SAMS Vessel Electrical Systems 5

Question 1

A vessel's lightning protection system should include a ground plate with a minimum underwater surface area of:

Accepted Answer

1 square foot

Answer

ABYC E-4 requires a minimum of 1 square foot of underwater bonded metal surface area for an effective lightning ground plate.

Question 2

During a survey, the inspector finds that a vessel's AC panel has Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection on all AC outlets in the head compartment. This installation is:

Accepted Answer

Correct and required by ABYC A-31 for protection in wet locations

Answer

ABYC A-31 requires GFCI protection for AC outlets in heads, galleys, machinery spaces, and other wet areas to protect against electric shock drowning and shock hazard.

Question 3

Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) risk near docked vessels is primarily associated with:

Accepted Answer

AC current leaking into the water from a vessel's shore power system creating a voltage gradient

Answer

ESD occurs when AC current leaks into surrounding water from faulty shore power connections, creating a voltage gradient that can paralyze or kill swimmers.

Question 4

A surveyor observes that a vessel uses wire nuts to splice conductors in the bilge area. This is deficient because:

Accepted Answer

Wire nuts are not approved for marine use and can loosen or corrode; marine-grade terminals or solder with heat shrink are required

Answer

Wire nuts are not approved for marine use as they can loosen with vibration and corrode in the wet environment; ABYC requires properly crimped marine-grade terminals or soldered connections.

Question 5

A vessel equipped with a diesel generator must have the generator's neutral conductor:

Accepted Answer

Isolated from the vessel's bonding/grounding system to prevent shock hazard

Answer

ABYC standards require that the generator neutral be isolated from the vessel's grounding/bonding system to prevent the same ESD and galvanic corrosion issues as shore power neutral-ground bonds aboard.

(SAMS) Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Certified Practice Test

(SAMS) Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Certified Practice Test

SAMS Vessel Electrical Systems 5