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Subject: Re: TWL: Alternatives to isolation transformer?
From: Arild Jensen (elnav@XXX.XXX)
Date: Mon May 06 2002 - 15:07:41 EDT
> Arild:
>
> Do you mean GFCI in front of or behind the isolator. In other words does
> the use of a diode only isolator disable GFCI that are located on the boat
> or only ones located on the panel at the meter ahead of the boat?
>
> Frank Burrows
REPLY
I was given to understand that theh GFCI on the dock would no longer function if a person on
the boat got across the line and ground ( water or whatever) since the return current has to pass
through the galvanic isolator in order to reach the GFCI detector ashore.
I guess that would be "ahead of the boat" as you described it.
since a human body would pose a fairly high resistance, the voltage drop acrosss the person
may not be sufficient to overcome the diode barrier or else react quickly enough.
The capacitor effectively allows any slight AC current to pass while blocking DC.
Incidentally, I have also heard reports that the galvanic isolators which contain a capacitor
seems to reduce the rate of zinc corrosion.
regards
Arild
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