Love your use of analogies comparing a car (seatbelt, turn signals, etc) and the reason to follow ALL the installation instructions of the inverter/charger (ie: SAFETY!!!) If you don’t mind, I’ll ‘borrow’ those examples when I’m discussing a safe boat wiring installation vs one the ‘just works’ to my friends. (ps: No, I’m not, nor will I ever be in ‘competition with PYS... If I was ~25 yrs younger, I’d apply for a job with you though!!!)
Hi Jeff. I've been binging your vids for days now. Great stuff. I am replacing the circa 1990 inverter on my steel hulled schooner. I have a Xantrex XC 1000 inverter charger going in. The diesel engine has been replaced with electric propulsion. The DC black on the old unit went to the starter on the diesel. Where would it need to go now? Also the chassis ground on the old unit was not utilized. Are there any special considerations I should take with a steel hull?
I am thinking about replacing a gas generator on my 1995 Sea Ray Sundancer 330. I want to replace it with a battery bank and an inverter charger. I am wondering about connecting it to the switch at the fuse panel like I was switching it to the generator from the AC shore power. I did watch your video about connecting the charging part of the inverter and was wondereing if it would be better to purchase a battery charger separate from the inverter so that when I am on shore power it would still charge the battery bank .
Great videos, Jeff. I also enjoyed all your seminars at the boat show this year. I understand your point about the cabling of the chassis ground needing to be one size below the cabling supplying the DC voltage to the inverter. The part I'm missing now is where should I take the chassis ground to. My guess is that the best ground would be the engine ground on my Beneteau 411. Am I correct?
Hi Bryan, on Beneteau it's hard because there is no DC negative distribution as the battery negative switch is used as quasi distribution. Without a good DC negative, i'd bring the chassis ground from the inverter back to the battery bank that feeds the inverter.
Thanks for posting this series, very informative. I would like to see a bit about how you set up the AC feed to the charger/inverter. Fed by both shore and genny? Is there a source selector switch for that? If fed by both, why not use a Quattro inverter/charger? Thanks again and fair winds.
The boat was already wired with a source selector at the AC panel. The client felt more comfortable managing the AC sources and we therefore didn’t install a Victron Quattro inverter/charger.
JEFF!!! You didn't mention the INVERTER A.C. OUTPUT BYPASS SWITCH!!!! When on shore power, this transfers the onboard A.C. loads directly to the shore power, BYPASSING the inverter. Saves wear and tear on the inverter. Prevents temporary shore power loss events from undesired triggering inverter ON to make A.C., which then drains batteries!
Good point, the inverter bypass switch is handy. Many inverters are also chargers and you might want the AC input to the inveter/charger so the charger works.
I have a Xantrex freedom 2000 charger/inverter. I think my power share fuse blew so I am going to inspect and replace if need be. Before removing the inverter cover to change the fuse I know I have to disconnect the shore power to the boat. Should I also disconnect the DC power to the inverter by removing the large T fuse? to prevent the inverter autoconverting DC to AC:?
Hmmm, Graham most (if not all) inverter fuses should be located as a separate item, and mounted outside of the inverter. As a point of reference, never ever changed a fuse inside an inverter before, the fuses protecting the inverter are separate from the inverter. Let us know what you uncover.
Is the requirement for ground/earth wire to chassis being one size smaller than the DC positive and negative still apply in land based applications (eg an RV that is insulated from the ground)
@@PacificYachtSystems If the chasis of the inverter is bolted to the hull of an aluminum boat is that essentially a ground? This is what one electrician told me....
Hi Gordon, yep you can install an inverter in a diesel only engine room. Inverters are not-ignited protect and cannot be installed in gasoline engine rooms.
@@PacificYachtSystems But why would you? Inverter chargers are affected by higher ambient temps, become less efficient and have lower AC surge capacity, if I remember correctly. At least the Victron Multiplus units do not perform as well in hot cabinets/engine rooms.
Finally! Someone who gets right to the point and explains it clearly and understandably. Thank you.
Glad to help.
Wow! Great video Jeff, thank you. Very detailed and informative especially the part about the load sensing. Keep up the good work. 👍
Thanks, will do!
Love your use of analogies comparing a car (seatbelt, turn signals, etc) and the reason to follow ALL the installation instructions of the inverter/charger (ie: SAFETY!!!) If you don’t mind, I’ll ‘borrow’ those examples when I’m discussing a safe boat wiring installation vs one the ‘just works’ to my friends. (ps: No, I’m not, nor will I ever be in ‘competition with PYS... If I was ~25 yrs younger, I’d apply for a job with you though!!!)
Of course, we encourage sharing!
Hi Jeff. I've been binging your vids for days now. Great stuff. I am replacing the circa 1990 inverter on my steel hulled schooner. I have a Xantrex XC 1000 inverter charger going in. The diesel engine has been replaced with electric propulsion. The DC black on the old unit went to the starter on the diesel. Where would it need to go now? Also the chassis ground on the old unit was not utilized. Are there any special considerations I should take with a steel hull?
I am thinking about replacing a gas generator on my 1995 Sea Ray Sundancer 330. I want to replace it with a battery bank and an inverter charger. I am wondering about connecting it to the switch at the fuse panel like I was switching it to the generator from the AC shore power. I did watch your video about connecting the charging part of the inverter and was wondereing if it would be better to purchase a battery charger separate from the inverter so that when I am on shore power it would still charge the battery bank .
Great videos, Jeff. I also enjoyed all your seminars at the boat show this year. I understand your point about the cabling of the chassis ground needing to be one size below the cabling supplying the DC voltage to the inverter. The part I'm missing now is where should I take the chassis ground to. My guess is that the best ground would be the engine ground on my Beneteau 411. Am I correct?
Hi Bryan, on Beneteau it's hard because there is no DC negative distribution as the battery negative switch is used as quasi distribution. Without a good DC negative, i'd bring the chassis ground from the inverter back to the battery bank that feeds the inverter.
Thanks for posting this series, very informative.
I would like to see a bit about how you set up the AC feed to the charger/inverter. Fed by both shore and genny? Is there a source selector switch for that? If fed by both, why not use a Quattro inverter/charger?
Thanks again and fair winds.
The boat was already wired with a source selector at the AC panel. The client felt more comfortable managing the AC sources and we therefore didn’t install a Victron Quattro inverter/charger.
JEFF!!! You didn't mention the INVERTER A.C. OUTPUT BYPASS SWITCH!!!! When on shore power, this transfers the onboard A.C. loads directly to the shore power, BYPASSING the inverter. Saves wear and tear on the inverter. Prevents temporary shore power loss events from undesired triggering inverter ON to make A.C., which then drains batteries!
Good point, the inverter bypass switch is handy. Many inverters are also chargers and you might want the AC input to the inveter/charger so the charger works.
Also any inverter run should (must?) be labeled as “inverter powered” or similar.
Good point!
I have a Xantrex freedom 2000 charger/inverter. I think my power share fuse blew so I am going to inspect and replace if need be. Before removing the inverter cover to change the fuse I know I have to disconnect the shore power to the boat. Should I also disconnect the DC power to the inverter by removing the large T fuse? to prevent the inverter autoconverting DC to AC:?
Hmmm, Graham most (if not all) inverter fuses should be located as a separate item, and mounted outside of the inverter. As a point of reference, never ever changed a fuse inside an inverter before, the fuses protecting the inverter are separate from the inverter. Let us know what you uncover.
Is the requirement for ground/earth wire to chassis being one size smaller than the DC positive and negative still apply in land based applications (eg an RV that is insulated from the ground)
Hi Francis, land code is different. Albeit, remember the code is the minimum. I'd recommend doing the same on water, land, or air.
@@PacificYachtSystems If the chasis of the inverter is bolted to the hull of an aluminum boat is that essentially a ground? This is what one electrician told me....
Could you explain the difference between a boat’s and a car chassis ground?
HI EK, a boat's ground is actually is connected to ground and is at zero. A car's chassis is NOT connected to ground and is floating.
Pacific Yacht Systems thank you 😊
Why is the ground one size smaller and not the same size?
Not sure why the code is like that. Probably because it's not normally carrying current and it's a way to save costs.
Is the inverter install in an engine compartment. Can you install it their as long as its a diesel and not gas engines?
Hi Gordon, yep you can install an inverter in a diesel only engine room. Inverters are not-ignited protect and cannot be installed in gasoline engine rooms.
@@PacificYachtSystems But why would you? Inverter chargers are affected by higher ambient temps, become less efficient and have lower AC surge capacity, if I remember correctly. At least the Victron Multiplus units do not perform as well in hot cabinets/engine rooms.
I think you mean "shocked", not "electrocuted" (which means death).
Good catch.
These tips are basic. If you are making these mistakes, then just go ahead and sink the boat.