Am considering installing a stereo CD player/receiver in my 30 footer. Am currently using two 6 volt golf cart batteries in series for house power. I don't neccesarily use the boom box much while sailing but do like some music while at anchor. I have looked at marine stereos and 600 watt inverters hard wired in. I'm not looking, at this time, to install a charger/inverter. While the difference in cost of the stereo vs. inverter vs. keeping the boom box is not neccesarily the deciding factor(although burning through disposible batteries can run into some bucks after awhile), I don't want to spend $$ on something that is really going to be useless. While an inverter would give me the option of using some other 110v. device on occasion, is this really an added advantage? I've scoured the archives and didn't find exactly the advice I'm looking for. Any thoughts / advice on this would be most appreciated. Roland S/V Fraulein II
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Inverter needed?
Probably not. My boat came with a Heart 2000W(Freedom 20) inverter/charger. The real value is that it is an excellent 3-stage charger. But I almost never run 110AC appliances away from the dock. The occasional exception is if the admiral needs hot water and can't wait for the engine to heat the water. And sometimes we need more light for shaving or reading, the bright lamps are 110v. It is also useful if you have battery operated tools with the 110v chargers. But I bought the 12V marine version for AM/FM/CD, around $110. I think. Love those cockpit speakers!
Probably not. My boat came with a Heart 2000W(Freedom 20) inverter/charger. The real value is that it is an excellent 3-stage charger. But I almost never run 110AC appliances away from the dock. The occasional exception is if the admiral needs hot water and can't wait for the engine to heat the water. And sometimes we need more light for shaving or reading, the bright lamps are 110v. It is also useful if you have battery operated tools with the 110v chargers. But I bought the 12V marine version for AM/FM/CD, around $110. I think. Love those cockpit speakers!
Auto Type Stereo!
Roland: There are plenty of the 12 VDC auto type stereos on the market. They do not bleed the batteries too bad (AM/FM). Of course if you use a tape player that may be a different matter (don't know about CD's). My experience has been so so with Automotive units. Had 2 that only lasted until the warranty was up. Then I got one of the West Marine units and wish it would die (Wifey wants a CD player too). Cannot tell you how long we have had it but 5-6 years sound about right. Some of the nice units have a remote control so you can adjust from the cockpit (nice, instead of yelling over the wind AND music both). I have a small inverter that I run my laptop off of. It just plugs into a 12 volt receptical near the nav. station. I have only used it once or twice for anything else. I prefer to have everything run off of 12VDC if possible. Makes life easier when we leave the dock. Anything that runs off of an inverter is going to loose some efficency so if you can get DC appliances I think you are better off (if applicable).
Roland: There are plenty of the 12 VDC auto type stereos on the market. They do not bleed the batteries too bad (AM/FM). Of course if you use a tape player that may be a different matter (don't know about CD's). My experience has been so so with Automotive units. Had 2 that only lasted until the warranty was up. Then I got one of the West Marine units and wish it would die (Wifey wants a CD player too). Cannot tell you how long we have had it but 5-6 years sound about right. Some of the nice units have a remote control so you can adjust from the cockpit (nice, instead of yelling over the wind AND music both). I have a small inverter that I run my laptop off of. It just plugs into a 12 volt receptical near the nav. station. I have only used it once or twice for anything else. I prefer to have everything run off of 12VDC if possible. Makes life easier when we leave the dock. Anything that runs off of an inverter is going to loose some efficency so if you can get DC appliances I think you are better off (if applicable).
Is it possible I agree with Steve?
