ranger58sb
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2013
- Messages
- 7,289
- Location
- Annapolis
- Vessel Name
- Ranger
- Vessel Make
- 58' Sedan Bridge
I've been studying how/where/when/cost/etc. of a inverter installation. Easiest in this case is to replace an existing charger with an inverter/charger in the same location.
That location is in the engine room, very near but not directly above, the easiest supply battery bank, which is currently (and would continue to be) used for the bow thruster. Nearness to the supply bank addresses manufacturers' distance and fusing recommendations. That location would also simplify AC-side wiring from inverter/charger to the main panel.
Of course the installation manuals say as near the battery bank as possible, but not in an engine room or other hot location. Battery manuals say pretty much the same thing, as do charger manuals. Nor are batteries and chargers supposed to live together in the same location. (All this from a synthesis of Mastervolt, Victron Energy, and ProMariner charger and inverter/charger manuals.)
But then every boat we've ever owned, or even shopped on, has had batteries and chargers in the engine room, direct from the boat manufacturer.
(Our new ride, which is as originally built, currently has 4 battery banks and 3 chargers in our engine room. Not immediately next to the engines, not hugely far away from the genset.)
So, how horrible can it be, placing an inverter/charger in an engine room... along with those other chargers and batteries that aren't supposed to be there either?
Would we says it's:
A) Less optimal than it could be but would work OK
B) Not optimal, but better than nothing
C) really bad
D) dangerous and stupid
Or... maybe we could rate it on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being good enough and 10 being dangerous and stupid...
?????
-Chris
That location is in the engine room, very near but not directly above, the easiest supply battery bank, which is currently (and would continue to be) used for the bow thruster. Nearness to the supply bank addresses manufacturers' distance and fusing recommendations. That location would also simplify AC-side wiring from inverter/charger to the main panel.
Of course the installation manuals say as near the battery bank as possible, but not in an engine room or other hot location. Battery manuals say pretty much the same thing, as do charger manuals. Nor are batteries and chargers supposed to live together in the same location. (All this from a synthesis of Mastervolt, Victron Energy, and ProMariner charger and inverter/charger manuals.)
But then every boat we've ever owned, or even shopped on, has had batteries and chargers in the engine room, direct from the boat manufacturer.
(Our new ride, which is as originally built, currently has 4 battery banks and 3 chargers in our engine room. Not immediately next to the engines, not hugely far away from the genset.)
So, how horrible can it be, placing an inverter/charger in an engine room... along with those other chargers and batteries that aren't supposed to be there either?
Would we says it's:
A) Less optimal than it could be but would work OK
B) Not optimal, but better than nothing
C) really bad
D) dangerous and stupid
Or... maybe we could rate it on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being good enough and 10 being dangerous and stupid...
?????
-Chris