Stray electric current

fish_on · 09-08-2002, 09:19 PM

I know this has been brought up recently but I can't find it. I think I have a shot and am putting current in the water. Someone had a link to a site that helped diagnosis these problems could you post it again. I have 12.5V from the positive bat terminal to the hull and .5V from the hull to the water. Kind of seem like I have a direct ground short and some kind of positive short, I think it's time to trace wires. Any thoughts?

fish_on · 09-09-2002, 10:18 AM

What I have been able to find so far deals with downriggers. They want a .5-.7V from the cable in the water to the ground. So if I have .5 from the hull to the water is that ok?

Troller · 09-09-2002, 10:58 AM

I am a little confused as to what your looking for. try a search for black box if your looking for the the downrigger voltage trouble shooting. try a search for zincs or galvanic reaction if you are looking to trouble shoot a voltage problem as in a short or bad ground causing stray electric current. check out scottyusa.com. they have the blackbox and some stuff about trouble shooting a faulty grounding system in your boat. also you didnt say if you have a fiber glass boat or I am assuming aluminum boat because you were able to get a voltage reading between the battery and hull. On an aluminum boat you can use the hull for a ground when hooking up electronics but dont it will cause you problems if you leave your boat in the water where their are some stray voltages present. Leaks from boats or other sources.