Hi All,
I am installing a
“whole house” inverter/charger, a MagnaSine 4124 (230v/50hz.)
I explained to the vendor, Inverter
Service Center
in Tennessee , how the Amel
electrical system has a floating DC negative and separate ground/earth/bonding
connection. He recommended this unit
specifically for the boat because it is a native 230v/50hz not a US
240v/60hz unit tweaked to produce 50hz.
The grounding/neutral setup is apparently incompatible in those North
American units.
The Magna has an automatic transfer switch that will select
incoming AC power or inverter output, incoming power preferred. Both the hot and neutral AC lines are
switched. When it selects the inverter
for AC output, the AC neutral is connected to chassis ground/earth by a “system
bonding jumper” which I unplugged per instructions to keep the bonding separate
from the neutral.
I double checked the unit after unpacking and there is no
continuity between the chassis ground/earth and the DC negative, and also after unplugging the “system bonding jumper”
there is no continuity to the ground from the inverter AC neutrals. I intend to connect the chassis ground/earth
to the Amel bonding system and leave the DC negative floating.
I intend to mount the unit next to the Dolphin charger on
the port side of the engine room. This
is where the old HVAC compressor sat and is close to the main battery
disconnect bus work. The DC cable run
should be less than one meter.
Attached is a picture of my proposed wiring. Is this how the unit should interact with
the Amel bonding system?
Green is the Amel bonding system as it is wired on my boat
and how I intend to connect the new inverter/charger.
Pink is the location of circuit breakers.
I currently have two battery chargers powered from the 230V
distribution panel, a 30A Dolphin, and a 40 A Mastervolt. These were installed by previous owner.
The AC panel is powered through a 40amp breaker and an
automatic transfer switch which chooses between the 7KW Onan Generator or shore
power. Generator is preferred. Generator
has a 30A AC breaker. All as was
installed by previous owner.
Inside the AC panel the bonding/earth connections
(green/yellow wires) have no conductivity to the AC hot(brown) or AC
neutral(blue).
There is a 600 watt inverter installed under the nav station
that powers a portable 230v/50hz power strip.
No part of this unit is connected to the Amel bonding system. Again all previous owner installation.
We have had no issues to date with galvanic corrosion. We replaced rudder anodes in Charleston
in August and they still look new.
And all this work is so we can make popcorn in the microwave
underway.
Regards, John
John Clark
SV Annie SM37
St. Augustine FL......awaiting new microwave....
