[musky]

My thinking is when a shaft has a brush system that connects it to the main boat zinc plate, there is no need to use shaft zincs.....But I've been wrong before! Does anyone have a definite answer?

[Northern Lights]

In some cases yes in some cases no. You are driving 1/2 a volt @ 1/4 amp. The connection must be clean and maintained. Most low cost brush systems are nothing more than sintered oil-light bearings that have been cut in two and tooled to fit on a tensioned arm. The transmision connection is equally as unreliable. All metals film. What makes stainless steel stainless is that it films a clear coating. Take away the oxegen and stainless crevices. What makes things worse for the connection is the high chromium stainless steels. Aquamet 19 & 22. They like Aquamet in shafting because it doesnt crevice in the rubber bearings. Take away the oxegen and the s/s cant film. The film that forms is chromic oxide. Chromic oxide is dielectric. The oil in the sintered oil-light brush is dielectric. It doesnt take long for the connection to breakdown. Several manufactures produce a silver brush system. The oxide of silver is more conductive than silver itself. The nastier the connection the better. The brushes are silver graphite and the shaft is fitted with a 99.9 % brushing surface.

[musky]

The brush, or wipe is pretty substantial with heavy gauge wire, but I did hear you loud and clear when you said the connection has to be perfect with such low volt and amps. I'll keep one shaft zinc on per shaft just in case. Thanks for the response!!

Musky