Marine Surveyors of North Georgia Releases Custom Built, Patent Pending, Stray Current Sensor (SCS)
Stray Current Sensor Installed on Pedestal
Marine Surveyors of North Georgia has custom built this device at our facility to be mobile and connect to all three shore power connections for every vessel. There is the 30 amp 125 volt, 50 amp 125 volt and 50 amp 250 volt sensors. We have named this product an (SCS) Stray Current Sensor. The (SCS) Stray Current Sensor identifies AC electrical current leakage in any vessel’s shore power system that can either travel through the ground system as it should or if the ground wire is severed or a galvanic isolator is inoperable the “stray” electrical “current” will travel back through the bonding system and into the water. The “sensor” sounds an audio alarm to indicate when a ground fault above 27 mA threshold (ABYC and NFPA Standards and NEC Codes) occurs in the vessel AC electrical system.
Reading stray current level from the Stray Current Sensor
The Stray Current Sensor is a mobile device installed between the dock power pedestal and the vessel shore power cord. It is a tool that helps the marina personal, marine surveyor, electrician and the boat owner trouble shoot the source of alternate current electrical leakage in any vessel without shutting the power off to the vessel so you can figure out what the existing problem is. Process of elimination by turning breakers on and off can pin down the problems immediately. Older vessels, vessels renovated with new wiring and appliances, an extremely high electric bill, electric shock when touching something metal on board, some one stating they feel a tingle in the water when swimming near the boat or simply seeing destruction of a submerged outdrive or lower unit is a sure indicator this tool is needed.
Once serious AC stray current or ground fault conditions (above 27 mA) are addressed and repaired or the owner is simply concerned about his or her vessels electrical system they can buy or rent sensors and activate their own appliances and components “to ensure” that intermittent equipment (appliances and components that turn on by themselves) are not an additional source of stray current. This is the best way to prove the proper operation of all on board AC equipment. The rental sensors will be installed by an MSNG (Marine Surveyor’s of North Georgia) ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) Certified Technician and will instruct the owner how simple it is to operate. Just two buttons to push and panel breakers turned on and off will figure out what individual appliances or the entire shore power system is faulty.
AC Electricity in “fresh water” kills. Swimming near any vessel that has shore power connected to it is hazardous either at a private residence or at a marina. The “No Swimming” signs at the marina that are installed at every dock ramp are there for a reason. Keep in mind if you have your boat tested and you know your boat has no stray current does not mean your neighbors boat does not have stray current. Stray AC electrical current above 100 mA can kill some one if they are swimming and caught in between the path of least resistance. I find that when there is electricity in the water it travels to the nearest ground source which is either the nearest boat or the metal dock frame including the cables that are attached to the concrete blocks deep in the water that hold the dock in place. None the less it is very dangerous to swim at any marina. To be aware is to be alive.
For more information about the Stray Current Sensor, inquire below: