Our previous inverter |
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Image from donrowe.com if you couldn't tell |
The biggest challenge of this installation was finding a place to put it. It really needed to be placed within 5 feet of the batteries in order to minimize power loss through the cables (again see the * at the bottom). On Hullabaloo our batteries happen to be under the companionway stairs, and with our diesel tank taking up the adjacent room under the (starboard) quarter berth our only real option was to put it in the lazzarette on the port side.
Ron has been emailing a couple that live down the lakeshore that have the same boat that did the same trip a few years ago who are not only a total wealth of boat-specific and how-to knowledge, but are very willing to help us and answer questions. They too put their inverter in their lazzarette and have had no problems with it there so we followed their advice. And boy am I glad that we did, we managed to keep it within about 6 feet of the batteries...the cables and cable paraphernalia needed to connect the inverter to the batteries cost almost $300 extra...for 2 cables 6 feet in length!! Stupid, no?
The blue control screen also detaches from the unit and can be placed in the boat so you can actually control and monitor the unit without emptying the lazzarette, crawling in and wedging your head against the back of it. Pretty handy. We wired ours into a place near the control panel. We removed an old analog (I think that's what it's called) datamarine unit that probably hasn't been used in 20 years. The kind that measures distance by flipping the numbered dials. Needless to say, our little control display wasn't as bulky.
"Fits pretty good, just needs a little filler" ~Ron |
*I did not personally do the research for this product nor am I the least bit electronically inclined, so if you're wondering why we went with a sine wave instead of a square wave inverter or any other aspects of this project...don't ask! :) Okay ask, I'll just get Ron to respond to you!
Oooh, good idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks! We think it's pretty slick!
DeleteNice. We just have a small 300 watt inverter now and have been going back and fourth about a bigger inverter or a Honda 2000W generator. Please post an update after you have used it for a while to let us know what you think.
ReplyDeleteFair winds,
Jesse
We'll probably also get a generator for topping off the batteries when solar power isn't enough, but that inverter is nice for using the outlets at any time without having to run a generator. This weekend when it was rainy and nasty we sat inside and watched movies with the laptop plugged in...pretty nice (and quiet). I'll be sure to do a review once we've used it more :)
DeleteMan you guys have been busy with the projects! So awesome! When are you going to start a Facebook page and make it easier for me to see your latest posts? ;) Pretty please? -Kim
ReplyDeleteI'll think about it Kim, but only because you asked! It's project time around here now, but what about when we have nothing to write about?!? I'm not quite sure we're interesting enough for a FB page just yet! Haha
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