How Much Electrical Leakage is Acceptable?

[YPSILANTI]

My port sail drive has corroded and has to be replaced along with my props. We found the electrical resistance problem. My accelerator cable was touching my sail drive and the gear selector cable was touching the engine thus causing contact and a leak. We resolved the problem but we still measure 50 000 ohms. Please advise what is an acceptable specification. Do we still have a problem which requires further examination to find the leak. We wish to have it totally within spec.

Thank you for your advice, its much appreciated.

[Dulcesuenos]

At boatzincs.com they have a FAQ section with good info.
http://www.boatzincs.com/corrosion-quiz.html


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[bglad]

I would think 50,000 ohms would be OK. Especially if you are now sitting in the water. Raw water in the coolers will give you a reading once you are afloat. I recently worked with an owner on a catamaran that had an isolation problem with one side. He did not repair it until it was afloat (replaced the plastic washers and bushings). When he tested it I think he got a similar reading to yours that was better than the one that tested good when hauled.

[YPSILANTI]

Thanks guys for the informative and helpful replies. Its much appreciated. Regards
Mike

[smac999]

50,000ohms between what and what?

normally bonding and grounding issues are measured with a silver cell and volt meter.

[YPSILANTI]

Between the motor and the sail drive. I had an electrical leak there before. It was measured by a colleague, not me. The boat is on the hard. Thank you.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by YPSILANTI

Between the motor and the sail drive. I had an electrical leak there before. It was measured by a colleague, not me. The boat is on the hard. Thank you.

On edit.........do you have a Volvo or yanmar sail drive?

Below was typed before re-reading to see what sails drive you have.......

I fail to see how a yanmar sail drive can be electrically isolated from the engine. The sail drive is physically bolted to the engine with no insulator to couple it????


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[YPSILANTI]

If you look closely between the sail drive and the motor, there should be a very thin plastic / rubber gasket that electronically separates the two and thus prevents contact. Its not easy to see, it only protrudes by a fraction of a mm / inch.