Is Inverter Worth The Hassle?

[seadaddler]

Love it

I ordered an inverter charger on my 2007 H-36 and love for watching the TV at night in an anchorage with no noise and my two 4 D's still 50% charged,I also use my inverter to make coffee with my drip pot early in the morning with out waking other boats in the anchorage,I use the microwave and many other 120 volt tools appliances,but I also have a 4200 pander diesel gen to recharge the batteries when needed or run every thing above off the Gen including the AC and hot water.
I think an inverter on board is great and my wife loves it and any kind of Gen would really be a plus.

 

[larryw]

All, it's the Xantrex I/C that has the equalize function, not the Honda. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[John]

equalizing

for those of you who use battery powered tools (drills, etc.) - most manufacturers recommend that you equalize the batteries every so many (5-7) charges. This means charging them for about 12 hours. Of course, as good American, none of us ever reads the manuals! In my case, it was my wife who caught this - and she's German. (That's my excuse for knowing what was in the manual, and I'm sticking to it.)

 

[catsailor]

Is the hot water propane or electric?

I have a Xantrex 1000 watt inverter. It came new in the box with our 94 Hunter Vision 36. It is about a 2003 model.

The electrician that is working with me on my boat says I'll have to upgrade my batteries and pull some more wire to the panel and other things. About a $ 1,500. piece of work, (not including the cost of the inverter).

Is it worth it to have 110 volts away from the dock? The only thing I would miss is hot showers.

Though mine is propane, I need 110v for the controls - very little.

Really, unless you want a lot of power, a gen set, and all of that, a small inverter is fine, BUT it will only supply power for small items, rechargers, and controls. For me, that is plenty. Coffee is with a gas stove. The frig is propane (needs a little 12v for a fan). All of your propane takes a little 12v for the solenoid and monitor. The only thing I can't run on just a little ac juice is the air conditioner. I have a micro wave, and my inverter will run it, but I use the stove much more and wouldn't miss it.

 

[zeehag]

uses for invertor---laptop. vacuum cleaner, charge tools, charge phones....little things that mean soooo much...didnt think i wanted one--but they do help...sun heats water...propane heats coffee----and i live on board lol......