2 ques (Galvanic Isolator & stinky toilet)

[rangerscott275]

Hello,

I had two questions would like to solicit advice on:

1) does anyone have any recommendations on type of galvanic isolator to use and where best to buy? For those who have, do you have any feedback on their use?

2) anytime I'm off the boat for more than a day, when I flush one of my toilets, it emits a VERY strong methane / sulferish type smell upon flushing. this occurs for the first 3 or 4 flushes. It is a standard raritan head hooked to a lectrasan system. Any ideas what could be causing and / or a potential fix?

 

[Genesis]

Stinky toilet is caused by using raw water to flush with - "stuff" builds up under the bowl and it reeks.

The only fixes are to use it more often or to convert to flush with fresh water. One of the reaosns I liked the Vacuflush system was that it used so little water using it for flushing was a non-issue.

 

[Nonchalant1]

Hatteras does not recommend galvanic isolators because if they fail, they can be very dangerous to people on the boat and particularly swimmers near the boat. They only recommend isolation transformers, which also boost the voltage if it's low. However, they're very expensive and very heavy. I know lots of people do use galvanic isolators, regardless.

Doug Shuman

 

[Banshee36]

Dump some vinegar in the bowl before you leve it cuts down on the smell.
JW

 

[Fanfare]

My boat was built before isolation transformers or galvanic isolators. About 15 years ago I added a galvanic isolator at my electrical panel in the port engine room. There was a very good article--long and comprehensive-- in Passagemaker Magazine (April, 2006) about these things. Mine has no name or info on its front side when I looked at it--didn't seem worth taking it apart at the time. PM said that they should have an indicator of some kind such as an LED to let you know if they were doing nothing or passing low voltage. Right now I can't tell if it is doing anything at all. Fortunately zincs, etc. all seem fine.

As a result of this article I am considering an isolation transformer, in sort of that way one mulls over the next "Major Project" when nothing has broken. Charles Industries (www.charlesindustries.com) has some units which can not only isolate voltage, but also boost voltage for those marinas where you may be way at the end of the dock and power drops. But it's 235 lbs. and I need a place to put it. The port engine room is getting pretty full, and that is the side where I don't need any more weight. I'm assuming that no major rewiring is required other than instralling the transformer. Anybody know of any drawbacks to isolation transformers?

Then if I could just find a way to also run on 50 Hz A.C. current I could go anywhere!!

 

[Hatt36]

I installed a Charles 50 amp. isoboost transformer on my boat and have been very satisfied. It replaced a Hatteras-installed 30 amp. basic transformer. The boost function operates most of the time since, like most marinas today, the 50 amp service here is industrial type with a nominal voltage of 208. As for wiring, the transformer simply goes beween the power inlet the electrical panel. The transformer could be located anywere within reason with extended electrical cables.

Richard

 

[jim rosenthal]

Guest and Newmar both sell galvanic isolators, which are basically just big diodes, I think. There are some newer and lighter iso transformers available, mostly from Charles Marine, which is a very reputable outfit. I have had isolators for ten years. They seem fine so far. You will need them on EACH incoming line. If you have TWO 30A 120v incoming shore lines, you will need TWO iso transformers, unless you convert to 50A 240v and split it coming in after the shore inlet.