DC to AC inverter

Just as a followup, the Xantrex 1800 I have powers my microwave fine, although you can hear that it runs differently than when on shore power. The initial start surge sounds different. Its probably the fact that the inverter is not a pure sine wave and is at the lower end of the power needed to run the MW. My fridge is 12/120 so the inverter isn't used for that. I don't run the 120v icemaker though. Its a power hog and not necessary for me.

It also has an automatic shorepower transfer switch built in for hardwiring to the 120v panel. But I have not (yet) done that hard wiring. I just run a shorepower cable from the inverter to the shorepower inlet when I'm at anchor. I can run the cable easily where its not a trip hazard and it works for now (LOL its been a few years). At some point when it gets up the priority list, I will wire it into the panel. I have all the wire etc. needed to do it, just not a big priority till I retire and will be using it more for longer anchoring out trips.
 
Creekwood said:
Just as a followup, the Xantrex 1800 I have powers my microwave fine, although you can hear that it runs differently than when on shore power. The initial start surge sounds different. Its probably the fact that the inverter is not a pure sine wave and is at the lower end of the power needed to run the MW. My fridge is 12/120 so the inverter isn't used for that. I don't run the 120v icemaker though. Its a power hog and not necessary for me.

It also has an automatic shorepower transfer switch built in for hardwiring to the 120v panel. But I have not (yet) done that hard wiring. I just run a shorepower cable from the inverter to the shorepower inlet when I'm at anchor. I can run the cable easily where its not a trip hazard and it works for now (LOL its been a few years). At some point when it gets up the priority list, I will wire it into the panel. I have all the wire etc. needed to do it, just not a big priority till I retire and will be using it more for longer anchoring out trips.
Click to expand...
When you wire up the transfer switch note that it has a dedicated outlet for the battery charger. Otherwise you have a very inefficient loop where the inverter, running from batteries, is charging the batteries it's running from.
 
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Juliery said:
When you wire up the transfer switch note that it has a dedicated outlet for the battery charger. Otherwise you have a very inefficient loop where the inverter, running from batteries, is charging the batteries it's running from.
Click to expand...
Agreed, but with a built in transfer switch its easiest to just turn off the charger/converter via the power panel breaker when not on shore power and not try to wire the inverter to only power certain circuits. Also, my boat has two 120v lines/panels. The microwave is not on the same panel as the charger. I plan to only run the inverter to the panel with the microwave and 120v outlets. On a related note, I have rewired the panel so that my outlets are now on panel 2 with the microwave, using an unused spot on that panel. I moved the power feed to that circuit from the panel 1 feed to the panel 2 feed, and moved the switch/breaker to panel 2. So panel 1 is now things I don't need to run off the inverter and panel 2 is the stuff I would like to be able to run off the inverter.

The Xantrex inverter has a pass-thru transfer switch built in, not separate. So shorepower runs through the inverter, even if the inverter is off and its just passing the 120v power straight thru. That is one of the reasons why I have not yet hardwired my inverter. I am not sure I want to add a potential fail point if the inverter transfer switch fails because then I won't be able to have shorepower on that side of the 120 panel, even on shorepower, until I replace/repair it.
 
Creekwood said:
Agreed, but with a built in transfer switch its easiest to just turn off the charger/converter via the power panel breaker when not on shore power and not try to wire the inverter to only power certain circuits. Also, my boat has two 120v lines/panels. The microwave is not on the same panel as the charger. I plan to only run the inverter to the panel with the microwave and 120v outlets. On a related note, I have rewired the panel so that my outlets are now on panel 2 with the microwave, using an unused spot on that panel. I moved the power feed to that circuit from the panel 1 feed to the panel 2 feed, and moved the switch/breaker to panel 2. So panel 1 is now things I don't need to run off the inverter and panel 2 is the stuff I would like to be able to run off the inverter.

The Xantrex inverter has a pass-thru transfer switch built in, not separate. So shorepower runs through the inverter, even if the inverter is off and its just passing the 120v power straight thru. That is one of the reasons why I have not yet hardwired my inverter. I am not sure I want to add a potential fail point if the inverter transfer switch fails because then I won't be able to have shorepower on that side of the 120 panel, even on shorepower, until I replace/repair it.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you are proficient and have a nice system. My Samlex has a separate transfer switch. I will install a 120 v. switch at the fridge though, as Bobeast mentioned - a consideration that had not occurred to me before now.
 
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