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20-02-2017, 07:17
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 24
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Zincs wasting away rapidly
The zincs on my drive shaft seem to be deteoriating rapidly. Couple other boats at same dock are seeing same thing. How best to check each boat to see if there is an electrical discharge?
Thanks
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20-02-2017, 08:10
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#2
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Hull Diver
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Under a boat, in a marina, in the San Francisco Bay
Posts: 5,427
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailor0516
How best to check each boat to see if there is an electrical discharge?
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Typically rapid anode depletion is caused by an issue aboard the boat in question. If (as you say) there are multiple boats experiencing the same problem, it is possible that there is something going on with the shorepower system. Hire a qualified marine electrician.
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20-02-2017, 08:19
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Boat: Jeanneau 409
Posts: 246
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
How long should anodes last on average?
When I was docked at the marina for a few months, I was getting 8 weeks out of my prop anodes (aluminum not zinc).
__________________
2015 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 - 3 Cabin / 2 Head, Shoal Keel, Furling Main, Performance Genoa 135% with Tracks, Folding Prop, Bow Thruster, Air Conditioning, B&G Zeus2 Chartplotter, B&G Autopilot, B&G 4G Radar, B&G ForwardScan Sonar.
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20-02-2017, 08:24
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#4
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Hull Diver
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Under a boat, in a marina, in the San Francisco Bay
Posts: 5,427
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
Quote:
Originally Posted by epiic
How long should anodes last on average?
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That's tough to say, as those little prop anodes for French boats are notorious for not lasting very long. But you'd hope to get more than two months out of them. Especially since aluminum anodes are supposed to be longer-lived than zinc.
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20-02-2017, 08:51
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Nola
Boat: 97 Hunter 430 43 ft.
Posts: 369
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
i get a year ususally
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20-02-2017, 09:05
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Bermuda
Boat: Privilege 435
Posts: 586
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
Anodes wasting away that quickly are usually as the result of an A/C problem. Do you have a galvanic isolator in between your incoming A/C power source and your panel? If you don't it's a probability that this is causing your problem. On my boat, as a temporary fix until I installed an isolator, I disconnected the green earth wire coming onto my boat and it made an instant difference to the life of the zincs. Of course, I can't recommend you do this otherwise people will be quoting all sorts of ABYC rules at me and you will stick your tongue on a live wire and blame me when your hair sticks up on end.
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20-02-2017, 09:53
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 24
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
Thanks, want to check our boat and next would be shore power but dock owner blames the boats.
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20-02-2017, 09:57
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Lived aboard & cruised for 45 years,- now on a chair in my walk-in closet.
Boat: Morgan OI 413 1973 - Aythya
Posts: 8,453
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
Can't you get a good evaluation for a vessel by using a multimeter set to read a low voltage with one probe on a bonded rail and the other hanging in the water?
__________________
Take care and joy, Aythya crew
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20-02-2017, 10:06
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hudson Force
Can't you get a good evaluation for a vessel by using a multimeter set to read a low voltage with one probe on a bonded rail and the other hanging in the water?
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I think you need one of these for that?
Corrosion Reference Electrode Product Specifications
I'm going through anodes now like I had stock in them, and I think I know why, maybe.
I have an isolation transformer.
I now have an Inverter / charger. It is in line with the AC input. AS I'm lazy I extended the AC line from my panel to run through the inverter, and then back to the panel.
I'm thinking that the isolation transformer is now before the inverter / charger, but it needs to be placed after it? That the inverter / charger of course has both AC and DC grounds in it, and that may be my issue?
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20-02-2017, 10:12
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#10
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,559
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
Unplug. No shore power, no vulnerability.
Assuming you have solar to keep the sump pump happy, just unplug for 2 months. You can plug in for a few hours when you are actually on-site.
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22-02-2017, 01:50
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: St. Petersburg FL
Boat: Morgan, center cockpit sloop, 44 - Enough
Posts: 123
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Re: Zincs wasting away rapidly
If I may:
I have attempting to upload a PDF file of an article I wrote for our local club which had several members having galvanic corrosion issues. It solved several of the members problems when they used it to examine their own AC/DC grounds. no assurance it will do you any good but it can't hurt to read it.
Mark Fay MMC Jr. Engineer QMED AS-E / MSC ET
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