Adding 230v charging to 110 boat?

[Geoff H.]

We have an all 110v boat inc our magnum charger inverter. We are dockside in Papeete which of course has only 220 v as dock power, so we are depending on insufficient solar and a lot of running the gennie to get by.
Someone here suggests I can simply purchase a separate 220 charger and thus use the dock power to charge our batteries (in lieu of a much more expensive and complicated install of a transformer!!)
I really like the idea. Can I do this?
Thank you!
s/v Un Mundo

[john61ct]

Of course.

As long as DC charging output matches the needs of your bank, it don't care about where upstream comes from.

In fact many choose a "universal world power" mains charger like Sterling for just this reason.

No need to convert, power whatever home appliances you like purchased anywhere, just buy a matching inverter.

No need to transform AC.

[smac999]

Yes. Get one big enough to handle the loads. Maybe in the 60-80 amp range if you are inverting a lot.

Most good marine chargers are multi voltage. So it will still work when you get home as a 2nd charger or backup.

You might just be able to run a cord through a window. If you plan to do it a lot. You should install a 2nd correct shore plug on boat feeding a new main breaker then to charger.

You could have 2 outlets beside the charger. Or a selection switch. from your 120v panel and 230v panel. And use the charger anywhere.

[Geoff H.]

Thanks again. Getting excited and a little nervous. Bought a new Victron Centaur 12v/30amp charger today. The French guy and I did our best to communicate. Hmm. He said I can fashion a 220 chord myself for power from dock, which I get, but then he said to simply wire the output of charger, which of course will be 12 volts, to the existing magnum inverter/charger?? Assume he means to the output end of the magnum inverter/charger, or into system after , maybe to the shunt/fuse that’s pre batteries, and pre my Link 10, so I can monitor, yes? (Q: What does the Link 10 read, activity at batteries, or activity at charger, or both?)
Do I understand correctly: I want to have the 220 current coming into the new charger where it turns into 12 volts charging my batteries, and at the same time have my 110 inverter pulling 12 volts from the same batteries to feed all my 110 stuff,, ie outlets, etc.
Yikes! Do I have this right?!

[john61ct]

Yes, the 12V chargers are outputting to the same spot, I would think a charge buss, where solar and maybe alt output also go, to the House bank.

Everything, inputs and outputs must pass through the Link shunt.

Fuse usually closest to the batt posts.

Inverter just another load device.

[ZULU40]

Originally Posted by Geoff H.

We have an all 110v boat inc our magnum charger inverter. We are dockside in Papeete which of course has only 220 v as dock power, so we are depending on insufficient solar and a lot of running the gennie to get by.
Someone here suggests I can simply purchase a separate 220 charger and thus use the dock power to charge our batteries (in lieu of a much more expensive and complicated install of a transformer!!)
I really like the idea. Can I do this?
Thank you!
s/v Un Mundo

I chose a Xantrex 20ah multi battery bank charger for this very reason
it automatically detects the input and controls it accordingly


the boat is all run from 12v

[Geoff H.]

Thanks all! I finished installation last night in time to ‘plug in’ and enjoyed waking up this morning to full batteries. Have it turned off now to let the solar panels do their job. Love it. I did add a dedicated 16 A/230v hull plug and a dedicated breaker on separate “panel”.
Thanks for the advice. I truly appreciate it.
Geoff