Xantrex Freedom HF 1800 Inverter/Charger

[Euphoria2011]

I have a 83 Oday 28 with 2 deep cycle marine batteries (2 ea Interstate SRM-27B battery) that are selectable through a Perko ON/OFF/ALL selector switch to power the DC buss and for engine cranking power.

I wanted to install a medium size DC inverter to have a source of AC while
underway. I bought a Xantrex Freedom HF 1800 Inverter/Charger.

Shortly after the purchase I realized that this unit is a charger as well as an inverter AND I am faced with an issue.

Problem is, I already had a Promariner 1220i charger installed and
connected to both batteries for charging while shore power is
connected.

My thoughts were to remove battery one (1) from the Promariner
charging circuit and reconfigure the battery system wiring to have
battery 1 to feed the inverter and then that Xantrex inverter would
provide charging power to it.

Leave battery 2 on the Promariner charger. (20 amp charger)

The nice thing is that the Xantrex Freedom HF 1800 is configurable to
provide 2, 10, 20 or 40 amps of charging current so I can set it to 20
to keep both battery charging balanced.

Option 3 would be to add a third battery dedicated to the inverter and add it to the alternator charging circuit?

Your thoughts?

 

[RAD]

Keep it simple as possible
I would remove your old charger and sell it on EBay or Craig's List then after installing the new Inverter/Charger I would only use it while the engine is running cause it will drag down a battery pretty quick
I have a 1800 watt inverter and only use it when I need to microwave something or when my kids want to watch TV while were motoring, to charge something small like a cell phone or laptop I use a cigarette lighter type inverter

 

[Stu Jackson]

That's a very GOOD piece of equipment you now have.

I urge you to carefully STUDY all of the different wiring options in the 1800 Manual. "AC IN to I/C FIRST then to AC panel," is a good start, since the unit has an automatic transfer switch.

If it has an echo charger built in, you should be in heaven! :dance:

Get the remote panel, you'll need it to equalize you house bank if you have wet cells, unless you use the removable control panel from the unit.

A lot depends on how your boat is wired and how you want it to be. Read about the 1-2-B switch in the link below.

You also need to evaluate your AC use with the size of your house bank --- an energy budget. More inverter use, larger bank. Marina hopper not so much, anchor out, YUP.

You might be interested in the topics listed here, there are many, and have links to material that Maine Sail has contributed here on this board, my "Electrical 101" (We don't know how "up" on electrical you may be):

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5977.0.html

What specific MODEL of 1800 do you have?

 

[Euphoria2011]

I have part number 806-1840 (Freedom HF 1800)

Yes I picked this up for $100.00.

My AC budget is small, like maybe a laptop, lamp or cell phone charging or 2 small fans to keep the cabin cool.

I plan to remotely install the panel in the cabin area and install all new wiring from Shore power plug, thought the inverter, then to the AC CB panel.

 

[Stu Jackson]

My AC budget is small, like maybe a laptop, lamp or cell phone charging or 2 small fans to keep the cabin cool.

I plan to remotely install the panel in the cabin area and install all new wiring from Shore power plug, thought the inverter, then to the AC CB panel.

1. I recommend that you use 12V fans.

2. Since you're doing this new, then do this: shorepower, New 30A breaker (NOT to be confused with the one on your existing electrical panel), wiring to I/C, wiring to existing 30A main AC breaker. This new breaker is part of the newer codes and most likely doesn't exist on your boat now.

 

[Stu Jackson]

1. My thoughts were to remove battery one (1) from the Promariner
charging circuit and reconfigure the battery system wiring to have
battery 1 to feed the inverter and then that Xantrex inverter would
provide charging power to it.

2. Leave battery 2 on the Promariner charger. (20 amp charger)

3. The nice thing is that the Xantrex Freedom HF 1800 is configurable to
provide 2, 10, 20 or 40 amps of charging current so I can set it to 20
to keep both battery charging balanced.

4. Option 3 would be to add a third battery dedicated to the inverter and add it to the alternator charging circuit?

Your thoughts?

1 & 2 & 4 - I think we've concluded that using the new I/C is preferable to keeping the old ProMariner. Because of the draw of an inverter is so large, you are best to never "dedicate" a battery to an inverter (or anything else for that matter), but rather to maximize the size of your house bank and run all DC loads from the house bank.

3. Those varying charging rates are called the "Power Share" feature of the I/C and are there to allow you to charge when you're faced with say a 20A shorepower connection for your 30A boat.

Also helpful like this:
Power Share Feature for Link 2000 Controlling Honda Generators [added Feb. 2012] Very helpful hint to control generators and 20A shorepower
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,1474.0.html

 

[Euphoria2011]

Yes but the Xantrex I/C only has only one charging output as compared to the Promariner has 3 seperate banks.

 

[Stu Jackson]

You don't need to charge each battery individually. You have two "banks": house and reserve (or start). Buy an echo charger to charge the start bank, the I/C charger goes to the house bank. The installation diagram for the HF1800 Figure 1 shows an isolator --- way old technology and shouldn't be used because isolators drop a volt of charge out of the system.

For learning how to wire a house and reserve bank with a 1-2-B switch, read these: (were included in the link I provided in Reply #3 - you really should read these, which is why I sent them to you and for you)

OEM 1-2-B Switch Wiring History http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4949.msg30101.html#msg30101

Basic Battery Wiring Diagrams This is a very good basic primer for boat system wiring: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6604.0.html [added 9/21/11]

[added 1/31/2012] This is another very good basic primer for boat system wiring: The 1-2-B Switch by Maine Sail (brings together a lot of what this subject is all about)
http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=137615