Using AC converter without batteries

[Novation]

I keep my boat in heated indoor storage. I have always taken the batteries out and kept them charged at home. To access the engine hatch, I take along a "spare" battery and use the cigarette lighter attachment to power the hatch.

Last year, a neighboring boat owner said he hooks up his shorepower to a 110 outlet (with the adaptor), turns on the AC converter and then has power to open his hatch and use any of the DC power items on board, even though his batteries are disconnected...

Obviously, this would be easier than lugging the spare battery around, but would I damage the AC converter by doing that? Could I damage the DC power items on board? I believe the AC converter and charger operate off the same switch in my panel so I assume I would also have to make sure the disconnected positive terminals are not coming into contact with a ground source.

I need to replace my DVD player (DC Power) this winter, so I'd like to be able to access the DC power if possible without having to hook up the one battery bank....

Any thoughts or concerns?

 

[beachcombersc]

For many reasons, I would use a battery when possible. If you needed to get by in a jam it might not hurt anything. But to use it for other stuff would be risky for the equipment involved. Including the inverter...

 

[wingless]

Contact the charger manufacturer to solicit their input about operating their product in that abnormal condition. It's possible to cause damage, or not, depending upon the design. They would know...

 

[Novation]

Thanks for the quick responses....my gut reaction was that this is not a good idea.

 

[rondds]

I could never get my boat's 12v system to work without a battery. So now I take an old car battery down and leave it in the boat all winter. Plug into dockside power and everything works. Go figure...

 

[tobnpr]

I don't see why it wouldn't work. I recently installed a TrueCharge and it has a switchable setting to be used as a power supply, that's probably (I'm guessing) so that it will provide a constant voltage instead of it trying to sense a state of discharge for a battery and maybe varying the voltage.
Most manufacturers have their product manuals online nowadays- you might check to see if you can find it; it should answer your question.

 

[boatmailster]

I keep my boat in heated indoor storage. I have always taken the batteries out and kept them charged at home. To access the engine hatch, I take along a "spare" battery and use the cigarette lighter attachment to power the hatch.

Last year, a neighboring boat owner said he hooks up his shorepower to a 110 outlet (with the adaptor), turns on the AC converter and then has power to open his hatch and use any of the DC power items on board, even though his batteries are disconnected...

Obviously, this would be easier than lugging the spare battery around, but would I damage the AC converter by doing that? Could I damage the DC power items on board? I believe the AC converter and charger operate off the same switch in my panel so I assume I would also have to make sure the disconnected positive terminals are not coming into contact with a ground source.

I need to replace my DVD player (DC Power) this winter, so I'd like to be able to access the DC power if possible without having to hook up the one battery bank....

Any thoughts or concerns?

It may kill charger or blow fuses with heavier load. Some charger will not even "kick-in" without sensing battery on output. And one more thing. Be sure that positive and negative cables inside bilge are not touching or you will short charger output which may end-up with sparks and possible fire.