On Sat, Dec 11, 2010 at 10:32:47AM -0500, Spent Casings wrote:
> 
> Current on the ground
> wire indicates a fault, and should cause some sort of alarm or disable
> the circuit where it happens (since the ground wire has resistance, so
> the existence of a current implies the existence of voltage between
> various grounded items).

Bingo. It doesn't take much to detect this, and it's a binary condition:
if current is flowing, then there's a problem. If not, then not.
 
> Speaking of which, if you're really worried about safety, start by
> changing all the outlets on your boat to GFCI.

Exactly. GFCI is sensitive enough and fast enough that you'll eliminate
that entire class of problems. In fact, a really good idea for anyone
using an inverter on a boat would be to use an in-line GFCI (about $22) 
 - possibly one of the best and cheapest shock-prevention strategies out
there. Until John La Grou's "smart power outlets" (EFCI) become widely
available (and that'll save a hell of a lot of lives), that's the
biggest AC safety improvement you can make.

http://www.ted.com/talks/john_la_grou_plugs_smart_power_outlets_1.html

(I *love* TED Talks.)


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