New Marina wiring Article 555.3 GFCI protection and galvanic isolation monitors

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South Bay Marina

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Green Bay WI
Hello all,

We have recently added another new pier to our marina, and have 5mA GFCI circuit breakers on all of the shore power pedestals on this pier. Article 555.3 reads

555.3 Ground Fault Protection. The main over current
protective device which feeds
the marina shall have ground
fault protection not exceeding
100mA. Ground fault protection
of each individual branch or
feeder circuit shall be permitted
as a suitable alternative.

We chose the latter, "Ground fault protection of each individual branch or feeder circuit shall be permitted as a suitable alternative." The pedestals came from Eaton, equipped with 5mA GFCI circuit breakers for each service. All works as it should, except when we get a boat equipped with one of many galvanic isolator monitoring systems. These boats trip the breakers immediately, the only way we have the ability to provide these customers is by moving them to the older docks without the new pedestals....or by disabling the galvanic isolator monitor which is not a viable nor reasonable option. It appears the isolator monitors send out a reference test on the line that trips the GFCI's.

Has anyone else experienced this, and what options do we have to resolve this short of putting these boats at the older piers that do not have the latest code wiring?

Thanks for any and all opinions, comments, or input.
 
Note: I allowed this post since the poster is not asking a "how to" question but trying to gain information the answer to which many be enlightening to many of us.
 
South Bay Marina said:
Hello all,

We have recently added another new pier to our marina, and have 5mA GFCI circuit breakers on all of the shore power pedestals on this pier. Article 555.3 reads

555.3 Ground Fault Protection. The main over current
protective device which feeds
the marina shall have ground
fault protection not exceeding
100mA. Ground fault protection
of each individual branch or
feeder circuit shall be permitted
as a suitable alternative.

We chose the latter, "Ground fault protection of each individual branch or feeder circuit shall be permitted as a suitable alternative." The pedestals came from Eaton, equipped with 5mA GFCI circuit breakers for each service. All works as it should, except when we get a boat equipped with one of many galvanic isolator monitoring systems. These boats trip the breakers immediately, the only way we have the ability to provide these customers is by moving them to the older docks without the new pedestals....or by disabling the galvanic isolator monitor which is not a viable nor reasonable option. It appears the isolator monitors send out a reference test on the line that trips the GFCI's.

Has anyone else experienced this, and what options do we have to resolve this short of putting these boats at the older piers that do not have the latest code wiring?

Thanks for any and all opinions, comments, or input.
Click to expand...

You mention galvanic monitor. Is this an issue on boats that just have galvanic isolators as well? I'm wondering if the issue is related to the monitor. Just an isolator, I wouldn't think that would be an issue for GFCI.
 
If the isolation monitor uses less than 5ma current (maybe changing a current limiting resistor?), or uses a slowly rather than rapidly switched pulsed DC it would not set off the GFCI.
Similarly compatible if the source of the test current is other than the GFCI protected hot and neutral.
Either look for an isolation monitor that is designed to be GFCI compatible or maybe power the monitor through a small isolation transformer?
 
We cannot go into every yacht's electrical system and modify it that visits us on their way around the Great Lakes. Certainly they are not the majority, most are NOT equipped with galvanic isolator monitors; they all have the galvanic isolators, they are not an issue, it is the monitors that put a pulse out as a reference voltage that trips the GFCI on the pedestal.

We also do not want to change out the breaker to a higher mA than Eaton specified unless it is allowed by code. That is where we get the confusion, what is the specification for each service on the main pier, the 555.3 definition only specifies the main feeder, not the individual services. Presently this pier has 32 services, with many more to come as we expand further with new customers.

We'd like to have the current code adhered to for safety of all, but also not have the inconvenience of a nuisance trip of the new breakers due to the galvanic isolator monitors doing their jobs as designed, albeit designed before the new code was arrived at.

Perhaps it is so simple as these devices being obsoleted by the new code, a lot like R-12 refrigerant was; If that is the case so be it, but I'd like to know the answers and be able to substantiate the reasoning behind it all.
 
South Bay Marina said:
We cannot go into every yacht's electrical system and modify it that visits us on their way around the Great Lakes. Certainly they are not the majority, most are NOT equipped with galvanic isolator monitors; they all have the galvanic isolators, they are not an issue, it is the monitors that put a pulse out as a reference voltage that trips the GFCI on the pedestal.

We also do not want to change out the breaker to a higher mA than Eaton specified unless it is allowed by code. That is where we get the confusion, what is the specification for each service on the main pier, the 555.3 definition only specifies the main feeder, not the individual services. Presently this pier has 32 services, with many more to come as we expand further with new customers.

We'd like to have the current code adhered to for safety of all, but also not have the inconvenience of a nuisance trip of the new breakers due to the galvanic isolator monitors doing their jobs as designed, albeit designed before the new code was arrived at.

