Circuit Breakers & ELCIs

ELCI (Electrical Leakage Circuit Interrupter) is a life saving safety device for any boat with AC devices on board. The ELCI is a circuit breaker that is installed between the shorepower inlet and the main AC panel. ELCIs monitor the amperage difference from the hot wire and the neutral wire. If the difference is over 30mA the ELCI will disconnect AC power from the boat. This difference implies that leakage current is traveling through the ground wire, which is connected to underwater metals. When current travels through underwater metals it is traveling back to the shorepower pedestal through the water. Electrical current in the water has injured and killed swimmers. This is why ELCIs are a mandatory device from ABYC.