ELECTROLYSIS and GALVANIC CORROSION

[Lobo]

This post follows up a previous post on the same topic. At my yacht club (RVYC, Victoria BC) one of our members -- an electrical engineer and Selene owner -- put on a presentation with a 40+ page PowerPoint presentation. At the time of my original post you could access the presentation on our club website for a while but it's hard to find, so working with Bruce Moore, there is a link below for you that is much easier to access. It is set to allow 500 downloads.

The problem of "vanishing zincs" has several causes and the culprit may be your vessel or your neighbours vessel.

Electrolysis and Galvanic Corrosion are different but both affect your boat.

There are 5 sections:

1. What is electricity (Roger presumed his audience knew nothing about electricity. He was 85% correct!)
2. Boats and electricity (Ah....this is important to us!)
3. Electrolysis
4. Galvanic Corrosion
5. Summary and recommendations (if you have a generator or play with your boat in fresh water check this summary)

Here is the link:

https://www.hightail.com/download/bXBad ... Umx3SGNUQw



FYI: I installed a SMARTPLUG on my boat. My insurer gave me a $40 premium reduction. I have a galvanic isolator (from Yandana), a shaft brush and an old 1 pound commercial zinc that I toss overboard when I am plugged in at the dock. My zincs are lasting longer than they used to.

Dave
Lobo

 

[pugtug613]

I find, if you limit the time you are plugged in, that's the best solution. With the solar panels, I can leave my fridge on and get 48 hours w/o plugging in. I plug in after I see the voltage drop to 12.0 - 12.2. Leave it overnight and start over. If I take the perishables out of the fridge and turn off the battery switch, I can go all week.

 

[Boont Boater]

Thanks Bruce and Dave! Looks interesting.