Plug bilge heater into inverter????

[Mastercraft]

Is there any downside to plugging Twin Hornet bilge heater into the 110V outlet on KISAE inverter? I have been doing this for three years.
2017 R29 NW

 

[JunieBird]

If you are on shore power, the transfer switch on the KISAE should pass the 110V straight through. And those outlets have a breaker/reset next to them..... I think that is a great solution. Following for answers to discourage- thank you for the tip!

 

[watson1987]

It does pass it through when it works. My Kisae blew up and the transfer switch no longer worked.

Personally if you really needed the bilge heater I would install a socket between shore power and the inverter, since after the inverter cannot be trusted. This is exactly what I did off an unused breaker (ice maker) on my panel.

This does assume you trust your shore power more than your inverter, as your inverter might be able to run your bilge heater for a few hours during a shore power outage.

Good luck.

 

[JunieBird]

It does pass it through when it works. My Kisae blew up and the transfer switch no longer worked.

Personally if you really needed the bilge heater I would install a socket between shore power and the inverter, since after the inverter cannot be trusted. This is exactly what I did off an unused breaker (ice maker) on my panel.

This does assume you trust your shore power more than your inverter, as your inverter might be able to run your bilge heater for a few hours during a shore power outage.

Good luck.

I literally just replaced the Kisae inverter for the same reason- integrated transfer switch failed... so no pass through and no house inverted 110.... Donrowe.com for $530.00...

 

[Rocky Lou]

I'm on my third Kisae inverter (2019 boat)...not a strong product at all. Kisae tech support (Ricardo) will sell a replacement for about $450 and they are relatively easy to change once you stop thinking about the manual's frequent use of 'death and serious injury will result...". I might start carrying a spare since when the inverter goes, so goes most of the boat functions.

 

[watson1987]

Upgrading to a Victron inverter/charger is money well spent, they are built to higher standards, just look at any superyacht and it will be filled with Victron blue in the engine room.. The DC charger also puts out twice as many amps to charge things up much quicker during quick provisioning stops.