Perhaps it is so simple as these devices being obsoleted by the new code, a lot like R-12 refrigerant was; If that is the case so be it, but I'd like to know the answers and be able to substantiate the reasoning behind it all.
Click to expand...
You should not have GFCI on a 30 or 50 shore power recep. You should have 100 mA GFP. You must have a lot of angry boaters.
 
No, actually only the ones that have the galvanic isolator monitors, which we moved to older piers without the new code protected pedestals. Not angry, just an obstacle we'd like to avoid that is an inconvenience.

555.3 is not retroactive, it does not require existing facilities to change every thing they have over to this, only new builds or expansions requiring a new service.

All of the other boats / yachts are running just fine, some with twin 30 amp 125v services, some with single 50 amp 125v running air conditioners, water heaters, battery bank charger converters, microwaves, stoves, multiple tv sets, etc etc.
 
I suggest you contact the manufacturer of the pedestals. They make that configuration and they need to know about the problem which has appeared. They very well could already have the solution.

Your max by code is 100mA and they are providing a 3mA.

Do you know if a higher mA configuration would allow it to operate and not trip?

Can you have your electrical contractor do some testing with either a stand-alone galvanic monitor or by the good grace of someone with one on their boat who is willing to be a test subject?

Are these galvanic monitors all the same or are there a dozen different models to test?

On a side note, as GFCI & AFCI are required in more and more applications, more and more problems arise. The industry just has to get through it.

Going back to my first sentence, I think the manufacturer of the pedestal is the place to start. They very well may have all these questions answered. No sense doing all the work over again.
 
I've looked at 555.3 and am trying to understand the GF requirements.

1) you can use a 100mA or more sensitive service main GF breaker, or
2) you can put 100mA or more sensitive GF breakers on each feeder, or
3) you can put 100mA or more sensitive GF breakers on each branch circuit, or
4) you could mix 2 and 3 as long as all circuits are covered.

It also appears that the circuit, not just the receptacles must be protected.

Then in 555.19 (B) it appears that 15 & 20 A 125V receptacles (in most places)

5) must be GFCI (5mA) protected
6) that the circuit feeding the receptacle need not be GFCI protected.

Have I got it right?
 
South Bay Marina said:
555.3 Ground Fault Protection. The main over current
protective device which feeds
the marina shall have ground
fault protection not exceeding
100mA. Ground fault protection
of each individual branch or
feeder circuit shall be permitted
as a suitable alternative.
Click to expand...

South Bay Marina said:
We also do not want to change out the breaker to a higher mA than Eaton specified unless it is allowed by code.
Click to expand...

"ground
fault protection not exceeding
100mA. "

South Bay Marina said:
That is where we get the confusion, what is the specification for each service on the main pier, the 555.3 definition only specifies the main feeder, not the individual services. Presently this pier has 32 services, with many more to come as we expand further with new customers.
Click to expand...

"Ground fault protection

of each individual branch

or

feeder circuit shall be permitted
as a suitable alternative. "
 
555.19 Receptacles.
(A) Shore Power Receptacles.
(3) Branch Circuits. Each single receptacle that supplies shore power to boats shall be supplied from a marine power outlet or panelboard by an individual branch circuit of the voltage class and rating corresponding to the rating of the receptacle.

Run a few individual branch circuits to marine power outlet to specific sites to house the type of monitors that are causing the problem. Nothing say you cannot have both an individual rec. and your pedestals.

Do your pedestals have a spare breaker that can be used to add a rec at the higher ma range.
 
Last edited:
South Bay Marina said:
No, actually only the ones that have the galvanic isolator monitors, which we moved to older piers without the new code protected pedestals. Not angry, just an obstacle we'd like to avoid that is an inconvenience.

555.3 is not retroactive, it does not require existing facilities to change every thing they have over to this, only new builds or expansions requiring a new service.

All of the other boats / yachts are running just fine, some with twin 30 amp 125v services, some with single 50 amp 125v running air conditioners, water heaters, battery bank charger converters, microwaves, stoves, multiple tv sets, etc etc.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure you are understanding my question. Do you have GFCI in the shore power outlets OR GFP at some level up to 100 mA? There is a very big difference. You should not have GFCI on any shore power outlet but must have GFP up to 100 mA. Yes, you must have GFCI on any 15 or 20 amp receptacles, but these are not shore power outlets.
 
Our shore power pedestals are equipped with Single pole 120 VAC Ground Fault Circuit Breakers - 5mA sensitivity Quicklag type QCGF1030. One each for each 30 amp 125v twist lock receptacle, four per pedestal.
 
Thanks for every ones input.

I have heard back from Eaton, and there is no work around nor "fix" for the issue; the galvanic isolator monitoring systems will trip any GFCI. It is old technology that has been rendered obsolete by the new wiring code.
 
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