What Size Galvanic Isolator Do I Need?

Author : Efrain E. Silva

I’m sure you have read that headline just now in hopes of an answer because you are new to boats, as I was once, too —- I want to help you breathe. It’s okay. Relax. I have some input right here for you, and by the time this blog is over, you will be well on your way to going out and getting that perfect size you need. I am here for you friend, and on that happy note, let us get started….

First of all, the isolator has a connector on it, which you may or may not have known. It basically looks like a 3 - prong switch that you would plug into a wall outlet, to make a relative visual comparison of it. ( You might be saying, “Oh…. So that’s the connector and that’s what that thing is” . Just kidding, but let’s get serious now. ) And to put it simply, your connector has to be a PERFECT match in size to the intake piece that your boat has — in other words, you would never plug in a regular 3 - prong connector to a wall outlet that is made only for 2 - prongs, would you? You can try it, but it will not work. The very same issue applies right here. If, for instance, you hold a small 16 a connector on the isolator part, but the boat holds for a 32 a connector to get plugged into it, then it is not going to work —- and you would have to go back to the store, talk to the nice lady at the customer service counter and simply tell her that her earrings look nice (smooth move, he he heh, it might help her but kind enough to let you do an exchange in case you are past the receipt coverage warranty time - frame….worth a shot, anyhow) and that you need to swap out your isolator for one with a different size of connector on it. It’s that easy, really, and hopefully, there will be plenty in stock so you can quickly pick one and get going (and hopefully, the staff are nice to you at the register, too, he he heh).

Now, I have a quick hint that you ought to know, too, and oh, how I love to share my knowledge with you —- a 32 a isolator, since it’s a bigger number, must be stronger, than a 16 a isolator, right?? Wrong. Both 32 a and 16 a are good products, and a higher number, here in this case, is, in not a single way, indicative of power or quality. There is a surge rating, in fact, on each and every single type of connector, and it will easily tell you just what the max current amount is that the isolator can carry in this sense — and before your RCD even starts to operate and do its thing.

We hope that has helped. Thank you! Read more blogs.