Inverter system instal

[boaterholic]

Please excuse me if this has already been posted about…
I have a 2005 420 sedan bridge and also posted on that section. I’m going to install solar panels for charging up batteries, and while I’m doing that I’d like to install an inverter. my questions are:
Considering I already have the factory installed chargers for 12 & 24 volt systems, should I get an inverter only or inverter charger and get rid of the factory charger?

Should I get a 12 volt or 24 volt inverter? 24v would use the bow thruster batteries.

which model inverter would you recommend and why?

thanks!

 

[hughespat57]

24 volt will be half the cable sizes (half the amperage) for the same wattage compared to 12 volt. And breakers and disconnect switches will be smaller.

While 24 volt would seem efficient how would you recharge underway?

You would not want to arrive back at the dock with no power remaining for the thruster.

 

[boaterholic]

My thinking was to put the solar panel charging system on which ever battery bank the inverter is connected to. So if I get 24 volt inverter then I’d put the solar panels on those batteries. Whichever system gets the inverter and solar charging, would hopefully be able to run the charger for the other system to charge those batteries. And I’m considering having an auto generator start controller integrated into this system so if the batteries the inverter is connected to get to the programmed threshold, the generator starts automatically and would start charging the batteries.

 

[Hoplite808]

If your charger is working fine just get the inverter. Promariner makes some nice inverters. You connect it to the 110 side wiring between the shore power connector and the fuse panel and then connect the 12 volt supply with a disconnect and a breaker to the house battery bank. You can always start your main engine for a bit to charge the batteries if the solar panels aren't keeping up.

 

[ranger58sb]

Considering I already have the factory installed chargers for 12 & 24 volt systems, should I get an inverter only or inverter charger and get rid of the factory charger?

Should I get a 12 volt or 24 volt inverter? 24v would use the bow thruster batteries.

which model inverter would you recommend and why?

We repurposed our 24VDC thruster bank to also supply an inverter for several of our 120VAC loads, including freezer and fridge.

We did that by replacing the existing 20A charger (which was apparently a replacement from the original) with a Victron MultiPlus 24/3000/70 pure sine wave inverter/charger. We also replaced the (old) thruster batteries with new Lifeline AGMs, and the 70A charger takes better advantage of the AGM's higher charge acceptance rate.

So far so good, but can't report long-term results yet.

-Chris

 

[boaterholic]

Thanks for the replies!
ranger58sb, when you replaced the charger with the new inverter charger, did you install the new unit in the same spot as the old charger or a new place? If I was able to replace old charger with all new combo unit, and kept at same location to re use the charger cables to those batteries, it would be about 20-25' run of AC cables to the electrical panel, with the old charger installed in the galley are of our DB.
I'm definitely leaning towards using the thruster battery bank for inverter as those batteries would be easy to exchange for larger size to have more capacity.

 

[ranger58sb]

ranger58sb, when you replaced the charger with the new inverter charger, did you install the new unit in the same spot as the old charger or a new place?

Same spot as previous. In our case, the charger was very near the thruster bank in the engine room, and it was also the closest location (shortest wire run) to the panel in the saloon.

I had the local Victron dealer -- and multi-specialty boat fix-it people -- do the installation.

-Chris

 

[boaterholic]

Same spot as previous. In our case, the charger was very near the thruster bank in the engine room, and it was also the closest location (shortest wire run) to the panel in the saloon.

I had the local Victron dealer -- and multi-specialty boat fix-it people -- do the installation.

-Chris

Thanks for info