[C320-list] Inverter - follow-up questions

[Chris Burti]

Oh, and we primarily use our microwave as a breadbox.

On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 8:22 AM, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:

> FWIW, when charging the batteries at anchor, I put the transmission in
> reverse and run the RPM's up to the point the gauge is showing max charge
> (somewhere around 2k). We schedule charging times around the need for hot
> water and vice versa. Works very nice and about thirty minutes a day keeps
> us cruising with the reefer running (using a fan for efficiency) as we watch
> our consumption carefully .
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 8:11 AM, Allan S. Field <allan.field at verizon.net>wrote:
>
>> While it is true that diesels should be good for many hours with proper
>> maintenance, proper maintenance includes running under load which means
>> running in gear, hard to do at anchor.  I have been advised by several
>> diesel mechanics over the years not to run the engine continuously in
>> neutral as diesels are happiest when working.
>>
>> I also have been advised not to run anything off an inverter that creates
>> heat, such as hair dryer, toaster or microwave, as heat producing
>> appliances
>> create a tremendous load on the battery.
>>
>> On both of these points, I only have what I have been told to go on but
>> they
>> make sense to me so I follow them.
>>
>> On Sea Shadow, we do have a Honda 2000 generator that we have used
>> sparingly
>> so far although with a short electric cord, it will power the A/C at
>> anchor.
>> When rafted, Linda has used the generator to run the microwave and we have
>> used it only 1-2 times for battery charging.
>>
>> We also have a very small 100 watt inverter that will power the TV/DVD
>> player for the grandkids; that is all we have used the inverter for.  We
>> also installed 3 additional chart liter plugs for charging cell phones.
>>
>> At the end of the day, for the type of cruising we do, all of our power
>> needs are met.
>>
>> Allan S. Field
>> Sea Shadow - #808
>> Columbia, MD
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
>>  crashley at gte.net
>> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 2:41 AM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Inverter - follow-up questions
>>
>> Here's my last input on this one, no pun intended.
>>
>> The detraction (for me) with the external generator approach on a C320 is
>> that you have to store it, haul it out, connect it, keep it fueled, and
>> put
>> it away when actually sailing, which after all is the primary purpose of
>> the
>> boat. I'm sure these things are not monumental tasks and if you are going
>> to
>> be moored or anchored for many days at a time it might be worth it but for
>> me the simplicity of having a battery powered inverter is more attractive.
>> Actually, the main reason I installed my inverter/charger is that I had an
>> OEM Pro-Mariner charger which I've heard can fail and kill your batteries.
>> I
>> installed a small Magnum Energy MMS1012 1000W pure sinewave
>> inverter/charger
>> which actually fits in the same place that the original charger was
>> located
>> without any additional wiring except for the AC lines back to the AC
>> distribution panel. I got an unbelievably good price on mine (I think it
>> was
>> a mistake) but I think they go for about $1100, which admittedly is a lot
>> more than the price of a battery charger only. It has temperature
>> compensated battery charging (probably pretty standard nowadays) which my
>> original charger did not have and I wanted badly when I replaced my
>> original
>> flooded batteries with (more expensive) AGMs. Actually, I have yet to
>> actually use the inverter function but I know it works. If you're only
>> planning on using a couple hundred watts of load (TVs and such) I think an
>> inverter like I have is the way to go. Note: I don't have a microwave
>> oven,
>> so that might lead to a different conclusion.
>>
>> The concern over running a diesel engine for a couple or hours a day to
>> recharge batteries is unfounded as they should last at least 10,000 hours
>> minimum. Okay, if you're a cruiser and run your engine an extra 2 hours
>> charge every day it might be a concern. But in that case maybe you should
>> have a larger boat with an internal generator, or at least solar panels.
>>
>> 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: Monday, March 09, 2009 7:50 AM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Inverter - follow-up questions
>>
>> 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)
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Chris Burti Farmville, NC
>



-- 
Chris Burti Farmville, NC