isolation transformer location 2005 390 my?

S

Snook

New Member
Jul 9, 2008
15
mi
Boat Info
2005 390 MY
Engines
c series cummins
Dock power present but no power in boat. I checked cord and there is power there. I check the 50amp breaker in the aft cabin closet and there is power there. Found no power in the electrical closet. The boat is equipped with a ISO transformer but I am not sure where it is located.

Any help?
 
Well, the good news is, I found the ISO transformer. The bad news is, the unit has power going in but no power going out. From what I can gather, the Charles Industry unit is around $2000.00 on the web. The other problem is getting the unit out, by the way, it is located near the washer/dryer unit under the steps leading down to the galley. The thing weighs around 250 lbs. so it isn't going to be an easy task carting that thing out and a new one in. From asking around, there doesn't seem to be any parts to replace..the unit as a whole is replaced. I sure wish I knew why it failed because I would sure hate to replace it and find there was some other problem that caused it and burn up the replacement.

Are there any electrical wizards here that may have any input on possible causes of why it failed? Everything was fine when I took the boat out for heated storage last fall. The boat was launched last week and moored at my slip and plugged in like normal. It was then that the unit was found to be inoperative.

Thanks.
 
I would very carefully check the connections both external and internal on the transformer. Maybe a fuse is an internal part of the transformer.
 
Thanks, I'll check for a fuse. I guess when you think about it, it is possible that there is a fuse on the unit. The cable master does go to a 50 amp breaker before it goes to the ISO transformer. Sure would be nice if it were just a fuse.
 
I have the same unit and I do not believe there is a fuse. It is designed to be maintenance free. The only thing to check is that all connections to and from the transformer are good.
 
Transformers rarely go bad. You have to dramatically overload them to burn them out. Have a competent electric tech evaluate it. A simple resistance test would be useful. Even better would be a time domain reflectometer test which can be performed with a specialized integrated TDR analyzer or with a pulse generator and triggered oscilloscope.

Best regards,
Frank
 
A little background on my "problem". I had a local searay dealer diagnose the problem. They informed me that the ISO transformer was bad and just the transformer was over $3000.00. Again, I had no problem last year when the boat was taken out for heated storage. Upon launching this year I didn't have any power in the boat. Well, I called Charles Industries and they told me that the ISO transformers were built to out live the boat....20 year lifespan. The tech asked me if there was 240 volts to the transformer. I called the searay dealer and asked them the same question. They seemed to take offense that I would even question their findings. Well, I got a voltage tester and checked it myself. I checked at dock stand (2- 30 amp outlets) and found 120 volts at each. I plugged in my reverse y adapter and could only get a reading of 120 volts on one leg and 26 volts on the other. A neighbor lent me his reverse y adapter and after hooking it up, the boat's electrical system was fine. Needless to say, I picked up a new adapter and called the searay dealer to inform them the problem was fixed. All they had to say was, "Well, at least it was a cheaper fix." Really does wonders for my faith in this dealer.
 
Interesting update. Glad it worked out for you. Unfortunately for us the (and maybe your dealer) the updated information is in conflict with the original post. In the OP you stated "I checked cord and there is power there. I check the 50amp breaker in the aft cabin closet and there is power there." This apparently is not true. So, basically you wasted the dealers time, and ours as well.
 
First of all, I don't profess to be a professional electrician. In my original post I stated that I did check for power. What I found was 120 volts on each side of the 50 amp breaker. Apparently and this is what I learned from the Charles tech, was one leg of voltage will show up on each side of the breaker. 120 volts on each side but not 240 volts between. I didn't know this and this is why I called the dealer. I would think that the dealer would send someone than knew something about electrical boat systems since they knew what my complaint was.

You know what? I hope you aren't the typical member here. I found your post extremely rude and uncalled for. If you don't have anything positive to say, why post anything? Are you just trying to be a jerk? I think you certainly proved that you, indeed, are.
 
We troubleshoot in a vacuum here. We charge nothing, but spend a lot of time and thought in evaluating each person's problems. Since we can't touch your boat, can't meter the connections, and can't see that you are using a Y cord, we can only go by what you write. Since all we have is what you write, we must evaluate it literally. When you leave important details out, it makes it impossible to evaluate the problem.

Ease up and don't get so defensive. There's an important lesson in Sea Gull's post.
 
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Thank you Frank for having my back.

Mr. Snook, I'm sorry you think I'm a jerk. You are new here, and completely unknown to this community of dedicated boaters. The reason I posted what I did was to help you and other newer members here understand the type of help they are getting. As you gain more experience with this board you will find that there are people all over the world who are willing to help anytime you ask.

When I read your question about the Charles iso transformer I went and read the literature for my unit, looking for a fuse in the wiring diagram. I posted back that I did not see a fuse, but I also devoted some of my limited intellect to thinking about your problem over the next couple of days - and looking for any update every time I logged in to CSR. Had you posted that you found 36 volts on one leg of your electrical service it would have saved us both a lot of grief.
 
Frank must have been in a good mood....he went pretty easy on you....

Snook said:
.......You know what? I hope you aren't the typical member here. I found your post extremely rude and uncalled for. If you don't have anything positive to say, why post anything? Are you just trying to be a jerk? I think you certainly proved that you, indeed, are
Click to expand...

You come here as a relatively new member, ask for help and then call one of the long time helpful members a 'jerk'!!!!!!....Because 'you' didn't post all the details.

Your shoelace is tied too tight......:smt043
 
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Please accept my most humble apologies for my last post. Perhaps my frustration with starting the season out with a problem that appeared out of no where, the fact that the dealer checked things out and told me that the fix was replacing a $3000 part and finding out they were wrong caused my defensive response. Quite frankly, I had had it. Waiting for the season to finally start and having a boat sitting dead in the water for 2 weeks and having to cancel a much anticipated weekend cruising voyage proved to be just enough to trigger my response. Like you have acknowledged, I am new here and should have included more info. My bad.
 
SeaGull,

Again, my fault, my apologies. My initial test for voltage was at the dock stand. There are dual 30 amp receptacles and I tested each and found 120 volts on each. I then went to the boat's 50 amp breaker and found 120 volts on each side of the breaker. It was then that I assumed everything in between was ok so I didn't check the output at the Y adapter. Only after speaking to the Charles tech and learning that it was possible that one leg was back feeding both sides of the breaker that I checked for 120 volts on each leg at the y adapter. That is when I found it was malfunctioning. Again, my mistake for assuming. A rookie mistake but one that I wouldn't think the dealer would make.
 
Snook:

I think you did the right thing and in the right manner. I hope you find this site to be very helpfull and Welcome aboard.....

BTW...did you get my humor about the shoelace thing? Look at post #16
 
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OK Snook. Glad we are back on speaking terms. Let's have a fun boating season.
 
What the hell kind of crap is this? These threads are supposed to go on and on and on. This kiss and make up horse poop will ruin this site.

I think Sea Gull is a trouble maker. Let the fight continue.
 
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