|
25-03-2017, 16:17
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 2
|
True 12 volt AC
Hi All,
I'm looking to install true 12 volt AC for the owners cabin on my boat. I have a 1000Ah house battery bank and 480 watts of solar. I would be willing to add a Wind gen if necessary and expand the batteries. Marvair makes a true 12 volt unit with a 12 volt compressor. Anyone have experience or thoughts? Thanks!
|
|
|
25-03-2017, 16:39
|
#2
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
A little searching on the forum should bring up at least several threads on the subject.
|
|
|
25-03-2017, 16:53
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: North Charleston, SC
Boat: Camano Troll
Posts: 5,176
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
Quote:
Originally Posted by russellg9385
............. Anyone have experience or thoughts?
|
My thoughts are, it takes the same amount of energy to cool a boat no matter where or how you get it and it's going to take a lot of battery power to run an air conditioner very long.
A native 12 volt system might be more efficient than a 120 volt system and inverter but that depends on if the 12 volt system is naturally efficient.
One of the biggest problems with air conditioning a boat is, they are typically not insulated. Whatever heat you remove returns very quickly.
Has the company been around a while? Are there any reviews on their website? Are any being installed in new production boats?
I can't tell you yes or no, just give you a few things to think about.
__________________
Ron
HIGH COTTON
|
|
|
25-03-2017, 16:55
|
#4
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brisbane Australia
Boat: sold Now motor cruiser
Posts: 692
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
I think you will find that is a 12V DC in system. Marvair may have been taken over.
|
|
|
25-03-2017, 17:13
|
#5
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea
Boat: FP Belize Maestro 43 and OPBs
Posts: 12,888
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
Quote:
Originally Posted by bill good
I think you will find that is a 12V DC in system. Marvair may have been taken over.
|
I made the same mistake iwhen I looked at the thread Title, in this case AC stands for air con, not alternating current
|
|
|
25-03-2017, 17:18
|
#6
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,047
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
The obvious total lack of understanding of a/c vs. AC and what can be accomplished with DC suggests the OP buy the 12volt Doctors Handbook and start from scratch.
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
|
|
|
25-03-2017, 17:20
|
#7
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea
Boat: FP Belize Maestro 43 and OPBs
Posts: 12,888
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
The Marvair "nominal 5000BTUh" 12V aircon only gets about 3000 BTUh in practice according to their spec sheet and uses up to 30 Amps.
3000 BTUh may be OK for a small enclosed cabin, but that's about all.
|
|
|
26-03-2017, 03:12
|
#8
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,082
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Russellg.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
|
|
|
26-03-2017, 08:44
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Nova Scotia until Spring 2021
Boat: Custom 41' Steel Pilothouse Cutter
Posts: 4,976
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
Quote:
Originally Posted by boatpoker
The obvious total lack of understanding of a/c vs. AC and what can be accomplished with DC suggests the OP buy the 12volt Doctors Handbook and start from scratch.
|
Cranky, but fair! I had no idea other than "why the hell would you want 12 volts AC?"
|
|
|
26-03-2017, 08:57
|
#10
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Cruising Indian Ocean / Red Sea - home is Zimbabwe
Boat: V45
Posts: 1,352
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
I believe that in 'Cruising with the Wynnes' that they mention using soft starters and that they run their air con from their batteries. Might be worth checking out?
|
|
|
26-03-2017, 09:30
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 356
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
"Gone with the Wynns" and they have $14,000 worth of lithium batteries.
|
|
|
26-03-2017, 10:31
|
#12
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ashore in So Calif.
Boat: No more boat (my medical, not the boat's)
Posts: 1,453
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
Quote:
Originally Posted by StuM
The Marvair "nominal 5000BTUh" 12V aircon only gets about 3000 BTUh in practice according to their spec sheet and uses up to 30 Amps.
3000 BTUh may be OK for a small enclosed cabin, but that's about all.
|
I looked at their web site, and agree with the above, with the addition of the immediate thought, would I really want to sit in the only seat in the head compartment to get somewhat cool?
__________________
"Old California"
|
|
|
26-03-2017, 11:02
|
#13
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,047
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
Quote:
Originally Posted by buzzstar
I looked at their web site, and agree with the above, with the addition of the immediate thought, would I really want to sit in the only seat in the head compartment to get somewhat cool?
|
and you'd need one helluva charging system to put that back into your batteries.
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
|
|
|
26-03-2017, 11:27
|
#14
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: puget sound washington
Boat: 1968 Islander bahama 24 hull 182, 1963 columbia 29 defender. hull # 60
Posts: 12,113
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
Quote:
Originally Posted by boatpoker
and you'd need one helluva charging system to put that back into your batteries.
|
Agreed
You would need imo at a minimum 1kw of solar and 600ah of battery bank just to support the unit for its nighttime running. Nevermind all of the other power loads on the vessel.
That or a mix of about three hours generator in the am and at least 400 watts solar to complete the charging during the day
__________________
Non illigitamus carborundum
|
|
|
26-03-2017, 17:17
|
#15
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SE Asia / Colorado
Boat: bruce roberts mauritius 44
Posts: 49
|
Re: True 12 volt AC
A small window mount A/C unit pointed down a hatch and a portable generator does the job nicely.
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|