Installation is easy:
Three wires, battery positive, battery negative and (metal) engine body or (metal) hull. Install anywhere onboard, at any distance, that is dry. The outside of battery box or control panel or accommodation area is O/K. Connect brown to battery positive, blue to battery negative and green/yellow to any damp or wet metal such as engine body or hull.
Frequently Asked Questions, Insurance complying ABYC Wiring Rules:
This is a very brief sample. Full questions and answers asked with 500+ vessels, that will save you a vast amount of money, are supplied with the SeaBis System. The SeaBis System will eliminate all the causes of electrolysis corrosion.
At the end of FAQ are detailed questions and answers based on American Boat and Yacht Club (ABYC) Wiring Rules. They maybe downloaded by a link at the bottom of this page. The ABYC Wiring Rules are recognized by all authorities, World-wide as correct and pre-eminent. Those Wiring Rules are accepted World-wide as correct and form a solid base for insurance companies to accept or refuse claims for electrolysis corrosion.
The SeaBis System eliminates all electrolysis corrosion and complies with ABYC Wiring Rules so your insurance capability will remain. If you chose not to eliminate electrolysis you will have no insurance from electrolysis corrosion.- Is this electrolysis corrosion?
Does it even remotely resemble the photographs at www.seabis.com?
There are several causes. They are all eliminated by using the SeaBis System. We need to use the SeaBis System. Then we will know the cause, exactly, can answer the question and will eliminate the cause.
- Electrolysis Corrosion Explained...
Electrolysis corrosion is caused by electrolytic action between damp or immersed metal and the sea or river bed. Electrolytic action is particles of metal being dissolved from your metal by battery current. Battery current is DC - Direct Current so always flows in the same direction. So dissolved particles will not be replaced. AC - Alternating Current alternates direction so instantly replaces any particles it dissolves so cannot cause electrolysis corrosion. All electrolysis is eliminated by the SeaBis System under actual use conditions - guaranteed in writing here.
In doubt? Ask any manufacturing jeweller how he plates gold onto base metal. The gold is your (engine / hull)wet metal and the (jewelry)base metal is the Earth
- Mains power, AC is an abbreviation for Alternating Current. It reverses direction every 1/100 second so a particle removed in the first half Hertz (cycle) will be replaced in the second half Hertz. So AC cannot cause electrolysis. Battery (DC or Direct Current) causes electrolysis corrosion because current flows in one direction only so continually depletes metal particles wherever that metal is damp to immersed. That current will continually remove particles to the sea bed, 24 hours, every day of the year. The SeaBis System eliminates ALL electrolysis, under ALL conditions.
- How do I eliminate electrolysis corrosion (rust or stray current)
Download our instructions, click here
- Is one SeaBis enough?
It is for nearly every vessel where there is only one alternator / generator or all battery banks can be switched in parallel - usually for charging or back up battery capacity.
There is an alternative where one SeaBis can be used on multiple sources DC power (multiple independent battery banks) by moving or switching the SeaBis. Contact us: seabis@bigpond.com or Click: How Many SeaBis Do I Need?
- How do I use SeaBis?
Connect SeaBis to the battery and engine / metal hull. SeaBis will indicate by a traffic light system. Then follow Process of Elimination instructions. Briefly, unplug / remove black wires from the common battery negative junction strip until you get a Normal indication. Whatever is now not working was causing electrolysis. Follow Process of Elimination instructions supplied with SeaBis.
- So SeaBis, on its own does not eliminate electrolysis corrosion?
The SeaBis System, supplied as part of SeaBis, is used to eliminate all electrolysis. We do not attempt to cancel electrolysis current by reversing the electrolysis current. It changes with every tide and boat movement within 150 meters. Eliminating the cause always works. That is why we provide a 3 year money back guarantee.
- Is my engine the cause?
It is deceptively easy to blame the largest target. A wire as thin as a human hair will cause electrolysis you can easily see within 3 months. All causes are eliminated by using the SeaBis System. Even a faulty bilge pump, antenna, battery charger, CB radio, navigation light or non insulated engine.
- Wire connected to the hull? I can see a wire connected to the hull. Is that the cause of electrolysis corrosion? It will be one of several causes. Using the hull as battery negative breaches ABYC Wiring Rules and voids insurance. The cause is eliminated by using the SeaBis System. It is often easier than it appears. We identify all causes then insulate / disconnect them from the hull. Then run insulated wire between all points no longer connected to the hull. This solution is totally dependent on SeaBis proving there is no other cause onboard.
- My meter / tester can not find the cause. Why?
That is why we developed the SeaBis System. The electric current that causes electrolysis corrosion flows from your engine / propeller / metal hull / keel to the seabed. Multi meters have caused the hydrogen gas in the battery to explode. That has resulted in death from acid burns. A very bad way to die. Never use a multimeter on milli amps or amps near a battery.
