Inverters - what do people use them for?

C

chp

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Sep 13, 2010
431
Hunter 280 hamilton
I'm a fan of the inverter. Yes it is inefficient, but to have the option of 120vAC is great since I don't have power at my slip. I can use my jigsaw, soldering gun, belt sander or whatever I need. On a small boat we don't have a microwave or coffee maker, but when we go on a 1 week trip its nice to be able to watch a movie on the laptop and not worry about how to recharge it. My batteries have never been below 70% and the solar seems to recharge just fine. Our other power uses are pretty small. It does give us a big boat feel on our trailer sailor.
I also use a 120V very small but powerful vacuum to clean up. Dogs make a mess after a shore excursion and I've never found a half decent 12V vac.
Everything I use is for very brief times. I wouldn't use it to power something for a long period of time.
 
pateco

pateco

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Aug 12, 2014
2,207
Hunter 31 (1983) Pompano Beach FL
kito said:
I just read the reviews at Walmart on that percolator and you are correct. Lots of people complaining about it not perking. Their Faberware version has high marks at the same price.
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I bought mine at Wallmart, but it was not the wallmart brand, but instead a Coleman.

 
I

IH82BL8

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Feb 6, 2013
437
Hunter 31 Deale, MD
This might make you think twice about the K-cups as being better than the old standard French press.

YOU’RE DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH YOUR K-CUP COFFEE AND NESPRESSO PODS
Click to expand
We have reusable/refillable K-cups that enable us to use whatever coffee we want and the only waste is the grounds.

This is an interesting discussion. I've been looking at a bigger boat someday with consideration to using a generator at anchor. The only AC fixture/appliance that an inverter won't serve is air conditioning. So if I don't need air conditioning at anchor a generator wouldn't be necessary if I used an inverter for coffee maker and microwave (refrigeration would be 24V).
 
Doc_holiday

Doc_holiday

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Nov 19, 2011
1,489
MacGregor 26S Hampton, VA
I use my inverter to power my battery charger.
(Kidding)

Really it's there as another outlet for phone and iPad charging. I only have 1, 12v power outlet. The inverter has 2 USB ports. We keep its use to a minimum. A phone's GPS uses a lot of phone battery.

I make my coffee on a percolator on the butane stove but that's no fun when under sail and heeling. Do it at anchor or in the slip and put it in a Coleman steel thermos. It will keep coffee hot for the better part of a day if the thermos is preheated (this is key).

Now there are coffee bags which work like a tea bag but it's been years since I tried those and it doesn't solve the heating water problem.
 
uncledom

uncledom

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Jun 11, 2011
1,243
Hunter 41 Lewes
The microwave, very occasionally, and the coffee grinder so we can use the french press. (usually we grind at the dock enough for the trip but some times entertaining uses more than you planned) The Bose 123 system came with it's own inverter but when we are away from the dock our days are usually so full that we rarely watch a movie. You can definitely get away without one. This is the first boat we've owned with an inverter. Our friend uses his for making ice.
 
C

Capt jgw

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Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
About the filters, paper towel works pretty good in a pinch. (Act of desperation)
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
Try to keep everything DC. The few AC items on board are handled with the Honda 2000i. They are just occasional use items such as an electric fry pan and 9000 BTU air conditioner we use to cool off the boat on summer nights before turning it off.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
22,986
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
It has been interesting following this thread. In addition to the coffee, that is! :)

It could well be that folks with larger boats have good reason to have inverters, while skippers with smaller boats try to keep it to "all-DC."
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,164
CC 30 South Florida
For coffee I use a so called French Press; just add hot water. How you heat the water is up to you.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
22,986
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Benny, if we started a "Coffee" thread, do you think it would morph into an "inverter" discussion? :)
 
Chris & Lenore

Chris & Lenore

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Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
WOW - been away a few days and come back to lots of responses. Some were even about inverter use :)

I can see how one would be handy for my use. There are times when I need to run a "real vacuum" or some other AC device. And I can easily fire up the engine and recharge if I need to - or up my house bank capacity etc - lots of options.

That makes me think of another question. If I was going to use a fairly heavy load (on the inverter) for a lengthy period of time - couldn't I just fire up the engine? A large load (in theory) would decrease the battery voltage enough that the alternator would provide full output i.e. little draw on the batteries with the alternator supplying most of the inverter requirements. Just a thought.

Loved all the coffee comments. We sailors take our coffee seriously! I doubt a thread on rum preferences would get as may replies :)

Chris
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
I always have all three batteries turned on and the engine running when I use the windlass, so I'd assume the same could be done for the inverter- if it can handle the charging voltage. Don't have the battery CHARGER on when using Batts and inv.

A post about rum would probably morph over to coffee, too:D
 
C

chp

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Sep 13, 2010
431
Hunter 280 hamilton
I've enjoyed the coffee talk. I've just roughed it with instant the last couple of years. Think I will look into the percolator method. Maybe another thread should be started for coffee. I don't like presses. I always end up with grounds and mud .
 
uncledom

uncledom

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Jun 11, 2011
1,243
Hunter 41 Lewes
Showed this to the admiral, she says she's getting a manual grinder for the beans for the french press. So now I really don't need the inverter! Chris, interested in a used inverter? Just kidding. ;)
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
chp said:
...Think I will look into the percolator method. ...
I have the 8-cup SS percolater for the propane stove. I premeasure the coffe at home, premeasure the water to 8 cups. Add a filter, bring to a perk then lower the flame so it just perks for 5 minutes. The crew always comments on how good it is.
Click to expand
Click to expand
 
Doc_holiday

Doc_holiday

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Nov 19, 2011
1,489
MacGregor 26S Hampton, VA
For what it's worth. For a french press or a percolator you need pretty course ground. Don't go buy a pound of ground Starbucks and expect not to have grounds. I darn near chewed the last few batches.
 
G

gettinthere

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Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
The Aero Press is a MUCH improved version of a french press. We hated the french press, we love the Aero Press. And everywhere a coffee thread comes up theres always Aero Press lovers and never Aero Press complaints.
Makes grsat coffee and minimal clean up is perfect for the boat.
We use the ground coffees found in the grocery from Duncan or New England or 8 oclock or whatever looks good
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Doc_holiday said:
... percolator you need pretty course ground. Don't go buy a pound of ground Starbucks and expect not to have grounds. ...
Click to expand
For the boat percolator I use whatever I have at home for the Mr Coffee.
 
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