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15-02-2019, 22:51
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ
Boat: Hood 38 - Wauquiez
Posts: 724
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Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
Hi All,
I am converting a ex USA boat from 110v to 240v. The old inverter was wired for shore power, and a battery charger.
I have replaced the inverter with a Victron Pheonix (just for running laptops etc) until I get a more substantial one. The victron pheonix doesn't have a battery charger option or shore power option.
The bit thats got me, int erms of wiring, is the AC panel on this boat. It is a : https://www.newmarpower.com/wp-conte...anual-AC-I.pdf
Which says its ok to do 240v line-to-line : what does this mean?
Also, I am a little confused by the wiring. The diagram in the above link shows how to wire it to shore power, but what if you are wiring it in to a inverter?
Do I need to disconnect the shore power connection with this Pheonix Inverter?
I presume the earth, netural from the inverter go to there respective bus bars?
Where does live from inverter go to? The live busbar? (which is the way its already wired)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/n6KHvPnACFCgtYXk8
Cheers
AG
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16-02-2019, 22:48
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: canada
Posts: 4,634
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
you are converting a 120v 60hz north american boat to a 230v 50hz boat. likely everything will have to be changed and rewired.
line to line 240v is north american 240v 60 hz. and is different then the above 2.
your 230v 50hz is line to netreal. sounds like your breakers are not approved for that.
the inverter must go through a transfer swtich.
get a electrician to look at the boat, and help guild you in what you need.
I think NZ requires a licenced person to do all work anyways? but could be wrong.
doing it wrong can kill people
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17-02-2019, 00:21
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Currently Tasmania after Pacific crossing
Boat: Catalina 42
Posts: 255
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
I wonder why convert! Most tech equipment will charge or run on multiple 110/240v. I connected my laptop & iPad into 110v system on the boat, no problem. From shore power 240v I used a step up/ step down transformer.
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17-02-2019, 02:11
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Somewhere in the Philippines
Boat: Mariner 40 Ketch
Posts: 531
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
i plugged 240v shore power into my 110v system and everything works fine. since i do not have anything incompatable with 240, i had no issues. my chargers are 110/240v, same as my inverters. all the outlets in the boat work fine with my 240 appliances.
__________________
Fair Winds to all
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17-02-2019, 02:30
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cat in New Zealand, trawler in Ventura
Boat: 46' custom cat "Rum Doxy", Roughwater 41"Abreojos"
Posts: 2,041
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
Quote:
Originally Posted by SV Windrush II
i plugged 240v shore power into my 110v system and everything works fine. since i do not have anything incompatable with 240, i had no issues. my chargers are 110/240v, same as my inverters. all the outlets in the boat work fine with my 240 appliances.
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As we transition back to 240 World from 110 World I have wondered about this. 110v wiring will be beefier than 240, so no issues there. All my breakers are rated for 110 to 240, so again, no issues. As long as chargers and inverters are rated for both, why not?
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17-02-2019, 03:06
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#6
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2016
Boat: Bathtub
Posts: 889
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
Consult a marine electrician. The.breakers are not made for 240v line to neutral and also are the wrong size for higher voltage, both for the main breakers and the branch circuits. Higher voltage means lower amperage. They are not appropriate for your shorepower system there.
Best thing here is to replace the panel with a new one designed and set up for your local voltage system, and not the US 120v standard. An appropriate Blue Seas Systems panel is nice and will only set you back a couple of hundred dollars. It probably will cost more to replace all your breakers even if you can find ones that fit and are listed for 240v.
The good news is your wires are all going to be oversized when you convert from a 120v system because currents go down when voltage goes up. If they aren't rotten from corrosion you probably can reuse most of the wires themselves, and not need to fish new stuff everywhere.
Any light switches (if you have any) will need to be checked for 240v rating and replaced, as well as fixtures, receptacles, and your shorepower inlet.
You really, really need to have the inverter installation checked by an electrician who knows what he is doing as well as install the new panel. The transfer switches need to be rated for the new voltage and done correctly, and the neutrals and grounds need to be sorted just so.
