Connecting 50hz Italian boat to 60hz US power

[Inthefridge]

I am told that it is imperative to run the AC while the boat is in St. Thomas, even when we are not there, because of the humidity.

1) Is it true, as noted above that the 50hz AC and refrigerator will run on 60hz?

2) What specific part (transformer) would I need to install to connect our boat to the power in the USVI & BVI?

3) Since our boat is 51', I believe that the marinas will have 220 available, is that correct?

Thanks, Mark

[boatbod]

Originally Posted by Inthefridge

I am told that it is imperative to run the AC while the boat is in St. Thomas, even when we are not there, because of the humidity.

1) Is it true, as noted above that the 50hz AC and refrigerator will run on 60hz?

2) What specific part (transformer) would I need to install to connect our boat to the power in the USVI & BVI?

3) Since our boat is 51', I believe that the marinas will have 220 available, is that correct?

Thanks, Mark

Any marina frequented by American boats will have 50A 120/240V shore power available in their larger slips so connectivity should not be a problem. What you need to find out is whether or not your A/C equipment is capable of running on 60Hz. Check the nameplate for it's specs.

[sailorchic34]

As a general rule, motors designed for 50hz run fine, without overheating at 60hz, They just run a bit faster. On the other hand, 60HZ motors as a rule can not run at 50hz without overheating. Unless they are inverter duty motors, which most small vessels would not have. By small I mean under 100 feet ish.

Switching power supplies and linear power supplies are also as a rule uneffected by 50hz to 60hz.

[botanybay]

Originally Posted by sailcrazy

This is our 3rd year in the Caribb, after spending 15 yrs in Asia and then the Medd. We have, finally, found a "fix" for the 230v 50Hz Euro wiring-to-110v/220v 60Hz power issue. Thew problem is that your boat, like ours, is wired for 230v 3-wire power(hot, neutral, gnd)......NOT the US power scheme of 220v 4-wire system (hot, hot, neutral, gnd, where you get 110v btwn each hot and neutral, and 220v btwn the 2 hots). If you wire to the shore power with the 2 hots,, the rvse polarity alarm is ON, and it is unsafe....don't let the marina catch you doing it! We tried a 5000w step-up transformer(ebay/China special) that lasted about 5 weeks! Then we tried a 10000w step up transformer(Ebay/China special) but as the load increased the voltage dropped from 230v at 1-2 amps output to 180v at 16amp output(30amp 110v input)....our 230v motors did not like 180v!!! We have, finally, solved the problem with a Victron auto-sensing Isolation transformer. It senses incoming power as either 110v(US marinas) or 230v(windward/leeward marinas), provides isolation, and puts out 230v to the boat. A great piece of kit; highly recommend it for our situation. Its works, is quiet, and automatically solves the problem....without needing to rewire the boat for 110v higher required amp power. But they don't give them away!

I strongly recommend the Victron automatic input sensing isolation transformer. I have been running this way on a European boat in the US for about 3 years. Very nice unit.

Remember US dock power can be 120v, 208v, or 240v. Docks which are 208v vs 240v are not labled differently.

If on a 208v dock some equipment will draw more amperage (air conditioners, battery chargers, holding plate compressors, etc) others draw less (hot water heaters, blow dryers, etc).

If you have occasional loads above 3600 watts a victron multi or.quattro can limit.the input load while.providing additional AC power.from the batteries until the load is reduced in a few minutes.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[RickG]

Originally Posted by Inthefridge

I am told that it is imperative to run the AC while the boat is in St. Thomas, even when we are not there, because of the humidity.

1) Is it true, as noted above that the 50hz AC and refrigerator will run on 60hz?

2) What specific part (transformer) would I need to install to connect our boat to the power in the USVI & BVI?

3) Since our boat is 51', I believe that the marinas will have 220 available, is that correct?

Thanks, Mark

We keep our boat full time at St. Thomas and have no issues with leaving the boat closed up when it is not in use. We fill the heads with fresh water and flush trough the holding tank, defrost and clean the refrigerator, open the passive vents and turn off all electric except battery charger and bike pump. We do not have problems.

Cheers, RickG

[Inthefridge]

Also considering a frequency converter. I know about Atlas and Asea, does anyone know about AND Converters (Homepage - A.N.G. CONVERTERS Worldwide Shore Power Converters