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04-05-2017, 03:44 AM
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#21
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Chicago, IL
Vessel Name: Bay Pelican
Vessel Model: Krogen 42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,993
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kev_rm
PS: getting chargers to coordinate together outside the bulk phase that aren't designed to do so is non trivial.
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To avoid the two chargers conflicting I installed a Blue Seas Remote Battery switch so that I can divide the house bank into two banks when charging from the generator. Each charger charges six 6 volt batteries.
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Marty
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04-05-2017, 10:41 AM
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#22
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Guru
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,076
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I think you really need to ask yourself how important redundancy is. If you can live with a failed inverter until it can be replaced, I'd just get one. It's less space, less cost, less wiring, fewer fuses, etc.
But if redundancy matters, I'd install two specifically for that reason. Outback, magnum, victron, mastervolt can all operate in parallel with no issues. You get a better, more capable product, but it costs more.
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MVTanglewood.com
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04-05-2017, 11:30 AM
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#23
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twistedtree
I think you really need to ask yourself how important redundancy is. If you can live with a failed inverter until it can be replaced, I'd just get one. It's less space, less cost, less wiring, fewer fuses, etc.
But if redundancy matters, I'd install two specifically for that reason. Outback, magnum, victron, mastervolt can all operate in parallel with no issues. You get a better, more capable product, but it costs more.
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What we have right now is an inverter bypass switch for the loads, and a backup 40 amp charger.
If the inverter faults out, we just start the generator and turn a rotary switch to the "inverter bypass" position.
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04-05-2017, 11:51 AM
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#24
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TF Site Team/Forum Founder
City: League City, Tx
Vessel Name: Floatsome & Jetsome
Vessel Model: Meridian 411
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,332
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I have an OEM Charles 80 amp charger. I added a 2000watt/100amp Magnum Inverter/Charger. They can both charge the same bank at the same time. I have accidently deeply discharged the house bank(inverter set cutoff at 35%). When I turned on the "extra" Charles charger I could see 180amps into the batteries at the BMK. It actually was a little above 180....with cooling fans humming!!! I do think the Charles cut out when the absorption phase started but not immediately. I think the Magnum could handle all of the absorption charge needs so no need for the Charles to hang around.
AGM batteries actually need a good hard fast charge to help in desulphation since they do not vent. So I did not feel so bad for my mistake.
BTW, y'all keep mentioning the basic needs/uses of an inverter....no one mentioned the ICE MAKER!!!!! Come on now!!!...
__________________
Prairie 29...Perkins 4236...Sold
Mainship Pilot 30...Yanmar 4LHA-STP...Sold
Carver 356...T-Cummins 330B...Sold
Meridian 411...T-Cummins 450C
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04-05-2017, 12:01 PM
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#25
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Guru
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,869
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twistedtree
I think you really need to ask yourself how important redundancy is .................
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There is a point where we cannot duplicate every mechanical or electrical component on our boats. We have to consider the possibility of failure, how critical the device is and the cost and space of the duplicate component.
Would a failed inverter cause you to cancel your cruise? Leave you stranded somewhere? Is it worth $1K to have backup for your inverter? Is your inverter really that unreliable and subject to failure that it needs a backup?
We have to answer these questions for our own situations and our answers will sometimes be different.
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04-06-2017, 05:28 AM
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#26
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Guru
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,076
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WesK
There is a point where we cannot duplicate every mechanical or electrical component on our boats. We have to consider the possibility of failure, how critical the device is and the cost and space of the duplicate component.
Would a failed inverter cause you to cancel your cruise? Leave you stranded somewhere? Is it worth $1K to have backup for your inverter? Is your inverter really that unreliable and subject to failure that it needs a backup?
We have to answer these questions for our own situations and our answers will sometimes be different.
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Agreed. Those are good examples of the questions one needs to consider when determining how important redundancy is.
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MVTanglewood.com
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04-06-2017, 05:34 AM
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#27
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Chicago, IL
Vessel Name: Bay Pelican
Vessel Model: Krogen 42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,993
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I installed my first second inverter when my inverter failed the morning I was flying home for a week of work leaving my wife on a mooring ball in the harbor on Staten Island. At that time we had 110 refrigeration. It would take several days to repair the non-functioning inverter. Cost of dockage in NYC for eight days was a good portion of the cost of the new inverter so I opted for a second inverter. When the first one was fixed I installed it as well. Have continued with two inverters since then. Of course down in the Eastern Caribbean it is more important to have a backup as replacement and/or repair will take significant time and may require changing countries.
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Marty
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04-06-2017, 05:36 AM
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#28
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Guru
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,076
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders
What we have right now is an inverter bypass switch for the loads, and a backup 40 amp charger.
If the inverter faults out, we just start the generator and turn a rotary switch to the "inverter bypass" position.
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That's a great example of how to handle an inverter failure. Just run the generator. If you are OK running the generator for the rest of your trip and/or running without AÇ power, then I wouldn't feel a need for redundant inverters.
But what if you need AC all the time for basic boat operation? And what if you need to run for a month before the inverter can be repaired? Then redundancy starts to look more worth while.
__________________
MVTanglewood.com
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04-06-2017, 07:35 AM
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#29
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Member
City: Anacortes, WA
Vessel Name: Miss Miranda
Vessel Model: Nordhavn N50
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baker
I have an OEM Charles 80 amp charger. I added a 2000watt/100amp Magnum Inverter/Charger. They can both charge the same bank at the same time. I have accidently deeply discharged the house bank(inverter set cutoff at 35%). When I turned on the "extra" Charles charger I could see 180amps into the batteries at the BMK. It actually was a little above 180....with cooling fans humming!!!
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Similar situation on our previous boat. Wife hated the generator run time, so we stacked a Magnum ME 2012 on top of our MS 2812 just for the charging capabilities. The Magnum folks were a little nervous about it and had us de-rate the 2812 somewhat to balance the outputs. We turn off the 2012 when we get to the absorb phase. We've seen 190+ at times.
__________________
Larry
Anacortes, WA
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