SS MAYFLOAT
Admiral
- Joined
- May 17, 2001
- Messages
- 6,372
GOOD MORNING AMERICA! 
<br />I've got some questions on cabin power. My cabin presently has two systems that work. the 12vdc and the 110vac. The 110vac is the one I need some help with. The dockside power circuit works just fine, but most docks does not have dock power. So just over a weekend, my secondary battery can get over used by using the 12vdc circuit to run all my accessories. Then when I try to use an invertor to run the few things I wish to, the battery supply deminishes quickly causing me to have to revert to my primary battery. Once the engine is started, I do recharge the primary battery, and then switch to the secondary to recharge it. But however, while the engine is charging the battery with the invertor on, the battery just does not seem to accept a charge from the charging system. Voltage check at the batteries shows that there is 14.6vdc at the batteries, so I know that the altenator is working. My invertor is a small 600 watt unit. It is my second one. The first one burnt, don't know why. Purchased another one and it now has failed after about 48 hours of use. I do know that you are not to use any inductive type loads on these such as flourescent light, lights with dimmers swithces, or any thing that has a transformer to step it back down to a lower voltage. I was very careful in what I was using, but it still overloaded and cooked. Not the kinda thing you want on the water. So now here is my questions. What can I do to produce about 2KW of power with out an invertor? Is there a altenator that can supply 110 off of the engine? If so, is it USCG approved? Portable generators on board a boat legal? Hate to go that route since space and weight is a problem. I'm on the heavy side now. Any help would be greatly appreaciated. Thanks to all you Captains, and First Mates, Fly your Stars and Bars proudly, without you, we wouldn't have our toys and our wonderful freedom! I am a ex sailor and have seen how other countries are, there is NOTHING and NOBODY like us. This IS the greatest country to belong to. I must say that the Mayfloat is very roud to be an AMERICAN Thanks again.....
<br />I've got some questions on cabin power. My cabin presently has two systems that work. the 12vdc and the 110vac. The 110vac is the one I need some help with. The dockside power circuit works just fine, but most docks does not have dock power. So just over a weekend, my secondary battery can get over used by using the 12vdc circuit to run all my accessories. Then when I try to use an invertor to run the few things I wish to, the battery supply deminishes quickly causing me to have to revert to my primary battery. Once the engine is started, I do recharge the primary battery, and then switch to the secondary to recharge it. But however, while the engine is charging the battery with the invertor on, the battery just does not seem to accept a charge from the charging system. Voltage check at the batteries shows that there is 14.6vdc at the batteries, so I know that the altenator is working. My invertor is a small 600 watt unit. It is my second one. The first one burnt, don't know why. Purchased another one and it now has failed after about 48 hours of use. I do know that you are not to use any inductive type loads on these such as flourescent light, lights with dimmers swithces, or any thing that has a transformer to step it back down to a lower voltage. I was very careful in what I was using, but it still overloaded and cooked. Not the kinda thing you want on the water. So now here is my questions. What can I do to produce about 2KW of power with out an invertor? Is there a altenator that can supply 110 off of the engine? If so, is it USCG approved? Portable generators on board a boat legal? Hate to go that route since space and weight is a problem. I'm on the heavy side now. Any help would be greatly appreaciated. Thanks to all you Captains, and First Mates, Fly your Stars and Bars proudly, without you, we wouldn't have our toys and our wonderful freedom! I am a ex sailor and have seen how other countries are, there is NOTHING and NOBODY like us. This IS the greatest country to belong to. I must say that the Mayfloat is very roud to be an AMERICAN Thanks again.....