Oddly enough on this I agree with what Steve has said. I'm moored in a lagoon with no power or water. I stick to 12 volt because it's easy and I don't have to worry too much about charging the batteries. Our normal 20 minute run out to the bay has always seemed to be enough for to keep the batteries up. I installed a car stereo that had been in a car I got rid of. Basic $100 JVC with tape. 4 speakers installed invisably in the cockpit and 2 more installed invisably in the interior. Works just dandy with plenty of power for the way we listen and I've never been able to see that it was draining the batteries. (There will be a Photo Forum on this some day REAL SOON.) While this unit is just fine, like Steve I'm waiting for it to die so I can put in a new one with CD and a remote. Boy did I laugh at those new ones with remote when they started coming out! Too much effort to reach over to the Stereo? But on the boat it's a little different. I could operate the stereo from the wheel so my wife won't have to turn and lift her arm to change the station! If you get one of the higher end ones you can even tap in the output from other on board items like a tv. And it sure beats having a big boom box slamming around the cabin when the weather gets fun.
Oddly enough on this I agree with what Steve has said. I'm moored in a lagoon with no power or water. I stick to 12 volt because it's easy and I don't have to worry too much about charging the batteries. Our normal 20 minute run out to the bay has always seemed to be enough for to keep the batteries up. I installed a car stereo that had been in a car I got rid of. Basic $100 JVC with tape. 4 speakers installed invisably in the cockpit and 2 more installed invisably in the interior. Works just dandy with plenty of power for the way we listen and I've never been able to see that it was draining the batteries. (There will be a Photo Forum on this some day REAL SOON.) While this unit is just fine, like Steve I'm waiting for it to die so I can put in a new one with CD and a remote. Boy did I laugh at those new ones with remote when they started coming out! Too much effort to reach over to the Stereo? But on the boat it's a little different. I could operate the stereo from the wheel so my wife won't have to turn and lift her arm to change the station! If you get one of the higher end ones you can even tap in the output from other on board items like a tv. And it sure beats having a big boom box slamming around the cabin when the weather gets fun.
120VAC/12Vdc Mini-Shelf /Aiwa system
An alternative to an inverter run stereo system is a dual powered mini-shelf system. I installed an Aiwa LCX-350 shelf system on my H-310. This system had both cassette and CD with a remote control and supports multiple speaker sets, i.e. cockpit and/or salon. This shelf system is both AC and DC powered. It runs on 12Vdc away from the marina and 120Vac when hooked up to shore power. I wired this through a standard 115Vac relay that has a Normally Open (N.O.) and normally closed (N.C) set of contacts. The N.C. set feeds the stereo 12Vdc and the N.O. set feeds the stereo 120Vac and is only energized when 120Vac shore power is present. Another feature that the shelf-type stereo has that I couldn't find at the time in a marine or car stereo was an Aux input. This has allowed me to run my Laptop's line output, portable Sonic Blue SP-250 MP3 player's output, VHF radio's output, and T.V.'s sound output to the stereo where I can remotely select it. I can now sail 15 hours listening to non-repeating non-skipping MP3 music. Love those gadgets...
An alternative to an inverter run stereo system is a dual powered mini-shelf system. I installed an Aiwa LCX-350 shelf system on my H-310. This system had both cassette and CD with a remote control and supports multiple speaker sets, i.e. cockpit and/or salon. This shelf system is both AC and DC powered. It runs on 12Vdc away from the marina and 120Vac when hooked up to shore power. I wired this through a standard 115Vac relay that has a Normally Open (N.O.) and normally closed (N.C) set of contacts. The N.C. set feeds the stereo 12Vdc and the N.O. set feeds the stereo 120Vac and is only energized when 120Vac shore power is present. Another feature that the shelf-type stereo has that I couldn't find at the time in a marine or car stereo was an Aux input. This has allowed me to run my Laptop's line output, portable Sonic Blue SP-250 MP3 player's output, VHF radio's output, and T.V.'s sound output to the stereo where I can remotely select it. I can now sail 15 hours listening to non-repeating non-skipping MP3 music. Love those gadgets...
