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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Power Inverter and Shore Power

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Deltarat
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/10/2009 : 01:09:57

I was just given a 1500 watt power inverter, that I will be hooking up in the next couple of weekends. My question is: Is there a way to have the inverter 110 circuit share the same outlets as the shore power circuit or am I going to have to have a dedicated outlet from the inverter and just move the plugs around depending on whether I'm at anchor or at the slip?

Some mistakes are just too fun to only do once.
1982 C25 #3276
Owl Harbor
Isleton, CA

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2009 : 08:18:36

If you want the inverter to run power through your outlets, I believe you will need a switch to go between shore and the inverter. Something like this.

You would use the generator as your inverter. I'm sure other electrical experts will be jumping in here shortly.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2009 : 11:48:58

Inverter and SP waveform and peak voltage are different unless it is a pure sine wave inverter (expensive). You can use a switch, but a dedicated outlet is safer. A typical modified sine wave inverter will frequently cause problems with electronics due to lots of harmonic frequencies in the waveform. Examples frequently include distortions and lines on displays, but they can also be damaging. I can charge the battery in my Garmin 3600, but if I turn it on, it will freeze and require a reset. I won't take a chance on my laptop or even its expensive battery.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2009 : 12:46:01

I have an invertor on Indiscipline. I left the shore power AC plugs as they were. The inverter is under the ladder. That is a handy place for a couple of AC plugs. I also have a power strip I can plug in when needed.

I use mine for running the laptop, charging cell phone batteries, and once I took a mini TV and watched a football game. It works great but I find I can't play a Boom Box CD player because there is a bad hum.

Mine is just a 160 watt unit.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2009 : 23:15:37

I have a 1500 Watt inverter which is installed just under the edge of the quarter berth. I use a separate circuit and a third battery for use and charge it with all the batteries with the outboard or shore power; keeping shore power separate from the inverter circuits. I like where the unit is to keep most moisture away and it doesn't interfere with use of the quarter berth. You have to look to the left and back of the VHF radio to see the location.

Yes, there is a lot of things in the quarter berth. Do you know what the string is for?

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2009 : 23:58:42

Flossing?

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 00:26:28

Not sure what the string is for, but is that a bicycle horn on the other side of the shelf? With a skipping rope hanging from it? And a Microwave in the quarter berth?

Now I have it figured out. The red cord is to distract us from seeing all the other miscellany you have strewn about your quarterberth!

Part of me wants to guess that you use the string to tie the shelf up so you can get to the stuff back there easier, but I'm sure its more complex than that. I just *REALLY* hope that it isn't your buoyant heaving line to perform rescues with.

Edited by - Prospector on 03/11/2009 00:36:22

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 03:09:17

The answer is based on what inverter you have, and has little, if anything to do with the sine wave stuff.

The simplest way is to just use the outlets on the inverter. The more difficult way is to wire in the outlets you have as you suggested. To do that you need two things:

1. An inverter that'll let you connect it that way - not all do; the Xantrex 1750, for instance, will do so, but you have to open the case and wire the A.C. power from it.

2. If you do connect the outlets, you will definitely need what is called a TRANSFER SWITCH to ASSURE that the inverter and shorepower A.C. sources are NEVER on at the same time. See this: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,833.0.html

If you don't have the instruction manual, GET ONE before you start messing around. What you do,and for everyone else who has this problem, whenever you can't find this kinda information, is to go the website of the manufacturer, and poke around.

There's so much information out there, and almost all reputable manufacturers have this information on their websites, even for some discontinued equipment.

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 03/11/2009 03:11:46

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 07:33:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sweetcraft
 Do you know what the string is for?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It's a tether made from shot line.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 08:26:41

You better tie your keys to it... if you ever want to find your keys.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 09:26:00

I thought everyone would know about the string. The microwave is for my Granddaughter for cooking. This is like "I Spy", the airhorn and whistle for safety for the boat and me. Oh yes the string was installed by my daughter so I would stop hitting my head.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 10:26:36

Did it work?

