A way To Save Charging Time

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Are you sure about that? Is your inverter not a feed through that runs the shore/gen power through when available? Using an 8 kw generator only to charge batteries seems like a waste.

Was the gen original equipment or added later in the med?

What make/model is your inverter that's running the cooking appliances?

I was wondering about the 20AH estimate for cooking dinner. That's not a lot of power for boiling water or similar.

Answers:

No, the shore power is EU standard 220v, the boat is 110v, so shore power can only charge the batteries and provide service to the waterheater which is 220v.

Westerbeke original install set up for 10kw 220v 60 cycles

Mastervolt 24/2500 inverter. 110v

Last evening during supper preparation the Ah drain was exactly 20Ah to cook four sausages in the infrared oven for 40 minutes and cook some rice in the rice cooker for 25 minutes.

[mrm]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm only interested in the high quality, high output Italian Solbian panels. I'm willing to pay the extra for quality, service and a genuine warranty. Plus, our boat requires 24v.

Wait a sec.. your bank is 24V?
Missed that piece of info earlier.
In that case, multiply my previously calculated energy demand for charging in acceptance phase (post http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2390318) by two. You will need ~2500Wh of energy to top off your bank.

[Kenomac]

Yes, 24v.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Westerbeke which was originally fitted with the boat to run at 10kw 60 cycles.



Inverter is a Mastervolt 24/2500



I double checked the Ah usage last night during supper preparation. Exactly 20Ah as prdicted to bake four sausages in the infrared oven and cook rice for 25 minues in the rice cooker.

Wow, ok. To me it seems really odd to build a boat with AC appliances that run exclusively through an inverter.....but it's what you've got, so it shall be worked with. Unless there's a transfer switch for galley loads? Like inverter to shore/gen?

I know this isn't part of the solar problem any longer, but if there's a way to not pull from the batteries while cooking with the gen running, the overall picture would be even rosier regarding power.

[Kenomac]

I tried throwing the switch to shore/gen, but it trips the dock shorepower breaker. The kitchen appliances and outlets are all 110v.

I'm afraid it is, what it is...

I'm rarely running off shore power.

My electronics wizard friend who was onboard last week looked at the system, and said because of the way it's set up to receive shore power, it wouldn't do any good to increase the size of the shore power cord. The shore power breaker trips because too much juice wants to go through too small a cable.

We looked at this issue last week of trying to maximize shorepower to the boat.

You gots to remember, I have a US boat set up for the Americas currently in the EU where everything is 220v 50 cycles. Our washing machine's motherboard pooped the bed last week most like due to receiving 50hz whenever I'm plugged into shore power. When the new parts arrive, I'll need to avoid running it when plugged in, because it wants to see 60hz.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I tried throwing the switch to shore/gen, but it trips the dock shorepower breaker. The kitchen appliances and outlets are all 110v.

What shore breaker is it tripping? The dockside one? That won't work, I was more thinking that there would be a sub panel for the galley to be powered from either inverter or "other". Other being the generator.

Do you have shore distribution aboard for 230 separate from 110?

The world according to Matt would have the galley supply selectable between inverter/distribution panel. When running the generator you could heat your sausage with power directly from the gen, when anchored, heat the weenies with the inverter. This would allow more power for battery charging.

Also when on shore power @ 230/50hz. The galley appliances use the inverter while the rest of the house is supplied with 230/50 (chargers, air cond, etc).

Oftentimes the world is not according to Matt and I need to make concessions.

[Kenomac]

All these issues go away the moment I plug into shore power in the Americas.

But on the bright side, my 110v/220v boat does just fine here in the EU with 230v/50 cycles. No so good for our friends with an EU 230v boat trying to pug in to an American shore-power.

[sailorboy1]

maybe Oyster would explain the design of your system to you

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

All these issues go away the moment I plug into shore power in the Americas.



But on the bright side, my 110v/220v boat does just fine here in the EU with 230v/50 cycles. No so good for our friends with an EU 230v boat trying to pug in to an American shore-power.

But will it ever return to the US or are you in the med for good?

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

But will it ever return to the US or are you in the med for good?

I just looked into my crystal ball..............

Nada.


Who knows?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I just looked into my crystal ball..............



Nada.





Who knows?

So what I'm getting at here is that you're trying to minimize your generator run time at anchor, to maximize the charge to your batteries. It would seem to me that if you have the ability to run your galley appliances directly from the generator, why would you use the inverter? Your diverting battery charging capacity to convert voltages several times.

I understand at the dock you'll pop the dock breaker, it's all wrong. But at anchor I just can't wrap my head around running the large resistive loads off the batteries if the gen is running.

[Kenomac]

Here's a couple of pictures of my panel showing the 110v side and 220v side.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Here's a couple of pictures of my panel showing the 110v side and 220v side.

When I look at that I can see no reason to run your galley appliances through the inverter when the gen is running. Than means that the pair of battery chargers should be able to provide all of their power to the batteries when you're cooking. when plugged into the dock, you'll still need to run the inverter to cook as the current supplied by the shore cord is too low and of the wrong voltage.

So that 20AH of lost battery juice doesn't need to be

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

maybe Oyster would explain the design of your system to you

I tried that five years ago and was referred to Fox's marina... which was no help.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

When I look at that I can see no reason to run your galley appliances through the inverter when the gen is running. Than means that the pair of battery chargers should be able to provide all of their power to the batteries when you're cooking. when plugged into the dock, you'll still need to run the inverter to cook as the current supplied by the shore cord is too low and of the wrong voltage.

So that 20AH of lost battery juice doesn't need to be

How should I position the controls to do that? I can unplug form shore power and give it a try.