AC Inverter

[Cool It]

is the purpose of an AC invertor to change the DC to AC for the 110 outlets on the boat when not pluged into shore power?? or is there an other purpose??<br /><br />Alot of new things on this 2000 Sundancer that I never had on any other boat!!!<br /><br />Thanks<br />COOL It

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: AC Inverter

That is exactly what it's for.

 

[amirm]

Re: AC Inverter

Yup. And be sure to see what it is rated for and don't try to pull more current from it than the overall rating.<br /><br />One more thing, if the thing is rated for 1200 watts, it may not sound like much but you will be pulling a whopping 120 amps from your batteries (1200/12 * 1.2)! So be careful before trying to run a hair dryer from it .<br /><br />Amir

 

[18rabbit]

Re: AC Inverter

I’m convinced marine inverters were invented by battery manufacturers with add’l funding by Sea-Tow.<br /><br />Minimum battery power needed for a 1000w inverter is a couple of group 27 batteries. That will allow you to run the inverter at full capacity for 1-hr without taking the batteries below 50% discharge.<br /><br />In a nutshell, take 1/5 of the inverter’s watt rating. That’s the minimum of what you need in batter a/hrs to run for 1/hr at the inverter’s capacity. And if you don’t have a separate house bank of batteries, or if you take ‘just a little’ from the starting battery, well, that’s were Sea-Tow comes in.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: AC Inverter

Then there are those who think they can plug a battery charger into the inverter to charge their batteries so they will never have to use shore power ever again. (These folks generally got "F"s in science and physics).

 

[cuzner]

Re: AC Inverter

Just make sure your inverter is hooked up to your house batteries, not starting and you should be ok.They are a great way to run a microwave, for short periods, or a tv. But it will drain your battery in a hurry!!!<br /><br /><br /> Jim

 

[briannh1234]

Re: AC Inverter

Upinsmoke -<br /><br />I have a friend who installed a huge stero in his van. He had a lot of problems keeping the battery charged by just using an isolator. I recommended a smart charger when he's not using it but he claimed that would never work cause the system draw's too many amps.<br /><br />He is currently re-installing the system into his new van. I asked how he was going to power it. He said - Inverter, running a grinder, attached to an alternator. He liked the idea becasue it didn't have to make any connection to the van wiring system.<br /><br />I told him if that works make sure to patent it and quick.

 

[jlinder]

Re: AC Inverter

Sounds like the person who plugs their outlet strip back into itself and cannof figure out why there is no power.<br /><br />Seriously - when you think of power draw small electronics (fish finders, GPS, radios, non-ear busting radios) tend to draw fairly little power. As soon as you get into anything that deals with heat or big time sound you are talking big time power drains.<br /><br /><br />I had seen a post where someone was thinking of using an inverter to power a 120v heater.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: AC Inverter

Originally posted by Jack L:<br /> I had seen a post where someone was thinking of using an inverter to power a 120v heater.

I thought an inverter was a heater!?!<br />

 

[chuckz]

Re: AC Inverter

briannh1234,<br /><br />Is your friend Rube Goldberg?

 

[DangerDan]

Re: AC Inverter

When installing my inverter I decided to seperate my circuits, starter/house and only run the starter motor off of the start circuit. I have two house batts and a starter Batt. I considered leaving the lights and othe systems to the start circuit but decided against that. I only use a 750w inverter for a TV/VCR combo and a toy/raft blower and situations where I don't want to be dockside. I also installed a BEP switch/isolator. It's really worked well so far. I have a 6 cup coffee maker I've run off of the inverter a few times, not sure how much battery I run down from a pot of coffee. If installing an inverter I would seriously recomend it be on a seperate circuit from the starter.

 

[jlinder]

Re: AC Inverter

<br /><br />I thought an inverter was a heater!?!<br />

No, the heater is the power lead to the inverter that are trying to carry 75 amps of current