Inverters? never owned one ????

[BillD]

Hi gents,

I have some questions on AC power. My Blackfin has a Northern Lights generator. We use the boat as a "day boat" I run the generator from time to time, maybe to make a cup of hot coffee with a cheap plug in coffee put/water heater.

On my "virtual DE build" I'd like the option of "lightweight"/"non-generator" AC power. Enough to power the "coffee pot" or similar ac device.

What would you suggest? An inverter? What size? What price?

I'm thinking for battery power the boat will have a pr. of 4Ds, one isolated for starting the QSB 6.7 and the other 4D for the house. Maybe a parallel switch between the two "just in case".

Your thoughts, input and suggestions.

Appreciated, Bill D

 

[badabing]

i am not a fan of inverters. i have a small one to run my laptop for vas and charge the cell phone but for any more power than that i use my little honda gas genny. it always seems the inverters dont last and batteries dont last when you start using them to power things like microwaves and coffee makers. dont get me wrong, i know guys who swear by them but they have caused me nothing but headaches.

 

[FlyingConnie]

This maybe one of my winter projects
homework I've done:
Coffee pot/K-cup machine require 1800watts, that a pretty large invertor
Microwave up to 1000watts

 

[Raider Ronnie]

I'm planning on adding a 2000W (4000W peak) over the winter to run microwave & or Keurig coffee maker.
No room for a generator down below.
I do plenty of overnight trips tuna fishing, for those I bring the Honda on the boat and put it up in the tower and run a cord to the shore power plug.
Thing is SO quiet and burns 1 gal 7-9 hrs running depending on load draw.

 

[BillD]

i am not a fan of inverters. i have a small one to run my laptop for vas and charge the cell phone but for any more power than that i use my little honda gas genny. it always seems the inverters dont last and batteries dont last when you start using them to power things like microwaves and coffee makers. dont get me wrong, i know guys who swear by them but they have caused me nothing but headaches.

This maybe one of my winter projects
homework I've done:
Coffee pot/K-cup machine require 1800watts, that a pretty large invertor
Microwave up to 1000watts

I'm planning on adding a 2000W (4000W peak) over the winter to run microwave & or Keurig coffee maker.
No room for a generator down below.
I do plenty of overnight trips tuna fishing, for those I bring the Honda on the boat and put it up in the tower and run a cord to the shore power plug.
Thing is SO quiet and burns 1 gal 7-9 hrs running depending on load draw.

Standard alone gas generator, not a bad idea.
Ronnie, this the generator you looking @?
I think Todd has a Honda on his 33 Flowers.

 

[Raider Ronnie]

This maybe one of my winter projects
homework I've done:
Coffee pot/K-cup machine require 1800watts, that a pretty large invertor
Microwave up to 1000watts

Keirig mini single cup maker draws 700, fine for a 2000W inverter, can also heat up water for soup.
Lots of microwaved draw 500-700

 

[badabing]

those little hondas are worth there weight in gold when you need them......the only problem i have ever had was "bad gas" which was my fault. i have my boat on a mooring and have the VMS transmitting 24/7 so low batteries are common. i start the honda and put a small schumacher charger to each battery and i have staring power within 10 minutes. i fish offshore a lot and just dont like the inverters because i feel they compromise your batteries. last inverter i had was 3500 watt and i remember making a pot of coffee and then feeling my battery terminals and the 4 guage wire going to the inverter...they were all extremely warm....and the batteries never seemed to really take a good charge after this type of "abuse"

.02

 

[Raider Ronnie]

Standard alone gas generator, not a bad idea.
Ronnie, this the generator you looking @?



Bill, not sure I understand your question, but I do have one of these Honda generators now.
One of my buddies been using his for 3 years, he spends friday, sat sunday (or till he gets a fish) most every weekend sept - november
For extended use I suggest getting the optional gas cap so you can use an additional gas tank.
Nothing worse than trying to fill gas while it's rough out or you run out in the middle of the night.

 

[greg]

I had one of those honda eu2k's when I used to have a Parker. Good solution to keep the batteries charged and some bright spreaders burning.

Just remember that CO is heavier than air and it can settle into your cabin even if its up on a tower. Get a CO detector if you use one.

