I currently have a Hunter 326 with a 12000 BTU air conditioner and a Honda EU-2000i (1600/2000-watt) Portable Generator. (The Air works great with the generator) I am purchasing a new Hunter 36 with a 16000 BTU air conditioner. I have been told the "Start" current on the new 16000 BTU air conditioner will be too much for the Honda Generator - but the "Run" current is fine. A larger generator is not practical. Any Suggestions? Is the "StatPower ProSine 3.0" a possible solution for my problem? Thanks, Harry
- Status
One Opinion...
...that the more skilled electrical heads on this board can true up... I think if you install an inverter that has a power-share feature, the start-up load will hit the batteries and keep the 2000 from overloading. Rick D.
...that the more skilled electrical heads on this board can true up... I think if you install an inverter that has a power-share feature, the start-up load will hit the batteries and keep the 2000 from overloading. Rick D.
What I did for my home heat pump to run on a
back up generator is to install a hard start capacitor kit. (mine has three now) they dump their stored power into the demand device that they are wired to. You can't have too many. It's just like Star Wars. (space based lasers, not the movie) And cost wise, $25-$30 each, depending. Check granger or any HVAC shop.
back up generator is to install a hard start capacitor kit. (mine has three now) they dump their stored power into the demand device that they are wired to. You can't have too many. It's just like Star Wars. (space based lasers, not the movie) And cost wise, $25-$30 each, depending. Check granger or any HVAC shop.
I like inverters
I would go the inverter route. you get two additional benefits; 1, you can have ac power without running the generator all the time(like making a pot of coffee,etc.)this is great when you need AC for a short period of time and don't want to listen to a genset. 2,when you run the generator, you will also be charging your battery bank. a good inverter like the prosine or xantrex will help you with your starting inrush current on your AC, and once your air conditioner is started it will use any extra available juice from your generator to charge your batteries.
I would go the inverter route. you get two additional benefits; 1, you can have ac power without running the generator all the time(like making a pot of coffee,etc.)this is great when you need AC for a short period of time and don't want to listen to a genset. 2,when you run the generator, you will also be charging your battery bank. a good inverter like the prosine or xantrex will help you with your starting inrush current on your AC, and once your air conditioner is started it will use any extra available juice from your generator to charge your batteries.
Good idea Ross
My Prosine will start that AC unit on it's own. (2.0) and it has a 100 amp charger that will only use the juice left over from the generator. I don't use it for AC because mine is engine driven. And all 'change over' is automatic. My boat is on AC all the time. Ok Harry, now, how cold is your beer? Don't you like the way we spend your money?
My Prosine will start that AC unit on it's own. (2.0) and it has a 100 amp charger that will only use the juice left over from the generator. I don't use it for AC because mine is engine driven. And all 'change over' is automatic. My boat is on AC all the time. Ok Harry, now, how cold is your beer? Don't you like the way we spend your money?
this was a great thread
A lot said by a few with good knowledge. the last time we went thru this there was a ton of reasons why it is impossible. I like the way you guys think.
A lot said by a few with good knowledge. the last time we went thru this there was a ton of reasons why it is impossible. I like the way you guys think.
A Possible Wiring Diagram???
I have included a possible wiring drawing in this response. Can you tell me if I'm the right track. The Blue part of the drawing would be the changes I would make in the wiring. Thanks, Harry
I have included a possible wiring drawing in this response. Can you tell me if I'm the right track. The Blue part of the drawing would be the changes I would make in the wiring. Thanks, Harry
Attachments
Harry
you have more switching circuits in the photo than you need. also there is a possibility of your inverter backfeeding your shore power if you flip the wrong switches in the wrong order! (very bad)a xantrex/trace inverter does the switching between your generator and shore power for you. It also syncronises its output waveform to your ac input either from your genset or shore power. I'm not sure about the prosine, but I would imagine it would also. send me your email address and i will look into this tomorrow and send you a diagram of how they should be hooked up. ross@sunlightmtn.com
you have more switching circuits in the photo than you need. also there is a possibility of your inverter backfeeding your shore power if you flip the wrong switches in the wrong order! (very bad)a xantrex/trace inverter does the switching between your generator and shore power for you. It also syncronises its output waveform to your ac input either from your genset or shore power. I'm not sure about the prosine, but I would imagine it would also. send me your email address and i will look into this tomorrow and send you a diagram of how they should be hooked up. ross@sunlightmtn.com
Wow Harry, that's complex.
The Prosine auto switches too and syncs back to shore power or a generator when present. It is really simple for just what you want to do. It will come to you in a box, you read the manual, (lots there) and follow the straightforward wiring as if you are powering your entire vessel for AC power. YOU ARE. When it's in, plug in the generator to the shore power inlet, or what ever works for you, and turn on the Air. If the Prosine has to start the Air, just start the generator after the Air is up.(don't plug it in until the generator is stable, about 20-30 seconds) Change over is automatic and seamless. Cool setup. How's the beer?
