How to test for proper grounding?

[Jdege]

I've heard repeated warnings about swimming in marinas where some boats are connected to shore power, because of the dangers of stray voltage from poorly grounded boats.

So that raises the question, are there tools or tests you can perform to ensure that your boat is properly grounded?

There are simple test kits I've used to check, for example, that a newly-installed wall outlet in my home is correctly grounded, etc. But I've not seen discussion of what tests or test equipment is appropriate for a boat.

If I'm going to be doing any sort of wiring on a boat, or even if just checking the wiring on a boat I just bought, I'll want to know how to do this.

Ideas?

Pointers?

[moctrams]

Will this help?

https://www.boatingmag.com/simple-ground-system-test/

[ttex]

Test your ground with a meter. It aint hard.

Put the red on the ground and the black on a piece of neutral metal. Test for current.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Jdege

I've heard repeated warnings about swimming in marinas where some boats are connected to shore power, because of the dangers of stray voltage from poorly grounded boats.

So that raises the question, are there tools or tests you can perform to ensure that your boat is properly grounded?

There are simple test kits I've used to check, for example, that a newly-installed wall outlet in my home is correctly grounded, etc. But I've not seen discussion of what tests or test equipment is appropriate for a boat.

If I'm going to be doing any sort of wiring on a boat, or even if just checking the wiring on a boat I just bought, I'll want to know how to do this.

Ideas?

Pointers?

You don't have to worry about going swimming, (see all those divers doing bottom cleaning) but you may have to worry about your bonded seacocks failing early

[Jdege]

Originally Posted by moctrams

Will this help?

https://www.boatingmag.com/simple-ground-system-test/

Yes, thanks.

[sailcrazy]

following.

[guyrj33]

Originally Posted by thomm225

You don't have to worry about going swimming, (see all those divers doing bottom cleaning) but you may have to worry about your bonded seacocks failing early

Electrocution hazard is greatest in fresh water, less in salt.

[EmeraldCoastSailor]

Following

[Thumbs Up]

With an A/C clamp meter you can go down the dock and test everyone's shore power cord connection. Clamp the jaws around the entire power cord. You should get a reading of zero amps. If you get any other reading than zero amps then that boat is leaking however much it reads into the water. The electrical grounding of boats is a complicated subject. The best assurance is to make sure that you have some kind of gfci or rcd device. This could be the main circuit breaker in the boat, part of the shore power cord, part of the marina power pedestal, or in the marina's circuit panel. Those plug in outlet testers are good to use every time you hook up to a new source to check for reverse polarity. Many marinas and boats have faulty wiring. It is true that electric shock drowning is much more of a danger in freshwater. You can buy devices such as these to see if the water is safe to swim: https://www.amazon.com/Shock-Alert-4...84883777&psc=1