What to know before converting a 1996 290 Sundancer from 120V to 220V - experiences?

[Mats Kinnby]

Im rather new to this forum, but I can understand that there are a lot of knowledge in this enthusiast bank.

Thats why I decide to ask you guys what I need to do, and what I can do when im thinking of converting my 290DA US Spec to Euro spec since its now imported to Sweden from US.
And with that, I mean changing the AC voltage fron 120V 60Hz to 220/240V 50Hz.

The boat is equipped with:
4 Kw - Kohler generator - 120V
Shore power/battery charger - 120V
Refridgerator - 12/120V
Electric Stove - 120V
Microwave - 120V
Water heater (for shower and washdown) - 120V
Air Condition - ?V

One question in all of this is wether I can switch the stove, microwave and waterheater over to a different input voltage? Some electric accessories are made for many different voltages, and by switching a selector on the back - its transformed to the right voltage.
Or do I need to use transformers in the boat to keep the original supplyvoltage to the items listed above?
Water heater and AC unit are unknown for me yet, how they are operated, or if they are running on 12V as well?

The boat are still in transit, so I am planning to prepare as much as possible prior to the arrival, so any experience of this kind of things would be very much apreciated!

Regards
Mats

 

[SCORPIO]

Re: What to know before converting a 1996 290 Sundancer from 120V to 220V - experienc

I'm no electrical expert but I'll give you my opinion, take it as that, an opinion. If I had to convert everything on my boat I think it would be easier and probablly cheaper to install a transformer at the shore power inlet that would convert the 220 incoming to 120 that all the accessories are designed to use. Otherwise, in addition to replacining all the appliances on the boat, you will need to rewire it for the 220v. With a main transformer, you should be able to just run one new circuit to power the outlets for any portable equipment you bring aboard.

The water heater and AC on my boat are all 110V AC. The fridge is dual volatage, 12V DC/110V AC. My cabin lights are all 12v DC.

Now dependeing on how old the boat is and how old the appliances are, it could be a decent idea to just replace everything with new 220 stuff and go from there. The costly item will be the generator, but it could possibly be converted to output 220, check with the manufacturer and get their thoughts.


Good luck with you project.

 

[HUMPH]

Install a transformer but be sure you have a circuit breaker on the load side of it. Your boat should already have a breaker at your main receptacle. This will allow you to isolate the transformer.

 

[HUMPH]

You will also need to either pull the generator and replace the generator portion (the engine is fine) or have that power also run through a transformer.

 

[Mats Kinnby]

Re: What to know before converting a 1996 290 Sundancer from 120V to 220V - experienc

Thanks for the advices guys!

So basicly, it would be to feed the fuses/breakers for stove, microwave, waterheater and AC with a transormed 220V -> 110V supply voltage then. I figure there are a separate fuse to activate for the outlets in the boat, so that one could probably be fed with 220V.

The picture i got of the electrical AC cabinet shows that there are six breakers, but the pic is not in high enough resolution for me to read it clearly.

I think it says like this (in order from top to bottom), feel free to correct me if you know the answer to the names/functions of the switches:

1. Stove
2. ?
3. Water Heater
4. ?
5. ?
6. Air Condition ?

See pic to illustrate



The Kohler Generator will probably be needed to convert the alternator to a different voltage then, will talk to the Kohler agent over here how to proceed.

 

[BonBini]

Re: What to know before converting a 1996 290 Sundancer from 120V to 220V - experienc

I believe your biggest challenge is going to be overcoming the 60 to 50 cycle obstical. Getting the voltage down with a step down transformer is one thing. Heating elements such the stove and water heater shouldn't be bothered much by a slower freq. However anything with complex circuit like the micro, batt charger, ... just isn't gona work.

Try looking into a power inverter that is driven by an electric motor and will switch up the hertz and also drop the voltage. In a marine version of corse.

Jm 0.02

 

[Stephan]

Re: What to know before converting a 1996 290 Sundancer from 120V to 220V - experienc

Im rather new to this forum, but I can understand that there are a lot of knowledge in this enthusiast bank.

Thats why I decide to ask you guys what I need to do, and what I can do when im thinking of converting my 290DA US Spec to Euro spec since its now imported to Sweden from US.
And with that, I mean changing the AC voltage fron 120V 60Hz to 220/240V 50Hz.

The boat is equipped with:
4 Kw - Kohler generator - 120V
Shore power/battery charger - 120V
Refridgerator - 12/120V
Electric Stove - 120V
Microwave - 120V
Water heater (for shower and washdown) - 120V
Air Condition - ?V

One question in all of this is wether I can switch the stove, microwave and waterheater over to a different input voltage? Some electric accessories are made for many different voltages, and by switching a selector on the back - its transformed to the right voltage.
Or do I need to use transformers in the boat to keep the original supplyvoltage to the items listed above?
Water heater and AC unit are unknown for me yet, how they are operated, or if they are running on 12V as well?

