Inverter vs generator?.

[murrayabbott]

We are trying to understand the benifies of a generator.

We are purchasing a large hunter and the dealer tells us that the inverter runnsbeverything on the boat but the air conditioner? We wave always had a generator but never an inverter so sw are not familiar with its capabilities. They said its 2000 wat.

Any experience?

 

[Scotty C-M]

The inverter is a great addition. It allows you to run 110 appliances like microwave or TV. The down side is that it uses up battery charge. The larger your battery bank, the more efficient the inverter runs. The inverter does nothing to charge batteries, in fact, you will need to keep those batteries charged (and really watch the draw of the inverter. For that reason you might need to: Charge more often at the dock, Run the engine to charge, or Run the charger (like a Honda or whatever) to keep the charge up.

 

[seadaddler]

Have Both

I have both and as already said the inverter on my boat is a inverter/charge and allows me to run my TV,Computers,Microwave and I use it a lot to make coffee,but I also have 4-6volt battery bank and you do need to charge your batteries more.
I added solar panel this year and very happy that they do keep my batteries charged so I use the Gen less but I do need to run the gen for much needed AC here in Florida and back to charge batteries and run all my 110 needs.
A Gen is all you really needed if built in,I like the inverter to make my coffee early in the morning in a anchorage and run the TV late at night too and when sailing my wife can use her ccomputer.
Nick

 

[Griffinroydonald]

Re: Have Both

Can you give details about the Solar panels? I am running two inverters and a generator for charging the battery bank.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

I have both, a 5KW generator and 2,000 watt inverter. I mostly use the generator because we like to keep our salon at 74 degrees when we are out. If it is moderate weather day, we use the inverter for all our 110 volt stuff except heat/air conditioning. You will need a good size battery bank for the house side. I have 2 4D Lifeline with just over 400 amp hrs each and use a Link 2000 to monitor the draw. You want to limit your draw down to 50% of your rated battery amps before recharging or you will have premature battery failure. I am starting my 8th season on the Lifelines, so get good batteries that can handle a lot of cycles and follow the rules and you can expect long life.

 

[soldier1964]

I have a 12volt trickle charge solar panel on 4-12volt batteries that also runs a 1500 watt inverter. the panel keeps the batteries charged up pretty well. I dont use the inverter to power anything except my laptop, coffer maker, and the little odds and ends. if I dont sail for a day( sunny sometimes), the panel will have my batteries fully charged. there is not enough room onboard for a genset.

 

[Maine Sail]

I have 2 4D Lifeline with just over 400 amp hrs each and use a Link 2000 to monitor the draw.

The Lifeline 4D's are 210Ah's each so it's really a 420Ah bank not 800Ah.. Probably a typo just wanted to make sure your Link 2K is not programmed for 800Ah, if you only have two 4D's....


For the OP - Inverters = Take
Generators = Generate

One device is a net loss on your system and those losses need to be replaced. A 2000W inverter can be pulling approx 180 - 200A from your battery bank. A properly sized generator will both charge your bank and supply you with excess power.

If yuo don't have a good way to replace the used battery capacity then an inverter is a net drain on the system..

 

[Brezzin]

Large hunters are big time energy pigs. My 49 will use between 150 to 200 amps per day. My house batteries are 3 8D at giving me about 300 usable amps. Which means I can only be on the hook for 1 night before I need to hit a connection to shore power. My generator allows me to be on the hook as long as my fuel lasts. So your talking about an inverter which is only as good as your usable amps. Two different things.

 

[seadaddler]

Power

We all use our boats differently for sure and I do use a lot of my systems on my boat and that is because I want my wife and I want to enjoy our sailboat as much and as best we can.
I am a very lucky guy to retire in Florida with a beautiful sailboat and so when out on our boat we do carry 1 dell computer and my notebook and also a tablet and 2 smartphones and TV,2 ref,microwave and more.
I have 4-6volt T-105's and 2-195 watt solar panel with blue sea charge controller and 4200 FP Gen,2000 watt inverter/charger.
I am amazed how well the solar panels keep the batteries charged way above 50%,less time needed to run the gen,we bring alot of 110 equipment and need alot of charging of my batteries