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 10:44:43

And my wife accuses me of making a mess in the boat...

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 14:02:31

Jim,
Don't let them faze you. If it was my boat there would be 5 fishing poles, a tackle box, Hawaiian sling, VHF, AM/FM/CD, auto-pilot, spinnaker pole and an auxiliary power box in the photo and probably my boat bag and whatever equipment I couldn't find a suitable place for at the moment. That is unless I'm underway. Then all bets are off.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 17:18:45

Jim, so if the string is to stop you from hitting your head, forgive my naivete, are you a short person? as I see the string hangs below your mapping table/nav station.
Steve A

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 17:27:19

Maybe he ties it around his finger?

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 17:53:55

You guys just don't get it. He falls asleep on the settee, with his head under the nav table, wedged between the microwave, toolbox and sailbag. If he wakes up too fast, the string will tickle his nose before he sits up high enough to hit his head on the the horn, or worse yet, get the whistle stuck up his nose, which could be potentially embarassing.

Its great that your Daughter is looking out for you.

I don't think its very nice that you send your grandkids into the cave to make the microwave popcorn though. I think it would be much nicer if you let them cook in the galley.

Edited by - Prospector on 03/11/2009 17:55:29

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 18:09:57

OK, I'll stop picking on Jim...

Can someone clue me in on why an inverter is needed beyond the cigarette plug inverter you can pick up at a parts place - like this one:[url="http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443293137&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672500&bmUID=1236812437286"]Cigarette Lighter inverter[/url]

Or a direct battery one like this:
[url="http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443309092&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672500&bmUID=1236812638616"]BAttery link Inverter[/url]

To go the other way, there are DC-AC inverters you can just plug into a "wall outlet" when your shore power is hooked up - like this:
[url="http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15646"]AC to DC converter[/url]

Please enlighten me.

Edited by - on

Deltarat
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 21:55:26

Thanks for all of the information, I think I will probably end up just wiring an outlet for the inverter, and not mess around. I will only use it to run a small microwave when at anchor or possibly charge the laptops and cell phones.
I will make sure that the power it creates doesn't mess with the laptop charger first though.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 22:10:18

Just test it with the chargers (they can overheat and fail) and definately the microwave, another piece of sophisticated electronics, before installing it. Everything may work fine, but I would hate to have expended the labor if it doesn't do what you want

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 22:24:55

Chris, I have a cig plug plus a [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/294442/377%20710/0/power%20doem//Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=power%20doem&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=power%20doem&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=9&subdeptNum=null&classNum=14504"]power dome[/url] which is an emergency battery that has 2 or three wall outlet type plugs-110V AC or 12V DC for gps, laptop, handheld vacuum, handheld vhf...... The power dome also has air hose to pump up fenders and dinghy. It also has couple USB ports, and flashlight plus other junk. Is that what you meant?
Bottom line if you dont have a bunch of stuff, you probably dont need one. For me, it comes in handy when not at my slip hooked up to shore power.
Steve A
PS your first two Canadian links didnt work. I wont venture to guess why.

Edited by - piseas on 03/11/2009 22:29:29

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2009 : 01:29:19

I guess I have the only boat with an organized storage area. Ok when the boat is on a cruise the items come out an are placed. The microwave is tied to the back of the table and nav station is used only when checking and plotting charts. That's my bunk with the string at the entrance and I guess they got tired of the bump in the night so the string.
The inverter large enough to run the microwave has to have more than 12 gauge wire for the circuit. Be careful using a plug as it can heat up enough to melt plastic. Oh yes you didn't see the color TV so that is run by the inverter. I am saying now that I draw the line as being able to run the Wii games for the younger Grandchildren but when they are ready to go on the cruise maybe we will have those new design batteries and fuel cells which then our inverters will be out of date.

Edited by - on

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