AC/DC converter and the battery charger

[vamanos]

For a 1988 Sea Ray 268 the owners manual says that the charger is automatic when shore power is hooked up. Is this automatic feature active when the main breaker is on or off? Does the converter breaker have to be on? Can you leave these breakers on while you are not on board? Thanks and you folks have been great helping me with my the first boat that I have owned.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: AC/DC converter and the battery charger

The main breaker controls AC power "into" the system. If you have it turned off the system is not powered and it cannot function. Doesn't make any difference if you are on board or not.

 

[vamanos]

Re: AC/DC converter and the battery charger

OK, got it. But, what is the converter breaker for?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: AC/DC converter and the battery charger

The main breaker is the master breaker. The converter breaker should be after the main.

So, if the main breaker is off, the entire boat is dead, including the converter breaker.

 

[vamanos]

Re: AC/DC converter and the battery charger

Thanks. So that I am perfectly clear, the converter AND the main have to be on to get the battery charger working. How many volts is being supplied through the shore power to the charger?

Can you run both the AC and the DC equipment at the same time? Like the air conditioning at the same time as some of the DC lights in the cabin?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: AC/DC converter and the battery charger

Input to the converter is 117 volts AC just like you have in your house. The converter passes that voltage through to the 117 volt outlets and applicances on the boat if the breakers are turned on. Obviously if they are turned off the outlets will be dead. The converter also takes 117 volts AC and converts it to 12 volts DC for your low voltage system and for battery charging. So yes -- you can run both AC and 12 volt DC stuff at the same time. That's what the converter is for. Now if you had an INverter, it does the opposite. It takes 12 volt DC battery voltage and turns it into 117 volts AC. However, this is a losing proposition since the batteries don't last long working that way -- for example running an air conditioner, coffee pot, electric heater or any other high current draw items. For that you need a generator.