[C320-list] Inverter - follow-up questions

[Dean Vermeire]

Thanks.  That's pretty much what I figured.

At this point, I'm thinking a long extension cord from the boat to the 
dock is good enough for me.


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)
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