|
|
29-12-2015, 17:37
|
#16
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
|
Re: Novice air cond question
I was curious about the AC with Alternator / inverter thing so I gave it a shot today. I just finished installing my whisker pole and wanted to give this DDW thing a try, so I motored about 5 miles or so upwind.
What happened on my boat was the batteries discharged until the alternator saw a low enough voltage that it went to absorb, once in absorb it would carry the load, barely. So it seems at least with mine, you can run the AC off the Alternator.
Has to be hard on the alternator though I would think.
Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 17:53
|
#17
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Thailand
Boat: Herreshoff Caribbean 50
Posts: 1,096
|
Re: Novice air cond question
Acclimatize ! Think my ac,s are dead as we never use them. Not worth the noise or hastle and the expense... Fans are as effective for us !
__________________
Steve .. It was the last one that did this !
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 18:14
|
#18
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,002
|
Re: Novice air cond question
No free lunch. A huge battery bank with a charging system to feed it, inverter to pull the power out and fuel to keep it going, is likely going to be more expensive than just installing a generator and keeping things simple.
Also don't forget that huge battery bank will wear out after a period of time if you are running it completely down regularly, so that will eat up what little fuel savings you can come up with.
A built in generator is nicer but since we spend most of our time in marinas, our yamaha2400 does a nice job when at anchor.
As far as the idea of just "surviving" without, no thanks. We aren't out to prove we can "survive". Cruising is meant to be an enjoyable experience for us and we've been in far too many calm muggy anchorages to put up with that.
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 18:28
|
#19
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Thailand and Laos
Boat: Bavaria 37 (2007)
Posts: 450
|
Re: Novice air cond question
I've been looking at the RV style roof top AC. Fits nicely over the saloon hatch, nice low profile so it does not obstruct the boom vang or any lines. But have not got up to power requirements yet.
Do these things only run off an external power or the vehicle battery/alternator?
__________________
"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 18:37
|
#20
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,002
|
Re: Novice air cond question
Quote:
Originally Posted by mausgras
I've been looking at the RV style roof top AC. Fits nicely over the saloon hatch, nice low profile so it does not obstruct the boom vang or any lines. But have not got up to power requirements yet.
Do these things only run off an external power or the vehicle battery/alternator?
|
If you are certain nothing is likely to catch on them on you have a flat section of deck, they are a nice option as it eliminates the complications that come with water cooled marine units.
But they won't solve the power requirement issue. They typically come in 13.5k or 15k btu units and the power consumption is similar to a similar sized marine unit.
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 18:37
|
#21
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: ‘01 Catana 401
Posts: 9,626
|
Re: Novice air cond question
Quote:
Originally Posted by mausgras
I've been looking at the RV style roof top AC. Fits nicely over the saloon hatch, nice low profile so it does not obstruct the boom vang or any lines. But have not got up to power requirements yet.
Do these things only run off an external power or the vehicle battery/alternator?
|
Shore power only. And they're not saltwater resistant at all.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 18:38
|
#22
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: ‘01 Catana 401
Posts: 9,626
|
Re: Novice air cond question
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichandHelen
You gotta be kidding...
|
About what?
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 18:38
|
#23
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
|
Re: Novice air cond question
Quote:
Originally Posted by mausgras
I've been looking at the RV style roof top AC. Fits nicely over the saloon hatch, nice low profile so it does not obstruct the boom vang or any lines. But have not got up to power requirements yet.
Do these things only run off an external power or the vehicle battery/alternator?
|
There is a Marine version, which I believe is about the same. They run off of AC, and I think other than expense there is no advantage.
Sent from my iPad Pro using Cruisers Sailing Forum
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 18:44
|
#24
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,002
|
Re: Novice air cond question
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailmonkey
Shore power only. And they're not saltwater resistant at all.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
|
If you are talking about taking wave over the top of the unit, probably true. The ones I've seen on boat are typically mounted at the highest point on the cabin to largely negate this issue.
If it's just the salt air, the RV's that stay in beach locations do fine.
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 18:51
|
#25
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: ‘01 Catana 401
Posts: 9,626
|
Re: Novice air cond question
Quote:
Originally Posted by valhalla360
If you are talking about taking wave over the top of the unit, probably true. The ones I've seen on boat are typically mounted at the highest point on the cabin to largely negate this issue.
If it's just the salt air, the RV's that stay in beach locations do fine.
|
I think that depends on beach location. They go to s@$t pretty quickly on Galveston island, 2-3 years before they're really problematic.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 19:50
|
#26
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,002
|
Re: Novice air cond question
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailmonkey
I think that depends on beach location. They go to s@$t pretty quickly on Galveston island, 2-3 years before they're really problematic.
Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
|
We spent significant time with the RV in a number of coastal locations including Port Aransas (just south of Galveston). Our 1997 unit is still fine and haven't heard of others complaining about problems.
If we had a power boat (no boom or lines to snag on it), I'd switch in a heartbeat.
|
|
|
29-12-2015, 19:58
|
#27
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
|
Re: Novice air cond question
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichandHelen
You gotta be kidding...
|
Based on several years living aboard in the Bahamas and Caribbean I would agree with the 98% comfortable at anchor statement and I do like my comfort and that includes staying cool.
Then there's the 2% of the time when I would trade half interest in my boat for a bit of air conditioning. One of those nights when it's hot, muggy, no breeze at all and then the bugs attack. Leave the hatches open and you're eaten alive by mosquitoes or noseeums or both. Close the hatches and you risk heat stroke.
At the dock in a marina is a whole different story.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|
|
|