Victron Isolation Transformer 7000W

Safety and prevention of galvanic corrosion.

The isolation transformer eliminates any electrical continuity between AC shore power and the boat. It is essential for safety and eliminates the need for galvanic isolators and polarity alarms. Safety is taken for granted in case of a normal on-shore installation. A fuse will blow or a GFCI (Ground Fault Current Interrupter) will trip in case of a short circuit or current leakage to ground. Connecting the ground wire of the shore-side supply to the metal parts of the boat will result in galvanic corrosion (see below). Bringing only the live and neutral wire on board results in an unsafe situation because GFCI’s will not work nor will a fuse blow in case of a short circuit to a metal part on the boat.

Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals in electrical contact are simultaneously exposed to an electrically conducting fluid. Seawater and, to a lesser extent, fresh water are such fluids. In general, the more active alloy of the couple corrodes preferentially while the less active (more noble) material is cathodically protected. The rate of galvanic corrosion is a function of several variables including area ratios, conductivity of the fluid, temperature, nature of the materials, etc.

It is a misunderstanding that galvanic corrosion occurs only in metal and aluminium hulls. In fact it can occur on any boat as soon as a metallic part (the shaft and propeller) is in contact with water. Galvanic corrosion will quickly dissolve your sacrificial anodes, and attack the shaft, propeller and other metal parts in contact with water as soon as the boat is connected to the shore-side supply.

It might therefore be tempting not to connect the ground conductor: this is however extremely dangerous because GFCI’s will not work nor will a fuse blow in case of a short circuit to a metal part on the boat. The best solution to avoid galvanic corrosion and at the same time prevent any unsafe situation is to install an isolation transformer to connect to the shore-side supply.

The isolation transformer eliminates any electrical continuity between shore power and the boat. The shore power is fed to the primary side of the transformer and the ship is connected to the secondary. The isolation transformer completely isolates the boat from the shore ground. By connecting all metal parts to the neutral output on the secondary side of the transformer, a GFCI will trip or a fuse will blow in case of a short circuit.

Soft start is a standard feature of a Victron Energy isolation transformer. It will prevent the shore power fuse from blowing due to the inrush current of the transformer, which would otherwise occur.

It is also recommended, for optimal safety, to connect the secondary neutral of the transformer to ground when the boat is out of the water.

Reasons to buy your Victron equipment or off-grid setup from us

• For safety reasons, 12v and 24v systems have been the mainstay of powering boats for half a century or more so we are well aware of the both fitting and using these systems.
• Everything we know about power and charging from boats is just as applicable to van life or off-grid installations.
• Accurate availability and realistic delivery estimates.
• We have sold thousands of Victron Units as well as everything needed to install and connect.
• If for whatever reason you have a problem, our strong after-sales service will make sure you are looked after and we will drive through any warranty cases as quickly as possible for you.
• Exceptional customer service is our top priority, reflected in our 5-star reviews.

We are excited by the technological improvements in this sector and know how modern lifestyles mean ever-increasing power demands, whether at home or away for your hobby. Having used and worked with this technology as it has emerged, we are not just ‘jumping on the bandwagon’, but sell this as an integral part of helping our customers make the most of their time on their boat or van. This makes us the perfect choice to advise on and supply your power system regardless of where the installation is going.

Here is what one of our customers has said, if you want to check out some more of our 5-star reviews you can see them here.