Go with the Car Stereo
We bought a new C-36 in 2001 and had to outfit it. Catalina wanted about a grand for a stereo. We installed a JVC AM/FM/CD down in the salon. It has a remote that we use from the cockpit. We used fairly highend bookshelf speakers on mounting brackets in the salon and the Poly Planar Platinum series in the cockpit. The system sounds great for reasonably low cost, about 400 bucks. I did install an inverter for the TV/VCR and we can watch that on battery power for hours without a problem. If I had to do it over again I'd do the same with one exception. BUY A MULTI-DISK UNIT! I'm actually installing a DVD player this spring because that's what we're buying now and thier so compact. You can carry 50 movies on vacation in a little pouch. Regards, Chris
We bought a new C-36 in 2001 and had to outfit it. Catalina wanted about a grand for a stereo. We installed a JVC AM/FM/CD down in the salon. It has a remote that we use from the cockpit. We used fairly highend bookshelf speakers on mounting brackets in the salon and the Poly Planar Platinum series in the cockpit. The system sounds great for reasonably low cost, about 400 bucks. I did install an inverter for the TV/VCR and we can watch that on battery power for hours without a problem. If I had to do it over again I'd do the same with one exception. BUY A MULTI-DISK UNIT! I'm actually installing a DVD player this spring because that's what we're buying now and thier so compact. You can carry 50 movies on vacation in a little pouch. Regards, Chris
Water tight Marine stereo.....
It's a little damp inside the boat. A home unit will work for a while. A car unit will work longer (maybe years) but a full-up marine unit will give you the best service. I'd like to use a nice little Sony I've got in the home office but after doing a lot of re-wiring this fall (a lot of corrosion), I'm going to stick to marine grade stuff and that also means the TV will not stay on the boat.
It's a little damp inside the boat. A home unit will work for a while. A car unit will work longer (maybe years) but a full-up marine unit will give you the best service. I'd like to use a nice little Sony I've got in the home office but after doing a lot of re-wiring this fall (a lot of corrosion), I'm going to stick to marine grade stuff and that also means the TV will not stay on the boat.
Water Tight?
I had a "Marine" stereo on the boat and it died after about 3 years. Then I got a "Pioneer" or some other midrange unit it lasted about 3-4 years. Regardless of water tight or not the cassett or CD players are going to have problems after a period of time given the right conditions. My last purchase was one of the West Marine brands ($160) and it has lasted OK. Not the best sound but keeps on tickin'. I think that the best unit is one that has a constant power line to the radio (keeps memory and clock always on). This provide just a little heat to help keep the unit warm and help prevents corrosion. I am not endorsing any brand. I think if you have a dehumifying fan or some regular air circulation on board it will help too. Anything that help prevent a buildup of condensation you are going to be better off.
I had a "Marine" stereo on the boat and it died after about 3 years. Then I got a "Pioneer" or some other midrange unit it lasted about 3-4 years. Regardless of water tight or not the cassett or CD players are going to have problems after a period of time given the right conditions. My last purchase was one of the West Marine brands ($160) and it has lasted OK. Not the best sound but keeps on tickin'. I think that the best unit is one that has a constant power line to the radio (keeps memory and clock always on). This provide just a little heat to help keep the unit warm and help prevents corrosion. I am not endorsing any brand. I think if you have a dehumifying fan or some regular air circulation on board it will help too. Anything that help prevent a buildup of condensation you are going to be better off.
Climate is Critical
I suspect that your climate will dictate that you go with a higher quality marine radio. A warm, saltwater environment is going to be the toughest on your equipment. I'm not sure why, but I've never had the problems that Steve has had with automotive products and we're only 15 mi or so apart and are both in freshwater.
I suspect that your climate will dictate that you go with a higher quality marine radio. A warm, saltwater environment is going to be the toughest on your equipment. I'm not sure why, but I've never had the problems that Steve has had with automotive products and we're only 15 mi or so apart and are both in freshwater.
Bob!
Could it be that we have 3 times the wind and 2 times the fog as Stockton <g>? All of that difference and only a 30 min drive!
Could it be that we have 3 times the wind and 2 times the fog as Stockton <g>? All of that difference and only a 30 min drive!
