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Old 29-11-2014, 18:27   #1
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Green Wire Confusion

hi everybody im confused on the whole ac green wire issue. my boat has the ac system setup with the black hot and white neutral wires going to my ac panel but the green ground wire splits off from shore power to both the the ac panel ground and the ground lug on my house battery bank. is this wire not supposed to go to a vessel bonding point or is it ok to be connected to the dc ground? help a newbie clear his confused mind. thanks
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Old 29-11-2014, 18:35   #2
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Re: green wire confusion

the ac ground, dc ground, and ships bonding all get joined in north America.


different rules in euro
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Old 29-11-2014, 18:40   #3
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Re: green wire confusion

I think Greeen is weird, Black is NOT hot but Neg. and white is Hot +.

But I am not aure, its certainly confusing me!
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Old 29-11-2014, 19:07   #4
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Re: green wire confusion

Glad I'm not the only one to get confused.

ABYC under 50 VOlts

http://www.defender.com/pdf/abyc-wire-color-chart.pdf

AC color standards, could not find anything ABYC specific


http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_wiring
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Old 29-11-2014, 19:08   #5
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Re: green wire confusion

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Originally Posted by MarkJ View Post
I think Greeen is weird, Black is NOT hot but Neg. and white is Hot +.



But I am not aure, its certainly confusing me!

Ahhhhh no!!!!!!!

North American 120 vac black = hot white = neutral , green = earth, that can be tied to the DC ground as well as the bonding system.


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Old 29-11-2014, 19:15   #6
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Re: green wire confusion

Here in North America. Grid power, alternating current, Green is direct to earth, and is used as the safty. White is neutral to earth, and at the main panel will connect with green. Black is "hot" to earth. In 220 volt, red is often used as another "Hot" to earth, and 220V to black. In Direct current, Black is used as "ground" to battery, known as negative. Many other colors can be used as Positive, but mostly Red is used direct from battery or charging source. Clear as a rainbow.
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Old 29-11-2014, 19:17   #7
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Re: green wire confusion

Dc
Red is hot

AC
Black is hot

DC
Neg black or yellow

AC
Neg white

DC
BOND green or Green yellow

AC
Protective ground. Green or green yellow

VERY CONFUSING.
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Old 29-11-2014, 19:25   #8
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Re: green wire confusion

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White is neutral to earth, and at the main panel will connect with green. .
not on the boat. it is joined at the dock. and at the gen. and at inverter. not done in panel.
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Old 29-11-2014, 19:36   #9
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Re: green wire confusion

Interesting. Can someone show me some article or standard that indicates where the AC negative/white is supposed to connect to the AC protective ground/green in marina circumstances. I presume it is somewhere in thee NFPA 130 but I don't have one handy.
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Old 29-11-2014, 19:41   #10
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Re: green wire confusion

It is a bit confusing. But, for those with more than a half brain, not that much.

AC in US: in single-phase systems, black is HOT, white is NEUTRAL (not negative, there's no negative in AC), and green is ground to earth (at the source, not on the boat). In multi-phase systems other colors obtain.

DC: red is positive, black or yellow is negative. Yellow has recently been added because of the potential confusion between DC black (negative) and AC black (hot).

Authorities differ over whether or not to tie AC ground to DC ground on the boat. Both are in common use.

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Old 30-11-2014, 04:59   #11
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Re: green wire confusion

thanks everyone clear as mud now haha. but glad to know that my ac ground is connected ok.
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Old 30-11-2014, 05:39   #12
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Re: green wire confusion

--and then we have UK and EU standards with AC blue and brown.
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Old 30-11-2014, 05:52   #13
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Re: green wire confusion

There are quite a few good sites explaining the madness. Google Ed Sherman who is the guru of many a thing. In the meantime, this provides some s'plaining. Demystifying the Neutral-to-Ground Connection - Professional BoatBuilder Magazine

cheers
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Old 30-11-2014, 09:10   #14
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Re: green wire confusion

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Originally Posted by smac999 View Post
not on the boat. it is joined at the dock. and at the gen. and at inverter. not done in panel.
Correct, but not at the dock, at the marina's panel.
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Old 30-11-2014, 09:18   #15
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Re: green wire confusion

Understand that there are standard color codes but that your boat may have been wired differently, either by the manufacturer (mostly on an old boat) or by a previous owner or someone hired to work on the boat. Often, someone will use a different color than what should be used rather than stopping work and driving to a supplier.

For anyone confused by this, step back and hire a pro. Connecting wires incorrectly can damage equipment, shock or electrocute humans or set the boat on fire.
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