Mischief Managed
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2018
- Messages
- 713
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Mischief Managed II
- Vessel Make
- 1992 Tollycraft 44 CPMY
Rather than hijack the other isolation transformer thread, I figured I'd start a new one.
My boat has two 120VAC 50 amp shore power inputs that are required if I use all three of my reverse cycle air conditioners and other loads like my water heater, at the same time. I do have a switch that will allow one of the shore power inlets to supply all the AC circuits if I wish, but I have to carefully manage loads when I use that option, especially since it's always meant a single 30 amp source, so far. At my home dock, I have the shore power inputs connected to a standard 50amp 240V shore power source (it's really 208V since it's actually two phases of a 208V three-phase but since all my loads are 120V, it works fine) on the pedestal. I use a Pro-Mariner 60 amp GI and that seems to keep corrosion at bay nicely.
My marina is way overdue for new electrical services and when they do eventually replace them I am concerned that I may "need" an isolation transformer. I think they are a good idea regardless, and I have plenty of room to install one or two, so I am exploring doing so. I think the only obvious choice for my boat is to go with two 120V 6kVA units so that I can always use a single 120V service without difficulty. 3.6 kVA ITs are available from many sources, but 6 kVA units seem much harder to source. Charles and Bridgeport Magnetics seem to be the only options. I am leaning toward Bridgeport due to cost and weight. Are there any other options out there?
If I do buy a couple of isolation transformers, can I safely mount them 30ish feet from the shore power connectors? My boat is already kind of stern heavy and I'd like to mount them forward of my engines to balance the boat out.
My boat has two 120VAC 50 amp shore power inputs that are required if I use all three of my reverse cycle air conditioners and other loads like my water heater, at the same time. I do have a switch that will allow one of the shore power inlets to supply all the AC circuits if I wish, but I have to carefully manage loads when I use that option, especially since it's always meant a single 30 amp source, so far. At my home dock, I have the shore power inputs connected to a standard 50amp 240V shore power source (it's really 208V since it's actually two phases of a 208V three-phase but since all my loads are 120V, it works fine) on the pedestal. I use a Pro-Mariner 60 amp GI and that seems to keep corrosion at bay nicely.
My marina is way overdue for new electrical services and when they do eventually replace them I am concerned that I may "need" an isolation transformer. I think they are a good idea regardless, and I have plenty of room to install one or two, so I am exploring doing so. I think the only obvious choice for my boat is to go with two 120V 6kVA units so that I can always use a single 120V service without difficulty. 3.6 kVA ITs are available from many sources, but 6 kVA units seem much harder to source. Charles and Bridgeport Magnetics seem to be the only options. I am leaning toward Bridgeport due to cost and weight. Are there any other options out there?
If I do buy a couple of isolation transformers, can I safely mount them 30ish feet from the shore power connectors? My boat is already kind of stern heavy and I'd like to mount them forward of my engines to balance the boat out.