Inverters at best is 95% efficiency
I have a 320 with a 1500 watt inverter. I notice that at anchor and nothing connected to the inverter it will draw down one of my batteries quicker than running a 12 volt radio, tape player, or CD with 6 CD holder in the same time frame. But the inverter has its pluses like microwave oven,rechargeable flash lights, small fans 110 ac hair dryer for the women,TV, etc. Usually 110 volt appliances cost less than 12 volt stuff also. Auto type stereo equipment also cost less than marine grade plus with the way electronic change daily you might want to replace them fairly often. Hope this helped. Rick Belew s/v Yes Yes Yes
I have a 320 with a 1500 watt inverter. I notice that at anchor and nothing connected to the inverter it will draw down one of my batteries quicker than running a 12 volt radio, tape player, or CD with 6 CD holder in the same time frame. But the inverter has its pluses like microwave oven,rechargeable flash lights, small fans 110 ac hair dryer for the women,TV, etc. Usually 110 volt appliances cost less than 12 volt stuff also. Auto type stereo equipment also cost less than marine grade plus with the way electronic change daily you might want to replace them fairly often. Hope this helped. Rick Belew s/v Yes Yes Yes
small inverters
Last year I bought a $40 300 watt inverter sort of on an impulse for my kid's Nintendo game. It's great for that and maybe a laptop but not much more. Your talking about a 600 watt and while that's an improvement it really doesn't add alot of capability. If it's music your interested in, stick with a 12 volt system, if your going to go with an inverter anything under 1000 watts (microwave) size is just a stop gap measure that might leave you wishing you had spent a few more bucks.
Last year I bought a $40 300 watt inverter sort of on an impulse for my kid's Nintendo game. It's great for that and maybe a laptop but not much more. Your talking about a 600 watt and while that's an improvement it really doesn't add alot of capability. If it's music your interested in, stick with a 12 volt system, if your going to go with an inverter anything under 1000 watts (microwave) size is just a stop gap measure that might leave you wishing you had spent a few more bucks.
Justification Ideas
Here are my thoughts, Roland. My disclosure information is that we have a 1000W Hart on our H-35 which was installed after we had the boat for five years. 1. Low power uses include charging batteries for the cell phone, digital camera (uses four metal-halides) and the like. 2. Slightly higher power consumption uses include the stereo, coffee bean grinder (which is what the inverter was installed for!), two 110v halogen lights (these cost $6 ea. at Eagle Hardware) and are really neat for reading and general mood lighting. In the northwest they provide some real white light vice the yellowish light of tungsten lights which makes the salon more chearful on these rainy and overcast days. 3. At still a higher power level we run a small vacuum cleaner and a 650W microwave (but only at 70 to 80 percent power level). Don't know if it's an inverter, microwave, or wiring problem but the microwave really tasks the inverter hence the reduced load for operating. 4. One of the real benefits of the inverter, though, is for charging the batteries (four golf carts and a group 27 start battery). It has a three-step charger built-in and properly charges the batteries which are now 8 years old. After being on the hook for a few days it's great to go to a marina for a night and suck up their power to charge the batteries! The 50 amp charging capability of the inverter is really helpful to the batteries to avoid sulfation and make them last longer. Even a small inverter, if it has a three step charger, should help the batteries somewhat for toping them off. Use of small appliances would be a fringe benefit.
