Power Inverters

[Doug]

Has anyone out there had any experience with Power Inverters. Seems like a better idea than a generator.

 

[Richard Owen]

Inverters/Generators

I don't really think that an inverter can be compared to a generator. Even though they both produce 110V power, they really perform 2 different functions. we have both on our boat. The inverter allows us to use 110V appliances from battery power but keep in mind that this is power which must be renewed at some time. The point of a generator, in my opinion, is that it provides 110V power and charges batteries at the same time. I measure it's value in the amount of time I don't have to run the main diesel. This is good for the deisel because it doesn't spend endless hours running at low RPM, it's good for us because we don't have to listen to it (the genset is much quieter). It's also good because we can sail whenever we want to. Before the generator, we would often run the motor because we needed the power. So, I think they are answers to different questions. Perhaps for a smaller boat with little power draw it isn't as big a problem, and the inverter is sure a lot cheaper.One caution - when you get an inverter, there is a tendency to add more power hungry gear to use with it. This means running down the batteries quicker, and therefore more charging time. It may be better to do better power management with 12V systems. My .02 worthROwenMikayla

 

[Pete Vente]

Inverters vs generators

Inverters run off of your batteries, and really can't be used to run high power items such as air-conditioners. If you don't have such items, an inverter is a good choice, as long as you are aware that you will have to recharge the batteries (as in Richard's post). The go-between here is to use your diesel as a generator. There are some products that can produce AC power from your diesel, even though your diesel runs at varying RPM's. They are expensive, however (like generators), and you will generally spend far less on an inverter than on a generator.