[Alberg30] Floating Ground on Diesel Engines

[R.C. Alley]

It may be that this arrangement is set up for an "isolated ground," which is intended to avoid stray current corrosion through the prop and shaft, since the engine forms no part of the circuit. You might want to see Calder's book (Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual), pp. 83-84 for an explanation of this arrangement, to see if it matches your circumstance.

Rob Alley
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Brian and Elaine Timmins 
  To: Post to Publiclist ; atomic4-list at sailnet.net ; Post to gear maintenance list ; post to electrical systems list 
  Sent: Sunday, November 17, 2002 1:04 PM
  Subject: [Alberg30] Floating Ground on Diesel Engines


  Can anyone explain to me why my Diesel (Perkins 4-108) has a floating ground?  I am just about to start to rewire the controls and instrumentation, and realised that all of the senders, the starter circuit, & the charging circuit all have additional wires creating a Floating Ground. 
  Seems odd since there is a connection of the ground circuit to the engine anyway. The very oddest is the ground lug on the starter has a jumper to ground to the engine on a mounting bolt for the starter! What's up with this?
  Thanks,
  Brian
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