Victron Isolation Transformer 3600W Automatic 115/230V switching

Indispensable in professional marine energy systems. It prevents electrolytic corrosion and above all serves as a device to guarantee a safe electric system. Toroidal wound technology for quietness and high efficiency. Soft start circuitry will ensure that the shore circuit breaker will not trip when plugged in.

Galvanic Corrosion

Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals in electrical contact are simultaneously exposed to an electrically conducting fluid. Seawater and, to a lesser extent, freshwater is such fluids. In general, the more active alloy of the couple corrodes preferentially while the less active (more noble) material is cathodically protected. The rate of galvanic corrosion is a function of several variables including area ratios, the conductivity of the fluid, temperature, nature of the materials, etc.

It is a misunderstanding that galvanic corrosion occurs only in metal and aluminium hulls. In fact it can occur on any boat as soon as a metallic part (the shaft and propeller) is in contact with water. Galvanic corrosion will quickly dissolve your sacrificial anodes, and attack the shaft, propeller and other metal parts in contact with water as soon as the boat is connected to the shore-side supply. It might therefore be tempting not to connect the ground conductor: this is however extremely dangerous because GFCIs will not work nor will a fuse blow in case of a short circuit to a metal part on the boat. The best solution to avoid galvanic corrosion and at the same time prevent any unsafe situation is to install an Isolation Transformer to connect to the shore-side supply.

Safety and prevention of galvanic corrosion

The Isolation Transformer eliminates any electrical continuity between AC shore power and the boat. It is essential for safety and eliminates the need for galvanic isolators and polarity alarms. Safety is taken for granted in the case of a normal on-shore installation. A fuse will blow or a GFCI (Ground Fault Current Interrupter) will trip in case of a short circuit or current leakage to ground. Connecting the ground wire of the shore-side supply to the metal parts of the boat will result in galvanic corrosion (see below). Bringing only the live and neutral wire onboard results in an unsafe situation because GFCIs will not work nor will a fuse blow in case of a short circuit to a metal part on the boat.

The best solution

To avoid galvanic corrosion and at the same time prevent any unsafe situation is to install an Isolation Transformer to connect to the shore-side supply. The Isolation Transformer eliminates any electrical continuity between shore power and the boat. The shore power is fed to the primary side of the transformer and the ship is connected to the secondary. The Isolation Transformer completely isolates the boat from the shore ground. By connecting all metal parts to the neutral output on the secondary side of the transformer, a GFCI will trip or a fuse will blow in case of a short circuit.

Reduce galvanic corrosion with an Isolation Transformer Victron Energy