[C320-list] Calling all Electrical Experts !!

[Jeffrey Hare]

Tim,

   If you're planning on running an AC, an inverter isn't the ticket.  You
may want to get a honda portable generator.  Your batteries don't have the
power to drive an AC.

(If you're serious about Air conditioning and AC creature comforts on the
hook, then you might consider a compact diesel genset installation so that
you can stick with single fuel and have more convenience.  However the
portable Honda Generators are *very* quiet)

   Since you're on the hook, consider upgrading to a minimum of 40amp shore
power charger so that you can recharge your batteries via the generator more
quickly and *way* more quietly than via the engine.

   As for an inverter, if you're planning on running your microwave, you
need to seriously consider a true Sine Wave inverter, otherwise, the
microwave won't operate at nearly full power.  (Not a wattage issue, but
rather a peak AC line voltage issue.  "modified sine wave" inverters deliver
the same power, but not the same peak voltage which many motor/heating
appliances are sensitive to).

   If you're upgrading your alternator/regulator as well, this project has
been done by a number of people and there are a bunch of options here that
all work nicely.

As for the Gel Batteries,  AGM's may be a better option than Gels,
particularly since they will generally charge faster but since I don't have
them myself, I won't comment on how they actually perform.

-JeffH 

   

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim [mailto:chillinonahd at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2006 12:25 PM
To: C320 List
Subject: [C320-list] Calling all Electrical Experts !!

Ok, one of my original batteries (vintage 99) has just bite the dust and I
expect the second one to fail by the end of the season (hopefully holds out
that long). So over the winter I am planning to upgrade the entire system
(battery, charging, inverter). I've heard lots of good things about the gel
cell batteries so looking for brand suggestions as well as sources for best
price. On the charger side, original owner had replaced the factory unit
with a Guest 10 amp unit that I believe is capable of handling the gel
batteries, but I was reading up on the Xantrex units that are both charger
and inverter. Anyone have experience here? For background, my boat is on a
mooring and most of the battery charging is done while under power in/out of
the harbor. Most trips are weekend plus 1 or 2 days tops so having some AC
power would be nice while on the hook hence the inverter need. I also looked
into the heart interface units to give me a better indication of battery
stage and power
 consumption so again, is that the preferred route or have others found
better solutions. And lastly, since most of my charging is done via the
alternator, should I consider an upgrade there as well, not having issues
but while I am tearing things apart...why not?
   
  Thanks !!

 		
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