AC Inverter

Captain Gary

New Member
Aug 20, 2018
26
Boat Info
1999 260 Sundancer, 7.4 Litre 454 MPI Single Screw Bravo III Stern Drive; Reformed Sailor!
Engines
7.4 MPI 454 Mercruiser; Bravo III Stern Drive
I just purchase a used 1999 260 Sundancer. It has an AC Inverter. When not connected to shore power and the Inverter switch is "on" in the breaker panel, the AC outlets and lights on the AC switch don't work. Everything works fine when connected to shore power with the inverter on or off. Am I misunderstanding the use of the inverter? Shouldn't the AC power outlets and lights work when not connected to shore power and the inverter on?
 
The AC inverter is more than likely your on-board battery charger.

Congratulations on the 260 and welcome to CSR!
 
Depends on what circuits the inverter powers.
I just purchase a used 1999 260 Sundancer. It has an AC Inverter. When not connected to shore power and the Inverter switch is "on" in the breaker panel, the AC outlets and lights on the AC switch don't work. Everything works fine when connected to shore power with the inverter on or off. Am I misunderstanding the use of the inverter? Shouldn't the AC power outlets and lights work when not connected to shore power and the inverter on?
It depends on several factors including: the inverter must be turned on. The ac breakers are on. No gfis are tripped. All fuses/ breakers in the circuit are closed. Power requirements are within the capabilities of the inverter. If you try to use more power than the inverter can produce you will trip a breaker or blow a fuse. Another possibility is your inverter has plugs on the device and you get to the power by plugging the appliances into the plugs on the inverter.
 
I just purchase a used 1999 260 Sundancer. It has an AC Inverter. When not connected to shore power and the Inverter switch is "on" in the breaker panel, the AC outlets and lights on the AC switch don't work. Everything works fine when connected to shore power with the inverter on or off. Am I misunderstanding the use of the inverter? Shouldn't the AC power outlets and lights work when not connected to shore power and the inverter on?

Are you sure the switch inverter, or does it say converter? If it says converter, then that is your battery charger as Jim said earlier.
 
Locate your battery charger and turn that breaker off and see if you lose power to the charger.
Power gone, that is the answer. If it is the ac converter like in the pic attached, that is the battery charger.
DSCF2337.JPG
 
Thanks for the responses. Now that several of you mentioned it I need to check if it is a converter or inverter. My brain might have filled in the term "inverter" since I've never heard the term "converter" used to describe a battery charger.

It does charge the battery when connected to shore power but I understood it to be an inverter also when not connected to shore power to the energize AC outlets and lights when underway or on the hook. I wasn't able to test it but asked the seller if that was the case and he said yes, but I supposed that doesn't mean he understood my question.
I will confirm the label on the breaker panel and the unit itself.
 
The "Converter" does two things - charge the batteries and also power the 12V systems on the boat.
For the converter to operate the boat needs to be either running on the generator or shore power.

There are what are called "Inverter Chargers" which do three things - Charge the batteries, power the 12V systems on the boat and also provide 120 VAC for the AC powered systems. To charge the batteries and power the 12V systems the boat must be either on shore power or the generator. When in Inverter mode the batteries provide the power to make the 120VAC. There are many ways to configure inverters so operation would be a guess at this point.
 
Thanks ttmott and everyone. I understood the equipment to be the latter of what you described above which drove my question. As soon as it stops storming here on Lake Michigan and I get back in town from work travel I will check. At this point I'm guessing that it is probably just a Converter and not an Inverter Charger as I assumed. If not I will be posting again! Much appreciate everyone's responses.
 
I have a battery inverter and was having a similar problem of only working when connected to shore power or genny. When I was underway (engine power) or not plugged in the lights on the GFI outlet where not lit..

I ended up finding it was connected to my Accessory #1 breaker on my fuse panel. When I flipped the breaker I was able to use the outlet on the side of the inverter at any time.. I also noted that my 2 tvs were connected to this inverter and turned on while under way

My boat is a 350 sundancer.. but maybe yours is tied in similar
 

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