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can you guys point me to a primer on getting A/C outlets onto the boat? Assuming step one is an inverter?...

I mounted a single dual AC GFI but for shore power use only - and it feeds my battery charger.

Do you intend to have installed shore power, or just invert 12VDC to 120VAC?

She's a trailer sailor - so just an inverter to use while I am aboard. I can probably get by with the single cigarette lighter on my control panel for my needs.

I have found "Sailboat Electrics Simplified" by Don Casey (ISBN 0-07-036649-7) to be very helpful and reasonably priced.
May the 4th be with you,
DanO

What devices do you need AC power for?
The answer to your question may vary depending on what your needs are. eg: What size inverter and how it should be connected.

To be honest, there are very few AC devices worth powering from 12v batteries. The current draw from an inverter is huge and there are almost always other, better solutions than inverting 12DC to 110AC.

Have to agree with Russ MT. My M came with a shore power plug in. I have made a cord so that I can provide AC to charge batteries or other devices that need AC with a 1000 watt Honda generator. It will run for 8 hours on .6 gallon of gas. I am thinking a 2000 watt would power a microwave or a portable electric heater or Air conditioner on 1 gal/8hours. Honda generators are very quiet and durable.
Roger

I too concur with Russ. You should either:

1) Buy all 12VDC (which is what we've done)
2) Do a full AC system including a charge controller, shore power, and inverter
3) Do an inverter with enough solar to keep your batteries charged between uses (I'd say 80 watts if your boat sits for long periods, 600 watts if you're aboard it every day)
4) Do nothing. Just an inverter is going to cause constant dead batteries.

A low wattage plug-in inverter of say 100 watts is sufficient for running a laptop or other adapted load is okay, but anything that generates heat will put a serious load on your batteries.

I have a Honda EU2000i and love it. It's sufficient to run a microwave, not sufficient to run AC on a rental R/V. I'd put the money into it well before I bought an inverter.

That Honda generator is without competition. There are copy cats, but none are as quiet or reliable IMO.

I own an inverter and have used it to power a laptop and TV once. The small ( < 600 watt ) inverters will not power a microwave or anything that makes heat (or cool). To do that, you need a BIG one of 1500 watts or more which will flatten a 12v battery in 15 minutes.
There is a lot to learn from living off the grid and 3rd world countries. They understand the limits of 12v and solar power.

For fridge, those cute dorm room deals are cheap, but again will flatten your batteries on an inverter. Those 12v thermoelectric Wal-Mart coolers are like the "easy bake oven" that cooks with a 40w light bulb. They simply don't work and drain batteries. Real 12v fridges work well but are $pendy.

Everything else you would want to plug in to the inverter can be run from native 12v better.
When I get my boat home, I have an extension cord that I plug the charger into. That's all I need.

So before answering questions about how, I ask why? What for?

--Russ

I have used a honda 2000i for 9 years. I live in Las Vegas and spend time on Lake Meade and yesterday was 116degrees outside and surface temp probably over 130. I have mounted a 8000 btu a/c and connect to a shore plug that I installed 11 years ago. Have an onboard dorm refrigerator and small microwave with a 25 inch HDTV and directtv antennae hookup. I can power the a/c, refrigerator, TV all at the same time. If I run microwave or Single electric burner for cooking I have to shut down the a/c. This works great and I take extensive trip every summer cross country to great lakes region and use my 26X as an RV until I arrive at the great lakes area. If no power at a campground I use honda 2000 or if they have power just plug into my shore power outlet. By the way they sell an adapter to connect a normal 3 prong male plug that you connect to the honda 2000 that hooks into the high amp female shore power end. Therefore any problem is solved. Would advise you consider this route first as it gives you more flexibility and is really much simpler in the long run. Check on this site as I recall there was a post to create and under the helm seat attach point for the generator and info on how to install an extended exhaust hose should you wish to have a/c or other power while sailing or motoring. Hope this helps and I can attest to the fact that it works. Originally thought of the inverter myself 10 years ago and came to the conclusion not really practical. If you think about it larger sail or power boats have onboard generators to supply household current to onboard appliances. Anyway good luck with your project.

Think I'll just stick with the AC outlet for keeping phones and stuff charged. Thx guys

NavySailor wrote:Think I'll just stick with the AC outlet for keeping phones and stuff charged. Thx guys

If you're just charging batteries on electronics, don't bother with anything permanently installed. Get an inverter that runs off your 12V CLA and has multiple outlets.