Inverter or Generator ?
Inverter or Generator ?
Help please. I have a Kestrel with single 12 volt battery for on board lights & engine start (60hp Mercury) I want to be able to feed a microwave and other small 240volt appliances. Am I best to get a small 240volt 1000w generator or fit a 12-240volt 800w inverter & does anyone have any experience of the power drain on a 12volt battery by an inverter. Will I need to install a second battery if I go the inverter route. Any experiences or suggestions would be gratefully received. Thanks
Re: Inverter or Generator ?
I used to install 12v microwave ovens in boats we built (12meter motor yachts) and I remember they needed hefty wiring.
800w / 12 = 66 amps and more likely 70amps due to conversion inefficiencies. 70amps for 1 hour flattens a 90ah batterie.
Luckily a microwave does run for very long.
A generator is noisy, heavy, cumbersome in a small boat, sometimes difficult to start, but can recharge a batterie.
I perso would skip the microwave, and use a small invertor such as 150w for the small appliances such as portable phones.
800w / 12 = 66 amps and more likely 70amps due to conversion inefficiencies. 70amps for 1 hour flattens a 90ah batterie.
Luckily a microwave does run for very long.
A generator is noisy, heavy, cumbersome in a small boat, sometimes difficult to start, but can recharge a batterie.
I perso would skip the microwave, and use a small invertor such as 150w for the small appliances such as portable phones.
Re: Inverter or Generator ?
Hi and thanks for your reply
I was thinking in terms of possibly an 800w inverter and running a 240v standard microwave from it but maybe that's not such a good idea after all. I don't want to do much cooking on board but did quite fancy being able to heat up chinese takeaways etc. Anybody else have any thoughts or experience?
I was thinking in terms of possibly an 800w inverter and running a 240v standard microwave from it but maybe that's not such a good idea after all. I don't want to do much cooking on board but did quite fancy being able to heat up chinese takeaways etc. Anybody else have any thoughts or experience?
Re: Inverter or Generator ?
Last thing you need with a 60hp engine is a flat battery, and a 800watt inverter will be a heavy drain on it. I would rather have cold food than be stuck out on the water with a flat engine battery.
Installing a second battery is an option if you do want to go down this road, but it would be advisable to install a split charging system to ensure your engine battery is fully charged at all times and the auxilery one takes second place when charging on the run. Also the inverter should only use power from the auxilery battery but a good sytem will automatically do this for you.
This all increases the price somewhat and there is the problem of installing the system if your not familiar with electrics.
As Geoff says a generator is noisy but if your only using it for a few minutes at a time to run the microwave then its the easiest answer.
Installing a second battery is an option if you do want to go down this road, but it would be advisable to install a split charging system to ensure your engine battery is fully charged at all times and the auxilery one takes second place when charging on the run. Also the inverter should only use power from the auxilery battery but a good sytem will automatically do this for you.
This all increases the price somewhat and there is the problem of installing the system if your not familiar with electrics.
As Geoff says a generator is noisy but if your only using it for a few minutes at a time to run the microwave then its the easiest answer.
Pete
Good friends are worth their weight in gold
Good friends are worth their weight in gold
Re: Inverter or Generator ?
You shouldn't heat up Chinese take away anyway!!!!
As far as you I would stick to a leisure battery for lights/sterio etc... Leave your engine starter battery for starting. Use a "portable" gas burner hob £20 for heating your beans - not pre cooked rice!
By using a non fixed gas device you avoid the hassles of on board built in gas regs for the boat safety cert. still be safe obviously.
As far as you I would stick to a leisure battery for lights/sterio etc... Leave your engine starter battery for starting. Use a "portable" gas burner hob £20 for heating your beans - not pre cooked rice!
By using a non fixed gas device you avoid the hassles of on board built in gas regs for the boat safety cert. still be safe obviously.
Re: Inverter or Generator ?
Many thanks folks. It's good to know there are buddies out there willing to share experiences and help with novices like me. Good point about the fixed gas installation as the boat will need a BSS before I can put her into local rivers. Thanks again and safe happy boating to all my newly made fraternity friends on the water.