VICTRON ENERGY ITR000702001, is an isolation transformer indispensable in professional marine electrical systems. With an isolation transformer you get two separate electrical circuits, the alternating current systems are galvanically separated between the shore supply and the boat. This is important for safety and eliminates the need for galvanic isolators and polarity reversal alarms.
Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals are in contact with each other and exposed to an electrically conductive liquid. Seawater and fresh water, although to a lesser extent, are such liquids. Generally speaking, the metal that is most active (non-noble) corrodes while the less active (noble) metal receives cathodic protection. The degree of corrosion depends on several factors such as the ratio between the size of the metal surfaces, the corrosive properties of the liquid and the metals, etc.
It is a misconception that galvanic corrosion only affects metal and aluminum hulls. In fact, it can affect any boat as soon as a metal part (shaft and propeller) comes into contact with water. When the boat is connected to shore power, galvanic corrosion will quickly destroy your sacrificial anodes and corrode shafts, propellers and other metal parts in contact with the water. It may therefore be tempting not to connect the earth conductor, however this is very dangerous as an earth fault circuit breaker will then not work and neither will a fuse blow in the event of a short circuit to the metal parts of the boat.
The best solution to avoid galvanic corrosion and at the same time avoid the unsafe situation is to install an isolation transformer to which you then connect to the shore current.
Safety and protection against galvanic corrosion
With an isolation transformer you get two separate electrical circuits, the AC systems become galvanically separated between the shore supply and the boat. This is important for safety and eliminates the need for galvanic isolators and pole reversal alarms. We think safety is self-evident when it comes to regular land installations. In the event of a short circuit, the fuse "trips" and in the event of an earth fault, the earth fault circuit breaker trips. If you connect the earth conductor of the land side to the metal parts of the boat, you will get galvanic corrosion (see below). If you only connect phase and neutral conductors to the boat's electrical system, you get a dangerous situation because an earth fault circuit breaker will then not work, nor will a fuse blow in the event of a short circuit to the boat's metal parts.
< strong>Galvanic corrosion occurs when two different metals are in contact with each other and exposed to an electrically conductive liquid. Seawater and fresh water, although to a lesser extent, are such liquids. Generally speaking, the metal that is most active (non-noble) corrodes while the less active (noble) metal receives cathodic protection. The degree of corrosion depends on several factors such as the ratio between the size of the metal surfaces, the corrosive properties of the liquid and the metals, etc.
It is a misconception that galvanic corrosion only affects metal and aluminum hulls . In fact, it can affect any boat as soon as a metal part (shaft and propeller) comes into contact with water. When the boat is connected to shore power, galvanic corrosion will quickly destroy your sacrificial anodes and corrode shafts, propellers and other metal parts in contact with the water. It may therefore be tempting not to connect the earth conductor, however this is very dangerous as an earth fault circuit breaker will then not work nor will a fuse blow in the event of a short circuit to metal parts of the boat.
The best solution to avoid galvanic corrosion and at the same time avoid the unsafe situation is to install an isolation transformer to which you then connect to the shore current. With an isolation transformer you get two separate electrical circuits, the alternating current systems are galvanically separated between the shore supply and the boat. The shore power is connected to the primary side of the transformer and the boat's system to the secondary side. The isolation transformer separates the boat from the shore system's protective ground. By connecting all metal parts to neutral on the secondary side of the transformer, RCDs and fuses will trip in the event of a short circuit.
Soft start is standard on Victron Energy isolation transformers. It prevents the transformer's starting current from tripping the shore fuse.
It is also suitable, for best safety, to connect the neutral of the secondary side to protective earth when the boat is on land.
3600 Watt Auto 115/230 V
This model automatically switches to 115 V or 230 V, depending on the incoming voltage. Power supply 88 V – 130V: switches to 115 V supply Input 185 – 250 V: switches to 230 V input range. Note: The AC input voltage increases by a ratio of 1:1.05 at the AC output.
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