Any 310 owners install a large inverter

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Hello all,

Looking any ideas for the installation of a full boat inverter. I had been going back and forth about weather a 2000 watt inverter or a Honda 2000 watt generator was the way to go to set our boat up for our long term cruise. After spending a couple of days in Edgartown on a mooring next to a power boat that ran their generator non-stop I have decided I can't be that guy.

So some basics:

1) the main reason I want a large inverter is to run items like power tools. Running things like the TV, laptop or microwave isn't really a concern bc we will either not have those items when we leave (like the microwave) or they are already 12 volt (like the TV and laptop charger). But I would like to be able to run a corded drill, dremel, saber saw etc. Being able to use the electric kettle to boil water for coffee would be nice too but I can always use the stove for that.

2) from my research so far it seems that pure sine wave is the way to go. Please tell me if I am mistaken because the cost of modified sine wave is so much cheaper.

3) I am open to an inverter/charger combo. My current charger is slightly under sized at 40 amp. But again cost seems to be a big factor here. Combos seem to be around $2K while a straight inverter can be under $1K. I don't necessarily need to upgrade my charger because it does the job and when we leave to go cruising we will be adding solar and on the hook almost all the time.

4) my primary battery bank consists of 4 6-volt golf cart batteries for a combined 460 Ah at 12 volts. I presume this will be large enough to run power tools for a short period of time without drawing the bank down too far based on looking at the specs. But some real world data is always helpful.

5) not running AC or anything like that. Don't have it and don't want it.

So if you have any suggestions on inverters or inverter/charger combos brands, ideas on where to install one or experience in using inverters of this size I would appreciate some replies.

I am currently leaning towards the Go Power 2000-watt pure sine wave inverter due to cost. But need to do more research on the brand. We have a Go Power 300-watt modified sine wave inverter on the boat now that was installed by the PO. Has worked fine but we don't use it very much.

Thanks and fair winds,

Jesse

 

[Stu Jackson]

Jesse, good logic there. I installed a Freedom 15 combo I/C in 1998, modified sine wave. I use it for our microwave and power tools. It works just fine for those uses. I think the simplest answer is: get battery tools and a smaller inverter and be done with it. The quality of the battery powered tools has improved exponentially since 1998. It's a pain to run power cords around to use a drill, and I'm not sure what more tools one needs on a boat, other than a heat gun for wire connection heat shrink wrap! Use a cigar lighter! (Not a cig plug!). Warming water for coffee in an electrical unit makes absolutely no sense to me, and we still have CNG! I figure you have easy-to-obtain propane. As MS has said many times, putting all your eggs in one basket is not the way to go, but that said I've been happy with our combo unit. Suggestion: think about it some more and find out if you really need it. If so, I suggest separate and the pure sine wave crowd may drown me out, but...

Good luck.

PS Your battery bank is just fine. I have 390 ah, three 130 ah wet cells, just fine for 16 years.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Stu,

Sorry I wasn't more clear.

I do use cordless tools primarily but I have found somethings they just don't do as well. The corded drill is probably one I can ditch because my 12 volt lithium Makita set (drill and impact driver) has not let me down in its battery length and it's power. And this install is for when we head out cruising next year. But for gel coat repairs nothing beats my corded 6-amp rotozip with the wand (or for cleaning old brass, cutting holes in fiberglass, etc.). I also like my Bosch saber saw for all kinds of cuts from metal to wood to starboard, it's very versatile and takes up little space. As you pointed out heat guns are also nice. I don't need it for doing a few small connections but when it comes to doing battery terminals or heating up old hoses that don't want to come off their fittings it can be really helpful.

The heating water thing I know doesn't make much sense. But our boat is very open and I make a lot of noise lighting the stove and clearing off all of the stuff that's attached. So it would be more to let the wife sleep while I make coffee.

Thanks for the response.

Jesse

 

[Stu Jackson]

Jesse,

I do understand the tool thing. One thing to consider: By the time you get out there, all the holes should have been drilled. I haven't used a heat gun to remove a hose - ever. I always slice the side of the hose and pull it off, even the wire reinforced ones.

So, I guess you could figure out what the least power hungry or most power hungry tool you must have is, and size the inverter for that one. Betcha the coffee maker wins!

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

One thing to consider: By the time you get out there, all the holes should have been drilled.

Ha! I was trying for that but I don't think it will be the case. Living aboard a small boat makes some projects harder while working full time. Ones with long setup times will have to wait until either I take some vacation or we are gone. Besides, what kind of cruiser would I be if I wasn't doing boat projects along the way.

 

[Scotty C-M]

Hi Guys. I followed your logic pretty well. I just went through the same decision making process. I ended up going with a less robust unit because of cost. The KAISI 2000 true sine inverter cost me less than $500. Like you, I had a good charger (Charles 45amp) and did not want to spend the extra to buy a charger/inverter. I just got it in, so I can't give too much feedback, but at least I could warm up dinner in the microwave the other night at anchor! I agree with Stu about going with 12 volt whenever possible, and using battery powered tools. I'll be testing my unit with some saws and some battery packs just to see how it handles the load. The specs seem to indicate that there should be no problems (famous last words). Your needs and mine sound very similar, Jessie. I'll let you know how it works.

 

[rpwillia]

Spend the night at a marina?

Jesse, Instead of worrying about the bigger inverter for the rotozip, why not just spend the night in a marina? I can't imagine you will use it all that often and you can justify it as a treat with AC and such.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Jesse, Instead of worrying about the bigger inverter for the rotozip, why not just spend the night in a marina? I can't imagine you will use it all that often and you can justify it as a treat with AC and such.

I think its mainly an independence thing. We plan to cruise the US East Coast, Bahamas and Caribbean down to South America. I don't want to have to leave a nice anchorage just because I need to use a power tool for a few minutes.

Something to think about. Thanks for the reply.

JK

 

[PM in TO]

Hello All, Where did you find the best place to install your inverter?

Thanks PM

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

I installed a Xantrex Prowatt SW 2000 under the nav table. I connected it to the battery selector switch with 2/0 gauge wires.

But this is actually too far from the batteries. We get unacceptable voltage loss and can only really use the inverter in the afternoon when the sun is cranking the solar or with the motor running. It really needs to be closer to the batteries.

I recently purchased the remote panel and plan to install the inverter closer to the batteries with the remote panel and a dedicated outlet wired to the inverter. But I haven't found a good place to mount it yet.

 

[PM in TO]

Thanks JK that is really good info, as I have not bought one yet, so l will make sure I get one with a remote and place it near the battery's. How much heat does this generate? Do you think you need the 2000 watt I was thinking of the 1000 just want to run the microwave and the Admirals hair dryer, I am sure it would not be able to run the hot water heater?

Regards PM

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

A 1000 watt will probably run the microwave but not the hair dryer. Hair dryers use a good amount of power.

We haven't used the inverter for extended time periods at high load but so far it doesn't generate a lot of heat. The longest we use it for is battery charging for our vacuum or tools.

 

[PM in TO]

Thanks JK