From My Design to My Installation: New AC Power System

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Sawbonz

. . .The Quattro has the advantage over the Multiplus, as I understand it, of switching between different inputs. I don’t see this having any value if the generator isn’t kept running, though I hope to find a rep at the Ft Lauderdale show who can clarify.

You are correct. My boat was constructed with a nice system to switch between generator and shore power, so this feature of the Quattro was completely unneeded in my particular case. I went with the Multiplus, and the functionality of that is perfect for my use.

Originally Posted by Sawbonz

As to the generator, I have been trying to feasibly downsize but appear to be limited by the dive compressor requirements. Will also try to clarify at the show.. .

Note that a charger/inverter with Power Boost will allow you to size the generator for average rather than peak loads, including the big starting current for gear like dive compressors (or A/C). The charger/inverter will supplement the generator power to make up any shortfall.

It's particularly harmful to run a constant speed generator with too light a load, so it's worth trying to size the generator in a way that you know it will be reasonably well loaded. It becomes really hard to do that if you are sizing it based on the starting currents. My generator is 6.5kW, and my inverter/charger can almost double that for short periods (long enough to deal with starting currents) and can add about 2.5kW for as long as the batteries hold out. This feature is incredibly useful.

[john61ct]

Just realized, in effect creates a Prius-style hybrid power system!

[Sawbonz]

Originally Posted by alaskanviking

Hi,

are there any updates on your system?

Also what is the voltage of your alternators? you have them feeding a Victron charger, but that accepts a voltage between 90 and 400 volts DC. I was looking for higher voltage alternators, but was stumbling on solutions for a 48v lithium system. i was thinking that this may be a way

thanks

V/R

Robert

Hi Robert,

If asking me, no updates quite yet. I've been waiting on someone to give me their revisions to the plans I had drawn. Soon, i hope.

The alternators will be stock to begin with, but I'm not sure what voltage that is.

[s/v Jedi]

This thread was/is about our AC system but our main engine is a Yanmar 4LH-HTE and has 3 alternators: the standard 12V/85A (I think) Hitachi that charges the starter batteries and two really big Lestec Brute 210 alternators that are 12V/210A each for a 420A charge current to the house battery bank.

The Victron Quattro is connected to the house bank, but I can switch combinations if I want. When we put the boat into storage mode, I completely disconnect the house batteries and everything runs off the starter batteries.

I made one change: I connected my A/C to the Quattro OUT2 so that it never runs off inverter. This is only relevant when in a marina.

The system runs flawless but we did have to replace the Quattro after many years in the marina here in Panama with power outages, lightning strikes etc. Even though it was 9 years old, Victron offered a great deal.

One more change: we added a Ve-Bus <> NMEA2000 adapter cable to get all Quattro data on our NMEA2000 network.

[alaskanviking]

Thanks for the Info.

It’s good to hear that S/V Jedi’s power system works well!

I have a similar dilemma with a 5hp Bauer Oceanus compressor. S/V Jedi has been a huge inspiration. Instead of 1 isolation transformer, I was originally going to use 3.6kv Victron Auto Isolation transformers as they automatically switch the primaries for 120v and 240v. I was having an issue with sizing wiring and devices to maximize power from the pier due to the big compressor. The choices become either use manual 7kv manual isolation transformers or Bridgeport Magnetics 6VA isolation transformers

I also wanted to use 2 transformers instead of one, so that all lines were sized to 50amps, and I could get power from pretty much any location. Using Bridgport Magnetics diagrams, I put together my own for the different line voltages. Everything seems to check out ok. I was really twisting myself up trying to calculate the different voltages, amperages, and phases coming through. I just want 240v coming into the boat.

In theory I can use full shore power from 120v/240v 50amp split phase, 120v 30amp, 120v 50amp, 230v 16amp, 230v 32 amp, 2 230v 16amp, 2 120v 30amp, 1 120v 30 amp and 1 120v 50amp, 240v two wire, and 208v. If I used 1 120v 30amp, and a 120v 50amp plug it would allow you to use all 80 amps, ~41amps 240v off the secondary’s.

I want 240v and don’t necessarily need this much power, as I have a 42ft Cutter. The 5hp air compressor is a big load, I am looking at 22amps @240v with a 40-50amp starting surge. Sized right a Victron inverter charger is capable of adding to the power for the surge however the ability to take extra power from the pier will be useful if I add A/C (likely) or I don’t want to run partially off of batteries. Mostly I wanted to oversize a bit to ensure everything is compatible with 50amps from 120/240 split phase. just in case! I am also moving my bank from the eng room to both sides of the mast, and upgrading to lithium later and the big inverter sizes will give me more charging power without blowing circuit breakers. this may also help someone with a power hungry boat.

waiting to hear from bridgeport magnetics for some further verifications. however this wiring diagram appears to work for all the isolation transformers except for the victron 3.6KV auto isolation transformer.

Enclosed is a pdf of the diagram. I only had power point available when I was working on it, and had to split it into two files due to upload size.

V/R

Robert

[alaskanviking]

The Quattro is beneficial if you have a generator. It allows you to connect to the generator while still connected to shore power without lapses. Yes, you could affect the same change with a multiplus and a shore power switch. that essentially takes up space on my AC panel which I believe I need for 240v equipment and other AC wiring. I have been planning on getting a Quattro, as at some point I was planning on getting a generator. Now I’m thinking of using a honda 2000 with a small transformer to bump power to 240v.

this could easily use an multiplus with an adapter cord into my shore power inlet to save money. On the other side if I set up a second SP “generator” inlet with transformer, it does give me an isolated and redundant SP inlet if one or both isolation transformers conked out. Of course a switch could do that as well.

Hmmm!