Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Single Post - Electrical Oddities

CorrinaCorrina · 01-05-2009, 09:58

After installing several electrical systems on boats this is what I conclude
1) Your inverter is wired before the main AC Breaker. You want this wired afterwards (boat side not shore side) so that if something were to go wrong you can quickly flip the Main AC CB and this will shut off all AC power to the boat.
2) Your 1/2/Both switch is properly connected. When you apply AC power to the boat with your Main AC breaker off, your inverter/charger is recieving AC power that is bypassing the Main AC Breaker and this is then being converted to DC power. This DC power then travels from your inverter/charger to your 1/2/Both switch. With the 1/2/Both in the OFF position, your inverter is tied directly to your DC panel main feed. There is a way to prevent this from happening. You will need to insert a CB into your DC panel feed. This will allow you to quickly shut off all power to your DC panel in case of an emergency and will prevent the backfeed from your inverter.

01-05-2009, 09:58	#4
CorrinaCorrina Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 15	After installing several electrical systems on boats this is what I conclude 1) Your inverter is wired before the main AC Breaker. You want this wired afterwards (boat side not shore side) so that if something were to go wrong you can quickly flip the Main AC CB and this will shut off all AC power to the boat. 2) Your 1/2/Both switch is properly connected. When you apply AC power to the boat with your Main AC breaker off, your inverter/charger is recieving AC power that is bypassing the Main AC Breaker and this is then being converted to DC power. This DC power then travels from your inverter/charger to your 1/2/Both switch. With the 1/2/Both in the OFF position, your inverter is tied directly to your DC panel main feed. There is a way to prevent this from happening. You will need to insert a CB into your DC panel feed. This will allow you to quickly shut off all power to your DC panel in case of an emergency and will prevent the backfeed from your inverter.