Shore power/charging advice sought

Nalu · 11-04-2003, 04:39 PM

Hello all,

The Persevere will happily be moored in her slip in Depoe Bay this next summer. I can't wait!

But, as always, there is work to do before that time. Currently there is no shore power, and no charging system for the batteries on the boat. I have looked at chargers, shore power stuff, and it kind of makes my head spin. Simply too much for me to wade through being uneducated.

Here's what I know I would like to do. I need to install a shore power system on the boat. Of course this means that I will need to make it appropriate to dock voltage, but I would also like a way to plug it into an extension cord when sitting in my driveway.

I currently have three batteries aboard, with two independent switches. One battery is by itself, and the other two are in series together. I would like to install a permanent battery charger that would regulate and put the charge where it is needed. A battery charge indicator would be great, but probably the expense isn't going to be worth it. (or will it?)

I would also like to put an invertor on the boat, so I can have some AC at sea. (rhymes, huh?) This could be a small invertor, and I'm definitely not going to shell out the money for a true sine invertor right now.

I've scoured catalogs, looked online, and still not sure which is the best way to go. I won't skimp on quality, but I also can't break the bank.

Advice would be appreciated. I'm handy enough to do the install of any of this, but I'm just not sure where to start.

Thanks,

Mike

Sensei-san · 11-04-2003, 04:58 PM

You need only know one word. Heart. Heart Freedom Marine inverters are the only ones that are bulletproof and work. For a small boat the 10 amp unit would be more than enough inverter and three stage charger all in one unit with automatic switching from inverter to charger.

http://www.xantrex.com/products/product.asp?did=555&p=2

Xantrex bought out all the inverter companies but has the good sense not to mess with sucess.

Nalu · 11-04-2003, 05:26 PM

Thanks, I'll check that out!

Now, how do I mesh this with shore power? I aplogize for the ignorance, but electrical is truly not something I've had to deal with much.

Mike

8knots · 11-04-2003, 07:03 PM

Heart's Inverters are chargers as well. Heart is now owned by Xantrex. They are the name in inverters, especially since they bought out so much of their competition. Big money.......the 10 watt in the West Marine catalog goes for $899.00. verses a one bank Truecharge Charger for $189.00 and a West Marine Portable Inverter for $60.00 - $129.00. It depends on your needs and I am guessing you want a few conveniences, not to stay days on the hook. Seems a good Truecharger Charger and separate portable inverter would work.

fish assassin · 11-05-2003, 05:33 AM

Nalu,

If you set your boat up for shore power and are really going to moor your boat
at Dopey Bay, let me give you a word of warning ... Get an isolation transformer
installed in your system!! Preferably as close to the input of your boat as
possible! I had some *serious* problems with electrolisis before I figured this
out. Isolation transformers are not cheap ... I have about a grand into mine ...
but compared to new shafts, rudders, outdrives, thru-hulls, or the HULL (if you
have a metal boat) it's cheap insurance!! Depoe Bay is in the process of cleaning
up their shore power, but it isn't done yet. I found out this year that all I needed
to do to solve my electrolisis problems was to stay unplugged from the dock ...

Please, do NOT skimp on your battery charger! Get a marine charger and install it
correctly. That is another problem we are having with Depoe Bay being a hot port! Car
battery chargers leak electricity into the port that affects other boats ...
That and the wrong sized power cords (indoor-outdoor extension cords do NOT make
good shore power cords!!!).

Welcome to Dopey Bay, the worlds smallest port!!

-assAssin-

Nalu · 11-05-2003, 07:27 AM

OK, after looking at the cost of this, I'd rather forgoe each. The boat was moored in San Diego, no shore power, and simple running kept the batteries charged fine.

I WOULD like to have a battery charger at the least. Shore power is not really a big deal to me. Like 8 Knots said, a few conveniences, occasionlly, are all that are needed. I'm not going to be living, or staying much on the boat.

The only thing I really would like is to make sure the engines turns over when I get to the boat, and the bilge pumps will come on when I'm gone. Other than that, not a big deal. I can't see paying $1500-$2000 for that.

Thoughts?

rojo · 11-05-2003, 09:09 AM

solar, get a west marine catalog and check the solar setups. in the summer will keep things up. when I'm up north I use one 15 watt panel on my 32' works great....Roger

Nalu · 11-05-2003, 10:13 AM

Rojo,

I had considered solar before, then kind of put it away. Good idea, I think I'll probably look into that route again. That would keep me about as isolated as I could get from the shore power! :smile:

A small invertor, and I wouldn't have a problem running a coffee pot, or such.

Mike

Sensei-san · 11-05-2003, 05:30 PM

Not quite... A coffee pot draws a lot of power. My Mr. Coffee draws 900 watts. That is 7.5 amps. Your typical small inverter would have a hard time keeping up with that load on a group 24 or 27 battery. Coffee pots and resistive loads are best handled with a generator. Inverters work best for switching loads like microwaves, drills, TV's, electronics etc. If you want to go cheap, then the 1000 watt inverter that Costco is selling would be a good choice. But like Fish Assassin and 8knots say don't skimp on the battery charger. Use only a marine style battery charger. Fish Assassin had a long post earlier this year on his odessey trying to cure electrolysis on his boat.

Nalu · 11-05-2003, 10:22 PM

Well, that makes sense about the coffee pot. Someone told me a DC coffee pot takes forever. I suppose it doesn't matter since I typically boil water on a small stove, then french press it.

I saw the one at Costco and wondered about it. Sure seems inexpensive. For a now and again jobber, I suppose it just might do the trick.

I looked deeply into solar chargers today, and found out some pretty good info. Xantrex and Siemens both make some pretty solid marine solar arrays. If I had a big cabin that I would spend time with others, entertaining, or whatnot, I'd go for the shore power, but that won't be the case.

Seems a good solar array will probably do the trick for what I want. No worries with electrolysis, or bad shore power.