A/C Install & Generator fears put to rest!

[dxg4848]

Research your AC and DC system and see how it is bonded. I'm not sure if what your asking is sufficient. Either way it is not that difficult to create a bonding wiring/system to each component. I'm still researching this issue as well. Better safe than sorry.

If I understood it right bonding has nothing to do with AC or DC wiring. It is simply connecting together all metallic components in contact with sea water. I think it is done because metallic components in contact with sea water could be at different electrical potentials resulting in small currents through them causing galvanic corrosion. Connecting all these components together brings them to the same potential and no current through them.

Not having bonding voids warranty. Webasto gives you 2 years and I bought 2 more from West Marine. I may just run wire from seacock to A/C unit.

A/C unit is insulated seating on marine plywood pads epoxied to fiberglass hull. The only time currents could flow through it is when sea water pump is running. The current loop would be from seacock touching sea water being at one potential, then through water inside the hose connected to A/C unit being at different potential, then through discharge water stream to outside water, and back to seacock (through outside water). It will probably never cause any issues. I might call Webasto on this.

[A Salt Weapon]

Please let me know what they say. There is a lot of conflicting opinions regarding Bonding Systems and how they are connected. Mine is currently not bonded. Thanks for checking it out.

[Russ]

Sorry Dave.
I just reread your post and you do say it is a powerhorse. Now where would I get one.
Thanks Bob
ps. next time I will wear my specs.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RC ... GECXKD2H0P

That's the powerhouse.
Dave has a powerhorse. Like the animal not the building.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JMETL3 ... ref=plSrch

[Ixneigh]

I bought one of those portable ac units to cool a room where I keep my dogs. I think I'd put that on my boat if I ever needed one there. It needs only power and a warm air return pipe about 6 inches in diameter. It could easily fit several places on the boat since its tall but has a small footprint.
No contact with sea water. The warm air vent could be fit unobtrusively on the cabin or deck.
Ix

[Tomfoolery]

Bonding is for both corrosion, and for personnel protection. If you have an ungrounded (hot) AC line wear and contact some part of the DC system, which is invariably in contact with the water (OB, for instance), you'll leak current into the water, and create a dangerous zone of electrical voltage gradiant around the boat.

But, according to my FIL, years ago it was common practice to snip the grounding conductor to the shore power cord in an effort to prevent leakage current from other people's boats from eating up parts of your boat, but that potentially created the dangerous situation the other boat was causing. The answer, of course, was to have all boats properly wired, so nobody's boat, and/or persons in the water near them, were at risk. That's why the ABYC requires bonding the DC negative to the shore power equipment grounding system.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 6&p=246096

The presentation is long, but educational. The speaker lost his son to ESD (electric shock drowning) from poor boat wiring, but boat lifts are also a common source of danger.

[DaveB]

Thanks Russ, It is actually a Horse and a House as it will power both up to 2000 watts, that should crank some tractor.
Crank your 5000 btu air condition, fans,lights and 700 watt microwave on your boat. Sorry, coffee pot (800 watts) will require one of past to shut off, that would be micro wave. The 2000 develops 13 amps @ 110. 15Amps at start with 13amps running. 5000 btu air condition runs Max 4 amps.
In 90 degree temps. in SW fl you will leave AC at full power in direct sunlight to have inside temps at 79 degrees (cooler if you have boom cover), at night put it at low cool and set it at #3 as inside will get to 74 degrees. That's with the Honeywell 5000 btu. aircondition. That's also sleeping in rear birth, you want to set it max. low if in Vberth or use heavy sleeping bags.
Dave

Sorry Dave.
I just reread your post and you do say it is a powerhorse. Now where would I get one.
Thanks Bob
ps. next time I will wear my specs.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RC ... GECXKD2H0P

That's the powerhouse.
Dave has a powerhorse. Like the animal not the building.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JMETL3 ... ref=plSrch