materials. Also higher design demands is presented for the reinforced type to avoid radio interference.

All of Tystor chargers is of the reinforce type and have the insulations transformer inbuild.