Here are my thoughts, Roland. My disclosure information is that we have a 1000W Hart on our H-35 which was installed after we had the boat for five years. 1. Low power uses include charging batteries for the cell phone, digital camera (uses four metal-halides) and the like. 2. Slightly higher power consumption uses include the stereo, coffee bean grinder (which is what the inverter was installed for!), two 110v halogen lights (these cost $6 ea. at Eagle Hardware) and are really neat for reading and general mood lighting. In the northwest they provide some real white light vice the yellowish light of tungsten lights which makes the salon more chearful on these rainy and overcast days. 3. At still a higher power level we run a small vacuum cleaner and a 650W microwave (but only at 70 to 80 percent power level). Don't know if it's an inverter, microwave, or wiring problem but the microwave really tasks the inverter hence the reduced load for operating. 4. One of the real benefits of the inverter, though, is for charging the batteries (four golf carts and a group 27 start battery). It has a three-step charger built-in and properly charges the batteries which are now 8 years old. After being on the hook for a few days it's great to go to a marina for a night and suck up their power to charge the batteries! The 50 amp charging capability of the inverter is really helpful to the batteries to avoid sulfation and make them last longer. Even a small inverter, if it has a three step charger, should help the batteries somewhat for toping them off. Use of small appliances would be a fringe benefit.
I have had very good luck.....
....with the system I cobbled together over the years. The Stereo AM/FM Cassette is a Cybernet (very high end marine stuff, in its day), that I bought used, off a cruiser for $90 dollars, some twelve years ago. I added a pair of closeout Cybernet speakers for another forty dollars. Since then, I added an Alpine 6-CD changer, with remote, that works through the FM input on the Cybernet. I have an AC/DC Panasonic TV and a 12 volt Zenith (!!) VCR. DVD and MP3 players are in the (near?) future. The youngest member of this team is four years old, and all function perfectly (until tonight, when I will probably find that, overcome by my braggging, all have given up the ghost simultaneously). I wonder if my luck has anything to do with the fact that much of it always has a little current flowing, or that I live aboard and thus use everything a lot? By the way, I originally optimized my boat for 12 volts, but have since given in to a 1700 watt microwave that is useful in numerous ways, although I still favor as much 12 volt stuff as possible.
....with the system I cobbled together over the years. The Stereo AM/FM Cassette is a Cybernet (very high end marine stuff, in its day), that I bought used, off a cruiser for $90 dollars, some twelve years ago. I added a pair of closeout Cybernet speakers for another forty dollars. Since then, I added an Alpine 6-CD changer, with remote, that works through the FM input on the Cybernet. I have an AC/DC Panasonic TV and a 12 volt Zenith (!!) VCR. DVD and MP3 players are in the (near?) future. The youngest member of this team is four years old, and all function perfectly (until tonight, when I will probably find that, overcome by my braggging, all have given up the ghost simultaneously). I wonder if my luck has anything to do with the fact that much of it always has a little current flowing, or that I live aboard and thus use everything a lot? By the way, I originally optimized my boat for 12 volts, but have since given in to a 1700 watt microwave that is useful in numerous ways, although I still favor as much 12 volt stuff as possible.
Low power converters (600 Watt)
Hi, I purchased a 300 W, inverter at Walmart for about $30 to have in my car for variuos needs. It has worked great for charging my cordless drill on the way to the boat and similar uses. It plugs in to the cigarette lighter. I have purchased a similar 600W unit for the boat, but have not yet used it, yet. This is to have handy for boom box, Kid's Nintendo and small appliances. Try harborfreight.com for some good deals on this type of stuff. Fair winds, Tom
Hi, I purchased a 300 W, inverter at Walmart for about $30 to have in my car for variuos needs. It has worked great for charging my cordless drill on the way to the boat and similar uses. It plugs in to the cigarette lighter. I have purchased a similar 600W unit for the boat, but have not yet used it, yet. This is to have handy for boom box, Kid's Nintendo and small appliances. Try harborfreight.com for some good deals on this type of stuff. Fair winds, Tom
Inverters
I have heard that only the most expensive inverters are acceptable for audio stereos. something about needing a perfect sine wave or something to put out quality sound. Stick with stereos that are designed for 12 volts. They will cost less, use less power, and take up less room!
I have heard that only the most expensive inverters are acceptable for audio stereos. something about needing a perfect sine wave or something to put out quality sound. Stick with stereos that are designed for 12 volts. They will cost less, use less power, and take up less room!
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