Galvanic Isolators

When your boat is plugged into shore power, the shore ground connects your underwater metals to every other boat on the dock. Small stray DC currents can then flow through the water and eat away zincs, propellers and shafts. A galvanic isolator for a boat blocks those low-voltage DC currents while still passing AC fault current to ground. This collection includes Victron galvanic isolators (16A, 32A and 64A), the Hypertech Galvanic Isolator and Isolator Plus, and the Victron 7000W isolation transformer.

How to choose a galvanic isolator

• Shore power rating: match the isolator to your shore connection (for example 30A or 50A service).
• Isolator or transformer: an isolation transformer fully separates boat and shore power and also helps with polarity problems; an isolator is smaller and less expensive.

Do I need a galvanic isolator?

If your boat spends time plugged into shore power and has underwater metals, it is a common and recommended protection.

Where does a galvanic isolator go?

It is installed in the green ground wire, between the shore power inlet and the boat AC system. For other protection, see surge protector devices and circuit breakers.

For fiberglass and wooden hulls, see the Hypertech galvanic isolator for boats.