Inverter Install

dtfeld

Water Contrails
GOLD Sponsor
Jun 5, 2016
5,518
Milton, GA
Boat Info
410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
Engines
Cat 3126 V-Drives
After much research and gathering of information from other CSR members, finally getting ready to do an inverter install. Inverter will be a Magnum Energy MS2812 True Sine Wave. Will be following TTmott 's schemtic with a few modifications.

Will be powering the Port, Starboard and Galley Systems as well as the microwave circuit. NO AC's are powered or planned to be powered. Anything else that can be 12VDC will be run 12VDC (fridges). Goal is to be able to run a few electronics, and make some quick meals without need for the generator. The largest draw is the coffee pot and microwave at 1000 and 1300 watts total running. Inverter was sized to be able to run my expected loads.

Initially going to use the Starboard house bank (2 Grp31 AGM's) as the power source. These batteries are a little over 3 years old, and when replacement time comes (probably sooner now than later) I will replace with 3 Grp 31's. I will consider more batteries or going with different batteries as usage dictates, but for now, I'll see how this works. Space is limited.
 
Found a scratch and dent MS2812 online for a fraction of new. Score!!

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First order of business, Mounting. The best location on this boat I could find that offered enough room and easy access to the batteries was in the forward engine room, on top of the water heater, using the water heater as a base. I built a frame to install into the front fire wall. Not the coolest place, but moving indoors requires DC cables beyond the recommended length.

This will give easy access to the access panel and keep the DC power cables very short.

Purchased fuse, and manual battery disconnect. Measured for cables and ordered the 4/0 cables.

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Are your batteries Deep Cycle? I don't think you are going to have enough battery storage to do what you are planning. The inverter is one component of this system but the inverter can't make 110 volt power and amperage if the batteries lack capacity. For what you are doing I think I would want at least 2, preferably 4, 6-volt golf cart batteries. I had a similar inverter in my 52' Motor Yacht but I had 6 golf cart batteries and I was good for a 3-day weekend.
Shawn
 
Not sure what size boat you are installing the sine in. I have the same unit powering everything including the outlets but not reverse cycle. Nevertheless the sine is mounted in the trunk. Port side behind the port wall of the trunk. Lots of room there in a 410. My buddy has a 360 and I am pretty sure his has simular room there too.

I may be wrong here but I thought I read some place not to mount the sine in the engine room....
 
Nice unit. But not ignition protected. Putting in the engine compartment is a no no.
 
Nope... Diesel. Appreciate looking over my shoulder though. Can't be too careful.

I wanted to mount indoors, but there isn't a great option to locate inverter and batteries close enough. 410 has a lot of space, just not appropriate space (batteries and inverter need to be 10ft or less). That isn't a lot of distance when you consider fuses and battery switches must be installed. Most batteries must be vented as well.

One place I did find space was in the outer gunwale under the arch mount on each side where the engine air inlets are. There is a large area probably 18" x 24" x 6', but to get there would require major surgery to the cockpit. I'm not up for that. But it is wasted space.
 
I was able to get the AC wires pulled and loomed. Waiting on the DC cabling to arrive to get that installed. The final connection will be wiring the AC side behind the panel. Overall this is not a tough project once I thought through the plan. Looking at what other guys have done is a huge help.
 
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Not Primary Charger. Only charge the Starboard Battery. I have a ProNautic 1240P that will do the other two banks. If I add a dedicated house bank, then the inverter will charge the house bank, and the ProNautic will charge the existing 3 banks.

We'll see how this works and modify as required for additional battery capacity.
 
I was able to get the AC wires pulled and loomed. Waiting on the DC cabling to arrive to get that installed. The final connection will be wiring the AC side behind the panel. Overall this is not a tough project once I thought through the plan. Looking at what other guys have done id a huge help.

Is your panel all 120 or do you have 240 also ?
 
Is your panel all 120 or do you have 240 also ?
Yes and could be.
Assuming the boat is plugged into a 50A shore power receptacle and has a "Y" splitter into the two 410DA 30 amp cords then the boat is fed with 240VAC simply because each of the 120VAC legs from the 50amp shore power supply are 180 degrees out of phase and if you measure between the two hot legs you will get 240 volts.
Now, each of these 120VAC lines feed separate hot and common busses in the breaker panel which if you should measure across the two hot busses then you will see 240VAC. With that said, however, there are no loads on the boat that are powered by 240VAC so each buss has a series of single pole 120VAC circuit breakers which feed the loads only with 120VAC.
The generator, on the other hand, is strictly 120VAC so when you switch from shore power to generator the two hot busses are bridged and the two common busses with the ground buss are bridged on the load sides of the transfer switch. Consequently, both of the breaker panel busses are at the same phase and if measured across you will get essentially 0 volts depending how they are loaded.
 
The reason for the query is my boat is 240/120/12 and when the inverter was installed the jump wire from 240 to 120 was disconnected and all 120 power is now routed thru the inverter...
 
Mine is as Ttmott described. I do not have any 240VAC items on the boat. The inverter will be on one of the 30A legs only.
 
I should clarify...where we are docked, I have 2 120VAC 30a service plugs. As such I don't think I have 240 available as wired.

I believe this generator is capable of 240 output as well, but as I mentioned, no 240 appliances so not wired for that.

One side of the inlet power will be routed through the inverter.

The inverter is capable of switching 240
 
Dave,
Looks good on top of the HW heater. Nice use of that otherwise wasted space.
Are you connecting it to the Port Bank?
 
Dave,
Looks good on top of the HW heater. Nice use of that otherwise wasted space.
Are you connecting it to the Port Bank?

Powering Starboard Systems, Port Systems, Galley Systems and the Microwave. Ttmott had a better schematic, but power for these 4 circuits come from either shore, generator of if not from those sources, the inverter.

Front of panel

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Back Panel Schematic

Inverter AC Panel Schematic.jpg
 

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