Adding Batteries

[bud37]

Here is a good read, lots of info, much may not apply to you at this time but you never know......some applies to his boat but still well written......have a look,on the right side are all the topics, warning you may need a refreshment to go with this......

https://gilwellbear.wordpress.com/categ ... cs/page/2/

[MakinTime]

This last year we installed a Xantrex 3000 sine wave inverter charger in our carver 36.We run 4 6 volt battery’s 460ah. The setup works great and it is wired through the panel. The 4 batteries seem sufficient for overnight anchorages and such. We can easily get 2 nights without running generator to charge,powering things like fans, refrigerator. I am very impressed with this setup.

[km1125]

Source of the post This last year we installed a Xantrex 3000 sine wave inverter charger in our carver 36.We run 4 6 volt battery’s 460ah. The setup works great and it is wired through the panel. The 4 batteries seem sufficient for overnight anchorages and such. We can easily get 2 nights without running generator to charge,powering things like fans, refrigerator. I am very impressed with this setup.

Do you have any pictures of your install? Where did you end up mounting it?

[MakinTime]

I will take some pics this weekend when I get down to my boat. I mounted it where the ice maker was mounted under the galley seat. The run of cabling was a bit longer then I wanted but it was kind of my only option for mounting the unit because of its size. I will post pics saturday after I get down there.

[paboater76]

Following along, same boat, would like to do the same thing. Please post some updates and pics as you go please. I didn't think of the closet in the aft cabling, storage is so limited on these boats as it is, I didn't want to sacrifice that space. So my plan would be to go with an ignition protected inverter, so it could be mounted in the bilge, connected to a 4x 6v bank @ 450ah connected to the panel.

[Midnightsun]

I never heard of an ignition protected inverter. Maybe they exist but I am sure you will pay through the nose for it.

[Viper]

Promariner TruePower Combi series is the only one that comes to mind that is ignition protected.
http://www.promariner.com/en/02012

Whether the extra cost of an ignition protected unit makes good financial sense or not depends on the installation. If you have to locate a non-ignition protected unit far from the battery bank, you can easily make up the difference in cost in good quality marine cable for the length and size you'd typically need for a high amperage unit. I always tell people that sometimes the inverter is the cheapest part of the install.

[MakinTime]

Here are some pics of my batteries, and inverter set-up. We ended up mounting it under the dinette where the ice maker used to be, and ran the digital display in a cubby hole near the stairs.

For DC cabeling I used 4/0 gauge and 400 amp class T style fuse. On the AC side I used 8 gauge because of the length from panel to inverter. Cost for wiring including all the cable ends class T fuse and holder and all the nic nacs was right around $600 it added up quickly. I found my Xantrex 3000 pure wine on graigslist brand new in a opened box for $500, which was a steal because they list for close to$2000. I was pumped to find this and jumped on it right away! The 4 6 volt batteries were $400. Sorry my pics aren’t the best as the boat is shrieked and hard to see.

Adding the inverter was one of the best things we have done to the boat. It really cut our usage of the generator down. Last year without the inverter we ran the generator for close to 100 hrs all season. This last season with the inverter set up we ran the gen around 10 hrs.

[bud37]

Makin time.......do your 6volts only feed the inverter or do they have other duties as well ? Just fits in there eh, how much does it weigh??

[MakinTime]

The 6 volts feed inverter and everything on the 12 volt house side. I have 2 separate battery’s for engines and gen. They are heavy I believe 68lbs each. Yes they were a tight fit!