[C320-list] Inverter - follow-up questions

[Robert Seastream]

We just bought the Honda EU2000i 'Companion' (has a twistlock outlet  
alongside the standard outlet) generator.  Paid $1095 US for it at a  
local authorized dealer/servicer.  It was about $90 more than two  
online sources, but it was oiled, fueled, load bank tested, verified  
working, in hand and out the door all in one stop, so we felt it was  
worth it.

We did this because while we've upgraded our alternator/charging  
system, we feel that the diesel engines primary purpose is to propel  
the boat in lack of wind or while maneuvering in port.  Running it  
solely to charge the batteries or make hot water puts excessive hours  
on the engine and can be expensive in the long run maintenance wise.   
Regarding inverters, they can place a HUGE current draw on the house  
batteries, leading to early replacement or worse.  Thus, we felt the  
generator was the efficient solution.

Bob Seastream
Intuition # 906


On Mar 8, 2009, at 1:12 PM, <crashley at gte.net> <crashley at gte.net> wrote:

> Dean,
>
> I'm not sure anyone answered this but here's one for you.
>
> An inverter converts 12 VDC from the battery to 115 VAC @ 60 Hz (in  
> the
> U.S.) for the AC loads like a microwave. Most inverters also provide a
> battery charging function when they have an external source of AC  
> (like at
> the dock).
>
> The generator option (which I don't have) has the advantage that  
> (when it is
> running) it provides 115 VAC for the AC loads and can run the on-board
> battery charger as well. It's true that running the boat's engine  
> does this
> too, but the efficiency of the generator is probably better. The  
> generator
> also uses a different fuel, gasoline, which you probably need on the  
> boat
> anyway if you have a gasoline engine for the dinghy outboard. Cost- 
> wise I'm
> not sure which one is better but inverter/chargers cost upwards of  
> $1000
> (sometimes a lot more) and also usually require some additional  
> heavy gauge
> DC cabling to be added depending on where you locate it. The external
> generator is more of a "plug and play" approach.
>
> CR Ashley
> Rosebud C320 Hull #882
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Dean  
> Vermeire
> Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 9:32 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Inverter - follow-up questions
>
> Hi again.
>
> Thanks for all the good input so far.  I hate to ask really stupid
> questions, but somebody's got to do it.
>
> It seems to me that I've got two choices - put in an inverter that  
> takes DC
> from the batteries and runs them down while converting to AC, or put  
> in a
> generator that uses some other energy source to run a motor that  
> generates
> AC.  I look at the existing systems onboard, and I see a diesel  
> motor that
> runs an alternator that produces DC to recharge my batteries.  I  
> also have
> shore power (AC) that recharges the batteries by way of a battery  
> charger,
> which I see listed in catalogs as a "battery charger / inverter".
>
> Stupid question #1:  Are they calling the battery chargert an inverter
> because it is changing AC to DC?
> Stupid question #2:  Why is a generator less expensive than a DC-to-AC
> inverter, when the generator must have similar circuitry in it?
>
> Thanks,
> Dean Vermeire
> Moonstruck II (#847)
>
>
>