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4F2: AC Inverter System
The Inverter Makes AC from DC ...
The Inverter system is used to provide AC to the boat
when there is no shore power or running generator. It is
wonderful, for example, to use the inverter to make a pot of
coffee when the engine is running and you are underway, or to
watch TV in a quiet anchorage, or use a hair dryer for a few
minutes in the morning. But for long-period use of AC by large
appliances, the engine or a generator must be running or you
must have shore power available.
Now the microwave, for example, will draw about 120
amps of DC when using the inverter to run it, so in six minutes
you use one-tenth of an hour or 12 ampere-hours. That's okay.
But what if you want to cook a roast for 30 minutes? You use up
a lot of energy on that one job alone! That's too much use for
the inverter, and the electric stove or oven should be used.
For a short task, the inverter is great: no starting a
generator, no noise, no fuss, the power is there. If the engines
are running, use it all you wish, but don't try to do two huge jobs at once: The inverter produces a
maximum of 2,500 watts of energy at a time, so the inverter is only wired to the outlets and the
microwave. It will not run the water heater, stove, oven, battery charger or refrigeration, for example.
Note: Only the breakers in the panel illustration on page 4.12 with an
asterisk (*) are powered by the inverter!
...and also is a Battery Charger, Making DC from AC!
The Inverter can also do the reverse: If there is AC power available from a shore-side source or
the generator, it can recharge the house batteries. The battery charger function receives that power
through the "Inverter" breaker on the AC panel.
As noted above under the "Connecting Shore Power" section, be mindful that the Inverter can
draw a lot of current when charging the batteries, especially when first activated upon connection to
shore power. Thus, you need to be careful not to overload a shore power circuit by running other high-
draw AC appliances at the same time. Monitor the AC Ammeter to make sure the load remains below
the available current as determined by the shore power service from the marina, normally 30 amps.
Here are the Inverter operation instructions:
(More next page)
Section 4F: Electrical Systems, AC 4.9
Inverter control at lower helm.
The inverter itself is by the E/R aft entry.
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