- I just paid for an Electrolysis Blocker and still get electrolysis. Why?
The Blocker is in the Mains, shore supply, Earth wire. The electrolysis current flows between your engine / propeller / metal hull / keel and the seabed. The Blocker is preventing much less than 10% of the electrolysis.
- My anodes consumption rate is too fast or they do not dissolve at all.
Electrolysis is over powering the anodes by a ratio of 1,000,000:1. Eliminate the electrolysis and the anodes will work as designed.
- What happens if I get stuck? Do I need an Electrician?
90% of Owners complete Process of Elimination themselves. Of the remaining 10%, nearly all make one phone call or e-mail and complete Process of Elimination. One in a hundred makes several contacts or uses an Electrician. All contacts are included in the purchase price.
- I understand you guarantee the SeaBis System. No one else does. Why?
We have completed very long term tests in every conceivable situation so know the SeaBis System works well. There have been no claims in the our 470 vessels.
Detailed Questions and answerers for Technicians and Owners:
Please contact seabis@bigpond.com for additional details.
- What are voltage and current?
Voltage is the potential for electric current to flow. Current is the actual electric energy that flows. Current lights the lamp, drives the motor and, without SeaBis, dissolves all wet metal.
- Why do I need two wires? Current requires a source and a return path. The return path is via the battery negative via the water to the sea bed.
- What is electrolysis? When a current flows through any water it carries particles of metal from the source to the return paths. Ask any manufacturing jeweler.
- I have been told connecting to the Mains shore power, AC, is the cause.
AC is an abbreviated name for Alternating Current. It alternates direction every half of 50 or 60 hertz (cycles per second). So a metal particle removed by electrolysis in the first half hertz will be replaced by the reversal of current direction in the second half hertz. So AC cannot cause electrolysis. There is a slight chance another AC user has a defect that is causing DC current. DC current flows in one direction only so will cause electrolysis. However for it to affect you requires you both be connected to the same power source and the SeaBis System not to be used. When your vessel has the SeaBis System completed even that possibility is eliminated.
- Why is electrolysis corroding my boat?
If a battery or equipment terminal contacts metal that is itself in contact with even slightly damp to immersed, fresh or salt water, then current flows to the sea, river or lake bed. That current carries metal particles from your engine cooling system, propeller, outboard leg, rudder or metal hull (wet metal) to the sea bed.
- Why does electrolysis current flow?
When power is applied, the wet metal is not correctly insulated from all battery and equipment terminals.
- All the engines in all the boats I see have battery negative bonded to the engine body. What is going on?
20 years ago all boats had both battery negative and positive insulated from all wet metal. Today professional fishermen with generations of experience, large tugs, war ships, oil well heads their work boats and tenders all make full insulation from battery negative and positive to all wet metal compulsory. They have learnt the hard way. The domestic market manufacturers do not. The SeaBis System corrects this situation.
- How does the SeaBis System eliminate electrolysis corrosion?
The SeaBis unit is a wet metal sampling digital current meter. It indicates the ferocity of electrolysis current by a traffic light system. Equipment is disconnected until SeaBis indicates Normal – no electrolysis current is flowing. The last equipment you disconnected was the cause. Now follow Process of Elimination supplied with SeaBis to correct the cause.
- I can see my engine body connected to battery negative. How do I correct that?
A choice of two methods depending on Engine On Hours per year. Most domestic boats run their engine for 200 or less hours per year. As there are 8,448 hours per year the engine ON hours are less than 2%. So the battery negative can be (isolated) by a battery switch, manual or automatic..
This solution will only work when all other equipment (House) is proven free of all causes of electrolysis by SeaBis and SeaBis is permanently connected. Professionals with Engine On Hours greater than 200 per year can replace non insulated parts with marine insulated. Marine insulated parts visible at www.turotest.com.au. click on Marine, a photo is available at marine pressure sender The parts are made in America and are available from immediate stock.
The total cost of modification is far less than the additional cost, at initial engine purchase of the upgrade to a professional - insulated marine engine. Must I Use an Insulated Engine?
- So how do I find the House causes?
Unplug equipment, or disconnect at the battery negative common joining strip until SeaBis indicates Normal. The last equipment disconnected was causing electrolysis. Now follow Process of Elimination supplied with SeaBis to correct the cause.
- What happens if I cannot find the cause?
There is a 5% chance that you will need advice from us. That advice is included in the purchase cost. Contact seabis@bigpond.com or we will telephone you, World-wide. Live slide shows at www.seabis.com.au
- Where is the Return Current Path?
There are two issues: No electronics use a Return Path. Current is converted in another form of energy such as magnetic, mechanical, light or movement. The seabed and every source within 150 meters forms an additional source or drain. So we have at least 3 sources / drains plus every boat. Plenty of parallel or return paths. These can easily be proven using the Flexible SeaBis.