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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Inverter question

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Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/24/2004 : 19:57:20

I'm toying with the idea of putting one of those under counter "space Saver" AM/FM/CD units. No one makes a DC unit, so I'd have to use an inverter.

Anyone using an inverter to run a stereo? Pros & cons? Any idea of how big it would have to be?

Doug - #1913 Noeta

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2004 : 23:17:28

Here's my backwards answer; you need to know the power demand measured in watts before you can figure the size of the inverter if that is the only item you'll be running off of it.

The cheaper inverters have a square wave A.C.output rather than a true 120 volt sine wave A.C. output like you get from your power company but that should be sufficient to operate a stereo. The very cheapest units need to be operated along with the alternator and battery rather than simply run of a battery. You'll want a "static inverter" which can be run off a battery alone.

A.C. inverters are far from 100% efficient so using one to run a stereo will increase the drain on your batteries considerably beyond the power required for the stereo.

Personally, when considering the technical drawbacks as well as the additional costs of an inverter, I'd keep it simple and shop around for a sound system that can be run directly off battery power and put the money into the sound system. Why add another piece of equipment unless you really need 120 volts A.C. on board for other uses? If you intend to be a heavy user of 120 volt equipment, you'll need plenty of battery. And then there's the safety issue of having line voltage aboard.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 00:33:08

I just used a Poly-Planar case

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 01:10:11

Im at a loss on this one Doug. AM,FM,CD All my cars have one (DC) What do you mean by space saver ?

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lancej
1st Mate

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81 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 05:39:54

Inverters are for the most part a bad idea in terms of efficiency. Most of the voltage drawn from the batteries is lost in thermal energy, as part of the process. If it were me, I would go with a car stereo unit of some sort, there are plenty out there. I would stay away from "Marine" units as they are no different from less costly "non-marine" units, just that they cost more, and are usually white.

I have a $120 Sony CD/AM/FM unit that has functioned flawlessly for 2 years. I have recently put a 12VDC DVD player down below, for additional entertainmet for weathering those long storms.

Lance
85 FK/SR

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 08:18:40

Lance,
I'm not so sure about your assertion that marine units are no different from non marine. My Kenwood "marine" unit has had the circuit boards dipped into some kind of resin to some kind of military spec for waterproofness. Whether or not that makes a difference, I don't know, but it certainly couldn't hurt.
I mounted my unit into a plastic case which I bought at boaters world and then mounted it under the cabin roof next to the port bulkhead next to the mast post. That is because I have a "manly" stereo which has a wireless remote control and thus has a clear line of sight from the cockpit. Works great.
If it were me, I would put the inverter bucks into getting better speakers, the best that I could afford. I have water resistant poly planar speakers which are magnetically shielded. They are mounted into the port and starbord seats, so that the whole seat compartment works like a speaker cabinet.

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lancej
1st Mate

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81 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 10:07:12

Frank, I agree about the speakers. At the end of the day the speakers are most exposed to the greatest amount of enviornmental exposure, and the most prone to failure. I think poly cone speakers are the only way to go.

As far as the epoxy resin coating on "marine" stereos, this may be the case that they have this feature, but I doubt it makes a difference. Just from empirical evidence - I don't think it is required. I could be wrong. If there is such a time that my CD player in the cabin ends up underwater, I am probably worried about more than $120 for a new one.

Lance
85 FK/SR

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 06/25/2004 : 16:45:13

I have a West Marine 600 watt inverter (cost $75). It is mounted under my companionway steps and connected directly to battery 1. I use it all the time for:

charging cell phone,
charging PDA (I can now post to this forum while on board!),
running laptop computer - watching DVD for example,
running drill or small AC tools.

One time I took my AC home "boom box" portable stereo down to the boat. I plugged it into the inverter. Be aware that, it worked, but there was a loud buzz.

The cheaper inverters are "square wave" not "sine wave". This caused audio noise.

If you really want to do this, you should make sure you get a sine wave inverter. Now you are talking $.

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 16:39:23

I'm with Douglas & Frank on this. My 12v AM/FM/CD stereo is in the same type weather proof mounted on the aft side of the galley in my C-250 with four Bose Wave speakers, two in the cabin and two in the cockpit. I keep a cheap inverter onboard just in case...

Now I'm obsessing about a 12v LCD/DVD/TV I just saw at Sam's Club for $500. Has detachable speakers!

Wait a minute, I go sailing to get away from TV.

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