The Prosine auto switches too and syncs back to shore power or a generator when present. It is really simple for just what you want to do. It will come to you in a box, you read the manual, (lots there) and follow the straightforward wiring as if you are powering your entire vessel for AC power. YOU ARE. When it's in, plug in the generator to the shore power inlet, or what ever works for you, and turn on the Air. If the Prosine has to start the Air, just start the generator after the Air is up.(don't plug it in until the generator is stable, about 20-30 seconds) Change over is automatic and seamless. Cool setup. How's the beer?
more on inverters
Attatched is a sketch of how I would recommend wiring it. this way the AC-1 breaker has 3 potential AC sources, the shore power cord, the generator, or the inverter. 1. If you are hooked to shore power, the shore power source will handle any startup surges your air conditioning may require.Any "left over" AC input from the shore power will be used by the inverters internal battery charger and sent to the battery bank. 2. If you running your 2KW generator into the shore power 1 input it will power any AC loads on your system. when your air conditioning kicks in, the voltage from your generator will drop below the inverter cutout range and the inverter will disconnect the generator and supply the necessary AC current needed to start your air conditioner (or any other high starting AC current for that matter). this will happen in less than 100milliseconds and you will never notice it. once the air conditioner is up to speed and the current requirements are lowered the inverter will re-sync with the generator switch back over to generator input. Any "left over" AC input from the generator will be used by the inverters internal battery charger and sent to the battery bank. 3. If you don't have your generator running and are not hooked up to shore power the inverter will supply your AC-1 breaker to power any AC loads. This is convenient to run a microwave, electric shaver, etc. for a short period of time without listening to a 2 KW noisemaker to achieve this. A few things to keep in mind when using an inverter; When you are not running your generator or hooked to shore power turn off the inverter when you are not using any AC. the inverter itself draws about 16 watts of dc power when "idling" and will draw on your batteries. A 3KW freedom inverter is capable of supplying up to 75 amps at 120Volts AC for starting surges. this translates to 750 amps at 12VDC for a very short period of time. the maximum continuous draw of this inverter is about 250 amps. Size your DC wiring according to manufacturers specs and electrical codes for the application. Make sure you use overcurrent protection devices that are rated for Direct Current. there is a big difference between DC and AC circuit breaker ratings. I use a fuseable link at the battery for my installations. This is sort of the last defense against a short circuit in the DC side of the equation and will isolate all of the DC wiring. I once saw the aftermath of a dead short in a off grid home power system using a 800 amp hour 24 volt system with no protection. Looked like a bomb went off in the power room. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions. Ross
Attatched is a sketch of how I would recommend wiring it. this way the AC-1 breaker has 3 potential AC sources, the shore power cord, the generator, or the inverter. 1. If you are hooked to shore power, the shore power source will handle any startup surges your air conditioning may require.Any "left over" AC input from the shore power will be used by the inverters internal battery charger and sent to the battery bank. 2. If you running your 2KW generator into the shore power 1 input it will power any AC loads on your system. when your air conditioning kicks in, the voltage from your generator will drop below the inverter cutout range and the inverter will disconnect the generator and supply the necessary AC current needed to start your air conditioner (or any other high starting AC current for that matter). this will happen in less than 100milliseconds and you will never notice it. once the air conditioner is up to speed and the current requirements are lowered the inverter will re-sync with the generator switch back over to generator input. Any "left over" AC input from the generator will be used by the inverters internal battery charger and sent to the battery bank. 3. If you don't have your generator running and are not hooked up to shore power the inverter will supply your AC-1 breaker to power any AC loads. This is convenient to run a microwave, electric shaver, etc. for a short period of time without listening to a 2 KW noisemaker to achieve this. A few things to keep in mind when using an inverter; When you are not running your generator or hooked to shore power turn off the inverter when you are not using any AC. the inverter itself draws about 16 watts of dc power when "idling" and will draw on your batteries. A 3KW freedom inverter is capable of supplying up to 75 amps at 120Volts AC for starting surges. this translates to 750 amps at 12VDC for a very short period of time. the maximum continuous draw of this inverter is about 250 amps. Size your DC wiring according to manufacturers specs and electrical codes for the application. Make sure you use overcurrent protection devices that are rated for Direct Current. there is a big difference between DC and AC circuit breaker ratings. I use a fuseable link at the battery for my installations. This is sort of the last defense against a short circuit in the DC side of the equation and will isolate all of the DC wiring. I once saw the aftermath of a dead short in a off grid home power system using a 800 amp hour 24 volt system with no protection. Looked like a bomb went off in the power room. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions. Ross
Attachments
Ross, proof positive, a picture is worth a
thousand words. Good job. Simple, easy, to the point. Harry, I bought my Prosine here. http://www.vitmarine.com/index.html Great price. Be sure to say Hi to Everette for me. (call him, lots of their stuff isn't listed on line)
One problem with getting a good price though, is that xantrex owns EVERYBODY! Last year, they bought up Freedom too. xantrex is a Canadian company so that might be how they got away with it. P.S. and if you really want a cold boat, these inverters can be stacked to make 220vac.
thousand words. Good job. Simple, easy, to the point. Harry, I bought my Prosine here. http://www.vitmarine.com/index.html Great price. Be sure to say Hi to Everette for me. (call him, lots of their stuff isn't listed on line)
One problem with getting a good price though, is that xantrex owns EVERYBODY! Last year, they bought up Freedom too. xantrex is a Canadian company so that might be how they got away with it. P.S. and if you really want a cold boat, these inverters can be stacked to make 220vac.- Status