tddert
03.06.2021 6:48:54
The simplest shore power system is an extension cord [links]
See full version: Generating AC power
The simplest shore power system is an extension cord [links]
A typical genset suitable for an air conditioned 30-foot boat will cost about $4,500, and that does not include installation costs.
Battery management dictates we only discharge deep batteries to 50% max before recharging. Two group 27 lead acid flooded cell batteries have a combined 200 amp hours capacity. At 50% discharge, you have 100 amp hours to burn.
To size a portable generator add up the load requirements, see table A for ideas.
Unfortunately inverters are power hungry and take more energy from the source (Batteries) than they supply in AC power. So how much are you going to drain the batteries?
The owner of a Bertram 700 wanted to relax while at anchor in cool, quiet comfort. The cool part was easily covered thanks to a Marine Air chiller system comprised of four modular units. The challenge was the quiet part. Having the boat’s generator kick on to start the compressors wasn’t exactly silent.
Beyond quieting down things, SmartStart can help with overstressed shorepower cords or poor dock wiring. Say it’s August, and you’re docked at the end of a long dock at a Miami marina. It’s a full house, and every boat has air conditioning going. Unless you’ve got SmartStart, it’s likely that by the time the power reaches your boat, there won’t be enough current to start your compressor. here
To limit the inrush of current needed to crank a large compressor, SmartStart uses dynamic feedback control, a technology that produces a comparatively slow sequential start-up. According to Dometic, this reduces surge up to 65 percent. Once a compressor is running, of course, its amperage draw drops significantly. more
Both types of lead acid batteries however have severe limitations. Lead acid batteries are extremely heavy and while weight may not be an important factor for batteries in a stationary environment, for use in a motive application such as an electric boat motor, having to move (accelerate/decelerate) such a heavy dead weight does not make much common sense. In addition lead acid batteries contain nasty chemicals such as sulphuric acid and toxic heavy metals like lead which are potentially hazardous to the environment.
After about 1920, gasoline and diesel engines became the primary propulsion units for boats - but they could never offer the quality of the electric cruising experience. At that time, electric boats lost their following, because the batteries could not carry enough energy to match the horsepower of the internal combustion engine - as folks became more intrigued with speed at the expense of comfort and quality of the boating experience.
'Duffy Electric Boats aren’t just an electric outboard boat ,' explained Nitsa Kerr, Duffy Down Under’s general manager, 'they are a lifestyle. It’s like having your own limo on the water.' Each Duffy Electric Boat comes complete with full canopy top, full windowenclosures and a CD player with an iPod hookup. The electric boat motor cruises an average of 75 kilometers between charges, and the batteries recharge overnight for less than a few dollars AUD. here
Batteries are the heart of your RV electrical system. They keep the lights on, the control boards in many appliances operating, and turn the pump over so you can take a shower. We may not think much about them, particularly when hooked up to shore power, with a converter keeping up with the low-voltage needs. But step away from shore utilities and head out for a session of boondocking, and you’ll soon know if your batteries are staying happy.
Even for those RVers equipped with solar or wind power, there are times when we need a bit more of a boost than our alternative energy system can provide. It may be that nature lets us down, or that we’ve simply been using more battery power than we can easily replenish. And for those who don’t have solar power, if you get away from the utility grid for very long in the boonies, you too will soon be whimpering, “More power! Please—more power!”
To avoid being fooled by the surface charge that’s present on a freshly charged battery, you’ll need to stick a good, heavy load on it for a minute or two, shut off the load, and then test the voltage. A fully charged, 12-volt “flooded acid” battery reads 12.6 volts. If you’re close to that, it shouldn’t be a problem to stop charging. Batteries are very receptive to charging when they are deeply discharged, but the closer they get to “full,” the harder it is to pump current into them. Some RVers figure once they’ve hit the 12.5-and something mark, they’re good enough to go. here
Portable camping generators typically operate on gasoline but are also available in propane or even diesel. Considerations for which fuel type is best include: more
For years I only traveled with a 1,000-watt Honda generator (1,000 surge watts, 900 rated watts) when boondocking. It was lightweight, quiet, and produced enough power to meet our needs of running my wife’s hairdryer on low and charging the house batteries in our travel trailer. [links]
I upgraded to a 2,200-watt Honda (2,200 surge watts, 1,800 rated watts) and installed a SoftStart device which significantly reduces the power needed by my RV’s air conditioner to start up (start up current went from 28 amps to 13.5 amps). The units are small enough that I can carry either one behind the LP tanks on my travel trailer.
Make sure the electrical connections such as the output plug on the generator and park adapter, if needed, are rated for the maximum electrical loads you expect the RV will be drawing. Example: Don’t use a 15 to 30 amp park adapter if the expected maximum load is 20 amps and the generator is rated to produce 20 amps or more. here