capnjim
New Member
This project was done in 2 parts. First I had to prove to myself that it would work, then do the actual installation. Over this winter I tested the setup and fine-tuned the specs.
I started by purchasing a 1500W modified sine wave inverter, a Kenmore 1.7 Cu Ft refrigerator and a 200A ammeter w/shunt. I hooked it all up in my basement with my 2 deep-cycle batteries (my "house" bank from the boat).
I saw a ~50A draw from the battery for around 3 seconds when the compressor on the fridge starts up, then it drops to a 9A draw while it is running. Once it cycles off again the only draw is the idle current for the inverter <1A. It ran off the batteries for a week and I still had plenty of juice left.
Now I needed to install it... I purchased 16' of #2 AWG welding cable (Black & Red) and a fuseholder with a 250A fuse.
On my boat there is a 3" tube running up both the port and stbd sides from the engine room to the cabin. It took a bit of dismantling of the panels in the galley to get to the forward end. The cables ran up the port side from the battery bank to the galley. I mounted the inverter under the galley and ran power to a panel I constructed with both 12VDC and 120VAC outlets as well as a transfer switch that controls the power to the outlet the fridge is plugged into. That way I can switch between shore power and inverter for the fridge with a flick of a switch.
The power panel controls the operation of the inverter and it also has both a voltmeter and ammeter for the house battery bank.
The extra bonus is that with the large inverter, I can run a "real" coffeemaker. (If anyone wants to buy a brand new 12VDC coffeemaker, I'll sell one cheap. It's only had water run thru it! It took an hour to make 8 cups.) :thumbsup:
I still have some trim work to do. I'd like to turn the 3" of space above the fridge into a silverware drawer...
Here are some pics, sorry I didn't take any before shots. Imagine that where the fridge is there were kitchen cabinet doors. I think there was an icebox there originally but a previous owner took it out and converted it to storage. There was a microwave down there when I bought the boat. They seemed to stay in the marina all the time...
I started by purchasing a 1500W modified sine wave inverter, a Kenmore 1.7 Cu Ft refrigerator and a 200A ammeter w/shunt. I hooked it all up in my basement with my 2 deep-cycle batteries (my "house" bank from the boat).
I saw a ~50A draw from the battery for around 3 seconds when the compressor on the fridge starts up, then it drops to a 9A draw while it is running. Once it cycles off again the only draw is the idle current for the inverter <1A. It ran off the batteries for a week and I still had plenty of juice left.
Now I needed to install it... I purchased 16' of #2 AWG welding cable (Black & Red) and a fuseholder with a 250A fuse.
On my boat there is a 3" tube running up both the port and stbd sides from the engine room to the cabin. It took a bit of dismantling of the panels in the galley to get to the forward end. The cables ran up the port side from the battery bank to the galley. I mounted the inverter under the galley and ran power to a panel I constructed with both 12VDC and 120VAC outlets as well as a transfer switch that controls the power to the outlet the fridge is plugged into. That way I can switch between shore power and inverter for the fridge with a flick of a switch.
The power panel controls the operation of the inverter and it also has both a voltmeter and ammeter for the house battery bank.
The extra bonus is that with the large inverter, I can run a "real" coffeemaker. (If anyone wants to buy a brand new 12VDC coffeemaker, I'll sell one cheap. It's only had water run thru it! It took an hour to make 8 cups.) :thumbsup:
I still have some trim work to do. I'd like to turn the 3" of space above the fridge into a silverware drawer...
Here are some pics, sorry I didn't take any before shots. Imagine that where the fridge is there were kitchen cabinet doors. I think there was an icebox there originally but a previous owner took it out and converted it to storage. There was a microwave down there when I bought the boat. They seemed to stay in the marina all the time...