Now I have a built in 3kw suitcase diesel. Sips fuel (like a pint an hour) and I run it dock to dock.

I won't own another inverter. I hate them.

 

[BillD]

Standard alone gas generator, not a bad idea.
Ronnie, this the generator you looking @?



Bill, not sure I understand your question, but I do have one of these Honda generators now.
One of my buddies been using his for 3 years, he spends friday, sat sunday (or till he gets a fish) most every weekend sept - november
For extended use I suggest getting the optional gas cap so you can use an additional gas tank.
Nothing worse than trying to fill gas while it's rough out or you run out in the middle of the night.

My virtual DE build is a "day boat", but I want lightweight Ac power on board !

 

[Overkill]

I have a Xantrex freedom 3000 inverter/charger that powers my computer, tv, microwave and fridge and runs whenever the main engine is running (14,000 hours and counting). It's a good option for power if you only need power while running the main. My system is 24 volt, the charger has been handy a few times also.

 

[FlyingConnie]

Two corrections:
1) CO is lighter than air, but CO dectectors are always good to have
2) K-cup peak wattage exceeds 1500 watts

Why are invertor frowned upon?

 

[cb34]

inverter

Bill D, I am currently wireing the boat and have included a 1800w inverter/charger.Which is perfect for my needs (coffee,microwave) without getting too complicated. The house battery will charge off it and with the addition of an echo charger the start battery will be cared for. When the inverter/charger are hooked into shore power ac runs thru it provideing all the ac you like. Weight is 12lbs...simple

 

[starrfish]

for light duty use, the inverter is a much more viable option than a genny. i run a 500w microwave, have a few 120 outlets, laptop, coffee pot, a 400 watt m. halide light, etc..granted, i cant run`em all at the same time, but if you want a pepperoni hot pocket, no problem. the 1800 watt ones run about 350. compaired to a diesel genny 3.5K. ..for the canyon runs we usually bring a small honda 1 or 2K watt, but i`d say thats more a safety thing than a convienence.

 

[backman]

My old Carolina classic had a 1000watt xantrac inverter which was perfect for microwave dinners and coffee in the canyons. It would not produce enough poer however to run a 1000 watt heat gun, a lesson I learned trying to get a stubborn hose off a macerator pump.

 

[petrel]

We've been using a 3000 watt inverter a lot this year on some longer days trips and overnight charters. I bought a 5 cup coffee maker so that way if people want coffee, brew it, drink it, done. That's a hell of a lot cheaper than a Keurig. The biggest draw is from the microwave and if that runs for a long time, it works on the batteries at low engine rpms. But I've got two engines- each w/ two 8D batteries. We use one side for all the 12 volt stuff and the other for the inverter. So far it has been a workable solution for us.

 

[OLD BAY]

I'm also thinking of getting an inverter and a small AC system for my (small) cabin. I don't have room or coin for a deisel genterator, but do have 4D's. I do have a small honda and also have found it to be amazing, but don't like the idea of it running while I'm asleep.

 

[reelsportfishing]

We run a 2.5k portable generator from Harbor Freight. Bought it for under $300 and paid another $50 for a extended warranty for another 2 years. Bought it for squid charters at night originally. Its mounted on my hardtop and it's the best $350 I 've invested in the boat. I run 4 500 watt portable flood lights off it squid fishing plus I can still make a cup of coffee. In the winter it runs a small Taco 007 115 volt circulator pump for my bus heaters when the boat is idling. I have piece of mind if something happens. I can charge my batteries, I could run an electric heater to stay warm, I could run an electric pump to transfer fuel or pump the bilge etc. Looked into inverters, alot of money initiallythen you still have to replace the batteries occassionaly.For the price of some descent batteries could buy another genny.

 

[Raider Ronnie]

Two corrections:
1) CO is lighter than air, but CO dectectors are always good to have
2) K-cup peak wattage exceeds 1500 watts

Why are invertor frowned upon?

One more correction

1) Keurig Mini B30 700watts
I've got one, google it

Also,
Sitting on anchor on Stellwagen or Cape Cod bay in the fall, not many days or nights it's not blowing 10-15 +, so CO not usually a concern for us !

 

[boot]

How to Meet Your Onboard Electricity Needs with an Inverter