The boat are still in transit, so I am planning to prepare as much as possible prior to the arrival, so any experience of this kind of things would be very much apreciated!

Regards
Mats

Hi guys,
Don´t mean to be rude but i will answer Mats question in swedish since it´s a local problem ;-)

Det är ingen idé att byta allt såvida det inte är orginal 1996. Det jag skulle göra är att antingen köpa en transformator på blocket/båtbutik för ett par tusenlappar om du ofta ligger med landström. Om du mest kommer ligga vid naturhamnar så se till att byta spisen till origo eller nån som går på t-röd/ fotogen etc. När du byter ut allt eftersom så skit i att koppla in det på landströmsuttaget och bara på 12V och byt ut isåfall laddaren för landströmmen till 220V typ Defas eller nåt. Det gjorde jag på min gamla SR 240 Sundancer 2001. Kyl och spis byttes men allt går på batteri och batteriet laddas av landströmmen - då är problemet löst.
Lycka till!

//Stephan

 

[Sadler]

Re: What to know before converting a 1996 290 Sundancer from 120V to 220V - experienc

Thanks for the advices guys!

So basicly, it would be to feed the fuses/breakers for stove, microwave, waterheater and AC with a transormed 220V -> 110V supply voltage then. I figure there are a separate fuse to activate for the outlets in the boat, so that one could probably be fed with 220V.

The picture i got of the electrical AC cabinet shows that there are six breakers, but the pic is not in high enough resolution for me to read it clearly.

I think it says like this (in order from top to bottom), feel free to correct me if you know the answer to the names/functions of the switches:

1. Stove
2. ? Outlets/Refrigerator
3. Water Heater
4. ?DC Converter
5. ? Microwave
6. Air Condition ? Air Conditioner



xxxx
See pic to illustrate

View attachment 24381

The Kohler Generator will probably be needed to convert the alternator to a different voltage then, will talk to the Kohler agent over here how to proceed.

I've filled in your missing items on the control panel above. And, according to my manual, the Kohler generator can be configured for 220v.

 

[Mats Kinnby]

Re: What to know before converting a 1996 290 Sundancer from 120V to 220V - experienc

Thanks guys for all your efforts, and good suggestions.

I got information from Kohler that by changing the terminals on the connection points on the generator, it will be producing 220V 3.5Kw.
To convert the 60Hz to 50Hz, simply reduce the RPM using a meassuring instrument on the terminals until it shows 50Hz, this will also reduce the fuel consumption as a small bonus. I will however not do this, but instead convert the shorepower like below.

The shore power is simply solved by using a transfomer between the shore power connection point and the fuse terminal, that way I will get 120V into the main switch terminal as usual and can continue to use the stove, AC, water heater, Refridgerator, microwave and so on like before.
The outlets in the boat will be connected before the transformer, and that way get 220V shore power supply.
But since a transformer also goes the other way around, it means that while using the generator (producing 120V) - the transformer will be fed with 120v backwards to the secondary side, and produce 220V on the primary side to the outlets any way, so all in all, it will be like I wanted it to be. Outlets are 220v, and I can continue using the original equipment in the boat like before. Once some item needs to be replaced, I can simply change the feeding voltage to the new item by using primary or secondary side of the transformer to supply the main switch for that specific equipment.

I will be sure to post a electrical schedule of this solution as soon as i have something to show. My colleague is a electrical designer and I will let him design the system for me.

I will keep the thread alive to let you know of any bumps in the road along the way.

Regards
Mats

 

[Pietro]

Re: What to know before converting a 1996 290 Sundancer from 120V to 220V - experienc

Mats,
I have been through this a few years ago and I decided not to go to for the 220 conversion.

Some 20 years ago the switch to 50 HZ was quite a problem for a few appliances, mainly the Nordcold fridge and the battery charger. For the fridge I solved the problem with a 12V inverter connected to a couple of dedicated batteries. I also added a new charger just for the 220 when connected ashore, the 60Hz generator still powered the original 60Hz charger.

When I refitted my boat two years ago everything was easier as the new chargers accept any voltage and frequency. So I have just one for 220V 50Hz and 125V 60Hz (plus one as a back-up for emergency). The new Vitrifrigo fridge works on the 12V DC when at sea and automatically on the 220V when connected ashore.

No problem with the 50/60 Hz issue with the icemaker, air cond, microwave, stove and the water heater.

Adding just a transformer is way much simpler and you also get the additional benefit of isolating your boat from other boats in the marina, that’s good to avoid stray corroding currents.
Then all the electrical circuit will work at the supposed current levels as well as the thermic relays.

Yes, the boat is still an “American” one and I need to use American appliances in it, but we are talking just about hairdryer and the coffee maker. The ipopadphone charger work on any voltage, so no big problem here!

PT 0.02