Inverter 2018 29S Ranger Tug

[wborland@mac.com]

While underway what should my inverter power? Currently not powering any of my outlets or microwave.

Thanks!


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[gswearin]

I have a 2021 and power the outlets just be cause I usually will have something charging on them (phone, vacuum, etc.) I leave the microwave breaker off because I tend to bump it and turn it on with out realizing it.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Leave the hot water and A/C off because they draw way to much power. Run these at shore or with generator running. Question……do your outlets work when you are not running and at anchor?

Jim F

 

[Gin]

My 2019 31S is wired so that the hot water heater will run off the inverter only when on shore power. Can't power it off the inverter even if I wanted to while underway. What I can power underway are the outlets (3 breaker switches) and the microwave. But as gswearin posted, my default is to leave the AC main on, AC outlet breakers on, and the microwave breaker off.

But it is important to know what is running on those AC outlets. During the winter, I keep a couple of dehumidifiers and a small space heater running when I'm on shore power. I boat a lot during December, with my inverter powering LED displays during the Portland Christmas Ships parade activities. More than once, I've forgotten to turn off the space heater in particular and I can get a sudden "low battery" alarm, because the alternator is not keeping up with the draw on the batteries. That results in a quick move to unplug that space heater at least. Although the dehumidifiers are smaller draws, I usually turn them off as well. (My bilge heaters don't usually kick on underway, because it usually isn't that cold. But for good measure, they are wired into an outlet that, like the water heater, only gets juice if I'm on shore power).

Gini

 

[dbsea]

That behavior is a common symptom of that Kisae inverter starting to fail. the way its wired, the shore power comes into the boat, goes to the ELCI circuit, to the inverter AC input, and then out of the inverter AC output to the left side of the AC panel (outlets and microwave). The inverter will not power the right side of the panel at all, as that is the ELCI circuit and powered only via shore power. If the inverter is failing, this would explain the behavior of the left side of the AC panel not working. I've helped a few other tugnuts replace their Kisae inverter/chargers when this has happened, and it also happened to me, so I've got some experience here...

 

[Gin]

Dave, is it the inverter’s failure to power the outlets underway that may signal the start of a failing Kisae? Mine behaved more erratically at the dock when connecting to shorepower. So I just thought I’d clarify what you experienced.

Gini

 

[wborland@mac.com]

Thanks all for the replies. DBsea, answer to your question when the boat is docked and connected to power all but one panel come on right away. Then after about an hour or so the last panel (outlets and microwave comes on).


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[BB marine]

Sounds like the transfer switch is malfunctioning. To go a step further in troubleshooting. When you plug into shore power and the outlet and microwave panel is not powered for the estimated hour is the battery charger charging the batteries? The symptom is a regular occurrence in Fluid Motion boats. The Promariner Charger/inverter had the same issues as the Kisea. I'm not sure why the failure rate is common but it seems to be. Temperature, moisture and proper air movement around and though the unit I believe have something to do with it. (Just my opinion) Installing an air mover around the unit may help and making sure the unit is in an area without moisture would help too. I personally do not want a Charger/inverter installation in a boat. One fails, they both fail. I also don't like auto transfer switches. Power goes out and inverter turns on. If there are 120V users on the circuit this makes for depletion of battery voltage (AH) and in some cases a full discharge. If this happens a few times the batteries Life and integrity is reduced.

The power panels on the R29 are wired so that only Microwave and outlets can be powered off the inverter. If you do extensive cruising you must rely on a Generator for any other 120V user. This doesn't work for me so I wired the panel so the inverter can power the full panel. Power management is needed so the battery AH depletion is not that fast.

Wiring the inverter to power the the complete panel is not difficult. Below is a basic sketch of the shore power schematic on a R29. Removing the 3 way rotary switch and installing a 4 way switch will allow this to be done safely and to ABYC recommendations. Blue Sea makes the switch.
download/file.php?id=731
This photo shows the 4 way rotary switch OFF /Shore/Generator/inverter.
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The Panel in this photo is wired so the inverter will power any 120 volt users. The inverter used is a Kisea 2000W stand alone (no charger) The way this inverter was wired there is no shore power connection to the inverter and the internal transfer switch is not used. In order for the inverter to operate it must be turned on. It is not wired to automatically come on if shore power is removed.
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At no time do you have to worry about failed transfer switches or inadvertent shore power outages and battery depletion.

The battery charger installation is separate. When replacing the Charger/inverter instead of replacing with all in one, replace it with a 2000 watt pure sine-wave inverter and a larger capacity battery charger. Minimum of 50 amps. Install the combination in a well VENTILATED area (good luck finding that in a RANGER or CUTWATER without modifications) Do your best to find this location. Make sure the area is dry and no way for water infiltration to the compartment.

Making these modification on a Ranger or Cutwater will reduce the amount of threads like this. There are a bunch of them!!!