Also, as the inverter is converting at higher amps, its efficiency will diminish, again causing higher rate of battery depletion. This makes it even more important to have a robust marine alternator controlled by an external adjustable voltage regulator. With suitable equipment, you can use AC current while you are running and keep the batteries topped up. If the battery banks are large enough for your consumption and properly charged, you can have quiet times at anchor with AC power available without running the generator all the time.
There are now AC powered battery chargers on the market that can charge and maintain not only different banks but also banks that have different construction techniques, such as wetted lead acid, gel and AGM. These essentially jump from bank to bank in sensing and do what's needed for that bank.
Of course, you must set these up appropriately for your system. When you charge your batteries when AC is available from the dock or from an onboard marine generator through a battery charger, it should be rated for marine use and also have "smart" charging with similar charge settings and charge characteristics discussed above as to the alternator's voltage regulator.
With multiple battery banks many people prefer to have a device which automatically shifts charging output to different banks so that no one bank is overcharged. However many prefer to monitor bank status manually and use a battery selector switch to direct charging current to the appropriate bank.
Failure of automatic devices, often hidden away in an engine space, can result in improper charging leading to discharge or overcharge which will "cook" a battery, ruining it, and which could cause explosion or emission of large amounts of corrosive explosive gas. Many people also use wind generators and solar cells to keep their 12 volt system charged. Solar cells generally have less output for the money than wind generators and require special mounting racks or cabin or bimini top space.
Wind generators can usually put out more current, but only if the wind is up. They make noise, which some find objectionable but others find soothing.
Usually people become accustomed to it. Great care must be taken to avoid being hit by a propeller and also to shut it down when the wind gets too high. Better wind generators have a self contained automatic dampening mechanism to prevent over-speed in high winds. One or both systems are often used by those who don't consume much electricity or who want to keep their batteries up while they're off the boat, particularly as when there's no dock power available as when they're at anchor or on a mooring.
Even with these systems you must provide overcharge protection. Devices that do this usually come with the wind generator or solar cell. We can only scratch the surface of this subject, which could easily fill a large book. If you want to be hands on and that's good read some of the many books on the subject.
In any event, it never hurts to involve a well trained competent professional when dealing with any kind of electricity on a boat. Technology, knowledge and practices change almost daily therefore it is prudent to research for the very latest up to the date information and seek qualified professional assistance when needed.
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Cleaning Exterior Systems. Electronics Equipment Maintenance Techniques. Call For a Tow Battery Switches. Determine your power requirements Provide adequate power storage and starting capacity Provide the proper charging that you need Be sure your wiring is adequate and approved for marine use and connections are sound Engage a qualified professional if needed Be sure that all safety requirements, such as the relevant ABYC standards, are met.
Determining Your Volt Power Requirements First, calculate your daily hour average power consumption for all of the electrical loads you place on your system. Battery Banks Reserve an adequately-sized, fully charged battery or bank of batteries solely dedicated to starting your engine.
Battery Charging If you don't replace what you use, your batteries will eventually go dead, no matter how much battery capacity you have on your boat.
Voltage Regulation A voltage regulator determines the rate and manner which an alternator or AC charger will charge your battery. Wind and Solar Charging Many people also use wind generators and solar cells to keep their 12 volt system charged. Topics how to diy install and repair systems technology batteries and onboard power.
His many years designing large, complex land-based technology and electrical systems paired nicely with his experience on the water, creating a unique and robust skillset. Since then, CMS has seen a long list of happy boat owners in its wake, throughout the U. Let us assist you with your system design or problem-solving — no matter how big or small, simple or complex.
From small sailboats to superyachts, simple circuits to large yacht refits, CMS has been there. Click the image below for more information on Aaron from Clarity Marine Systems.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Share Pin Footer Contact Us We help people to take the exciting leap from living on land to becoming full time live-aboard sailors. If you would like to get in touch or having any questions, here are our details. Transactions are performed via a SSL server to ensure your privacy. Ordinary plug-in AC receptacle testers are so sensitive that they will indicate a good ground even if the only connection is through a prop shaft or thru-hull fitting to water.
A better way to test for ground integrity is to connect the shore cord to the boat and bring the shore plug back to a position near the electrical panel. It is dangerous to store dinghy fuel or portable propane bottles on board boats that are not designed for ignition protection.
This includes diesel propulsion fuel or gasoline-fueled systems for externally mounted outboard motors. Bringing alternative fuels on board, even in small quantities, can lead to explosive situations.
A half gallon of gasoline carried on board to fuel the dinghy motor turns a diesel boat into a gasoline boat. The starter, alternator, switches, and circuit breakers have all been selected according to the rules for a diesel engine system.
Dinghy fuel, if carried on board, should be stored in lockers that vent overboard just like propane lockers. Gasoline vapors are heavier than air and will pour down the companionway or from internally vented lockers right into the bilge and engine spaces. GFCI receptacles have contacts to open when a fault is detected and as of this writing there are no such devices with ignition protection, and it may not be possible to do so.
Any receptacle in a gasoline engine room is suspect because plugging in or unplugging an appliance can generate sparks. The use of portable power tools in such spaces is also very dangerous because of brush arcing in the universal motors. If a shore cord is incorrectly wired so that the hot and neutral wires are reversed, there is inadequate AC circuit protection.
Your boat should have a two pole main breaker if wired for V. It should also have a reverse polarity indicator or warning device.
However, neither power conductor in an AC system is permanently at either a positive or a negative potential. Their respective potentials alternate between zero, the maximum positive, zero, and the maximum negative potential.
This is what makes it AC. Worse, turning off the branch circuit breaker leaves the circuit hot. The circuit breaker does turn the load on and off, so all seems normal.
Inverters and battery chargers are bridges between a boat's AC and DC power systems. The high voltage of the AC system presents a shock hazard and can be lethal if it exists on an ungrounded case.
The DC system is not normally a shock hazard but can provide a lot of current, and so is potentially a source of fire. A suitable ground must be installed between the AC and DC system. Inverters and changers are provided with grounding connections on both the AC side and DC side. This grounding can prevent shocks from AC, and fire hazard from DC. Frequently only the AC grounding connection is made. A fault in the DC side of the system could provide enough current to overheat the AC grounding conductor without blowing the large DC fuse.
Therefore, a high amperage capacity DC grounding path back to the DC system is required. There is no mention of adequate measures to wire inverters and chargers in ABYC E where most guidelines for electrical systems are found, so knowledge of proper installation is readily overlooked.
Because this hazard has only recently been recognized, the installation instructions for older generation inverters typically do not include this precaution, but most newly designed units do. You may buy a new inverter from off the dealer shelf today and not get the proper information because the instructions may have been written a few years ago.
According to ABYC There is a little natural imbalance from the tiny radiation from an AC system, so the limit at 5mA is set below a safe threshold for humans; if it were zero it would be tripping unnecessarily.
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