inverter

[Michel16055]

Hello,

I want to purchase a power inverter for my 1987 O'Day 302.
After surfing the net, I've realized that there are quite a few to choose from.
I guess my demands are that it charges the battery while I'm on shore power.(simple enough)
Also, is the pure sine power inverter better and easier to install?
Which way to go and which one to choose.
Any and all suggestions welcomed.
Thanks
Michel

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

couple of comments

Michel
An inverter doesn't charge the battery; it converts 12 VDC to 110VAC. If in fact you want an inverter which also charges, there are combination inverter/chargers about which others here who have them will hopefully provide comments on their experience.

More fundamantally, choosing an inverter is primarily a function of two criteria - how much power you need to run whatever you plan on using
and how large your battery bank is which can limit the inverter size.


Whether or not the inverter you choose generates a pure sine wave has nothing to do with ease of installation. Rather, the choice of a sine wave inverter is based soley on what you plan to run with it. Most electronics and appliances don't require a pure sine wave to operate properly.

You might get more informed responses to your questions if you could provide the above info on what you are planning to use it for and how big a bank you have.

 

[sailaway78]

First an inverter will not charge your battery. To do that you need an inverter/charger combination unit. As for the pure sine wave ones, depends on what you want to run off of it. If you don't want to run sensitive electronics, then you don't need one.

 

[KathyL]

Good Old Boat...

...had an article about just this topic in the latest issue. Even "I" understood it and I'm an idiot when it comes to electricity.

 

[Stu Jackson]

There's good info about chargers and inverters

at West Marine's online Advisors and in their catalogs. Might help to read up on what they say, they cover it very well.