ABYC
Summary of ABYC A-28 Changes
For the past several years, the Galvanic Isolator Committee within ABYC has been working on the next revision to A-28. In October 2007, ABYC affirmed revisions to A-28, with a publication date of July 2008 and an effective date of July 2009.
Two major changes in the revised standard are: (a) it provides for an additional class of galvanic isolator; namely, a "fail-safe" version, and (b) fail-safe versions do not require monitoring, thereby eliminating the major complaint of galvanic isolators made to the previous A-28 standard. (Galvanic isolators made to the previous A-28 standard are allowed to fail open circuit; hence, the primary reason they require monitoring.
A fail-safe version is designed and tested to meet the requirements of "effective ground fault current path" per the U.S. National Electric Code, a requirement adopted in the new A-28 revision, thereby assuring safety grounding of the boat at all times and eliminating the need for monitoring. (As a side note, this fail-safe requirement applies to all similar products that provide dc isolation and ac grounding outside of the boating industry and DEI has furnished such fail-safe products since 1983.)
DEI offers a full line of fail-safe galvanic isolators that have been third-party certified by Imanna Laboratory Inc. to the July 2008 publication revisions. A number of boat builders have been purchasing our fail-safe galvanic isolators for years because they realized the enhanced safety and reduced liability implications of using a fail-safe design.
DEI offers the following fail-safe galvanic isolators for your consideration: A GI-30A-FSP and a GI-30A-FSM model for use on a single 30A service. These models are rated and nameplated for 35A continuous to satisfy European requirements for a 32A rating. A GI-50/60A-FSP and a GI-50/60A-FSM model for use on a single 50A service or dual 30A services. A GI-100A-FSM model for use on a single 100A service. A GI-200A-FSM model for use on a single 200A service or two 100A services. Although the scope of ABYC A-28 does not apply to the 200A rating, this model has been designed and built by extending the requirements of ABYC A-28 as though they did apply.
The models with the "FSP" (Fail-Safe Plus®) suffix exceed the requirements of the new A-28 standard in that they significantly exceed the miniumum fault current rating required and they have significant lightning current ratings, a rating not required in A-28.
The models with the "FSM" (Fail-Safe Max®) suffix further exceed the requirements of A-28 in that they remain fully functional even when subject to the fail-safe criteria tests required in A-28 (a test which subjects the galvanic isolator to its short circuit rating for a time duration that will raise the grounding conductor temperature to its melt temperature.)
For the past several years, the Galvanic Isolator Committee within ABYC has been working on the next revision to A-28. In October 2007, ABYC affirmed revisions to A-28, with a publication date of July 2008 and an effective date of July 2009.
Two major changes in the revised standard are: (a) it provides for an additional class of galvanic isolator; namely, a "fail-safe" version, and (b) fail-safe versions do not require monitoring, thereby eliminating the major complaint of galvanic isolators made to the previous A-28 standard. (Galvanic isolators made to the previous A-28 standard are allowed to fail open circuit; hence, the primary reason they require monitoring.
A fail-safe version is designed and tested to meet the requirements of "effective ground fault current path" per the U.S. National Electric Code, a requirement adopted in the new A-28 revision, thereby assuring safety grounding of the boat at all times and eliminating the need for monitoring. (As a side note, this fail-safe requirement applies to all similar products that provide dc isolation and ac grounding outside of the boating industry and DEI has furnished such fail-safe products since 1983.)
DEI offers a full line of fail-safe galvanic isolators that have been third-party certified by Imanna Laboratory Inc. to the July 2008 publication revisions. A number of boat builders have been purchasing our fail-safe galvanic isolators for years because they realized the enhanced safety and reduced liability implications of using a fail-safe design.
DEI offers the following fail-safe galvanic isolators for your consideration: A GI-30A-FSP and a GI-30A-FSM model for use on a single 30A service. These models are rated and nameplated for 35A continuous to satisfy European requirements for a 32A rating. A GI-50/60A-FSP and a GI-50/60A-FSM model for use on a single 50A service or dual 30A services. A GI-100A-FSM model for use on a single 100A service. A GI-200A-FSM model for use on a single 200A service or two 100A services. Although the scope of ABYC A-28 does not apply to the 200A rating, this model has been designed and built by extending the requirements of ABYC A-28 as though they did apply.
The models with the "FSP" (Fail-Safe Plus®) suffix exceed the requirements of the new A-28 standard in that they significantly exceed the miniumum fault current rating required and they have significant lightning current ratings, a rating not required in A-28.
The models with the "FSM" (Fail-Safe Max®) suffix further exceed the requirements of A-28 in that they remain fully functional even when subject to the fail-safe criteria tests required in A-28 (a test which subjects the galvanic isolator to its short circuit rating for a time duration that will raise the grounding conductor temperature to its melt temperature.)