If all of this is all not done just right it could easily kill someone, not just aboard your boat, but swimming along nearby even. This is way too technical to go over in any forum post but there are many seemingly small issues that are really complex, but get just one wrong and the system is unsafe
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17-02-2019, 11:41
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#7
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Enkhuizen, NL
Boat: Pearson 36-1
Posts: 755
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
110v wiring should be able to handle 220v with no problem. It is heavier gauge.
My ProMariner battery charge is multivoltage and all onboard electronics are 12v and any additional equipment or phone charging runs of a Radio Shack 12v to 110v inverter. I am planning on getting a 12v to 110-220v inverter and that will be that...
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17-02-2019, 13:16
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Scarborough Queensland Australia
Boat: Hunter 44DS
Posts: 274
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
I wired a step down transformer in between the shore power and my switchboard so I just plug-in and everything works throughout the yacht. I have a 240 V inverter wired up to a double PowerPoint for use for things like the toaster and I purchased 110 V kettle from the US everything else mostly runs between 100 & 240 V anyway
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17-02-2019, 13:45
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Sevilla, Spain
Boat: Morgan 37 Out Island Sloop
Posts: 21
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
The internet got me a bad play. Today, in reply to this fellow, BigAl.NZ, after I wrote him that I got myself a converter/inverter Volt/Polska, 2000 VA. the whole thing went out and I lost all that I had written him. The internet here, GOOGLE, It doesn't function properly, and lots of info is lost, accidentally????Anyway, here it goes again, got an ZASILACZ KONWERTER UNIWERSALNY 230v><110V. VP-2000VA.If you are in an area of 220V, you plug this into the entrance power(selector switch entry 220v) and you have an output of 120v. Then you confection a cable with two males and plug one plug into this converter and the other to the receptacle of the boat 120v. Turn it on and voile, you can use 220V, and 120 normally as you would if in the USA. Good luck, only careful, as the cable with the extremes is hot, it has voltage on them. John
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17-02-2019, 14:48
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: San Diego
Boat: '77 CAL33
Posts: 39
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
+1 for Amnesia II's post on using a 240V@15A to 110V@30A transformer. this would be the least expensive option for both $$ and time. if you use a "real" transformer with isolated in and out windings [as oposed to an "autotransformer"], you'll have the added feature of electrically isolating your boat from shore power [provided you do not carry the neutral line through directly] which can be a zinc and safety benefit in some cases.
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17-02-2019, 17:46
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New Zealand
Boat: 50’ Bavaria
Posts: 1,809
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
+1 for getting an electrician to do this, particularly in nz where you'll need an inspector to sign off the work for your electrical certificate which you'll need for insurance and mooring in a marina.
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22-02-2019, 22:43
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ
Boat: Hood 38 - Wauquiez
Posts: 724
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
Hi. Thanks for all the replies. I have someone arranged to look at it, but want to do as much of the leg work myself as possible. Noting will be made live till he gives the OK.
I don't have shore power so thats not a factor.
Whats got me a little puzzled at the moment is the ground situation....
On the chassis of the inverter (next to +/- inputs) is a large ground.
Obviously the AC output has a ground too.
The wire from both these grounds goes to ground on the AC bus.
I presume at some point the ground must also go to the ships ground? From the AC ground bus bar to the engine ground?
I think I found where all the cables go to ground, there is a massive earth cable with a large lug that is bolted to the engine.
What is also a little confusing that several white wires running around the boat connect to this ground, as do some of the green wires that run around the boat.
If green is ground, then whats the white all about?
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22-02-2019, 23:43
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ
Boat: Hood 38 - Wauquiez
Posts: 724
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
I think this is the ground connection to the engine.
Then it looks like another ground to the prop shaft bolts?
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27-02-2019, 06:44
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Dubai
Boat: 450S
Posts: 188
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Re: Converting 110 to 240v - AC Panel
The white wires may be bonding wires between your thru hull fittings. Keep in mind 110V vs 240V also includes a change in frequency from 60 to 50hz. If you have any induction loads they will be effected, resistance loads will be ok.
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