Easy Joe, I didn't say it was impossible to install an inverter properly and neither did my surveyor. It was simply his opinion that they had serious potential to cause more trouble than they were worth since a proper installation was difficult. In his experience he had seem quite a few fires or potential fires.
As for the efficiency I was referring to the inverter losses. Folks here have shared their own experiences charging cell phones and laptops from inverters vice 12v adapters. The inverter losses can be significant and that loss equals heat which is often the problem with installs. Too much heat in a tucked away corner which is probably further than 4' from the batteries. In this case, for Xmas lights, it seems that a temporary install with a clamp on is a perfect solution. I don't disagree that replacing the clamps with lugs would probably be smart and not significantly decrease the portability. Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD On Dec 19, 2015 12:18 PM, "Joe Della Barba via CnC-List" < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Your surveyor is quite wrong. I have installed a number of fixed mount > inverters ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 watts or so and the installations > require nothing exotic, just the correct size of wire and fuse. A skilled > marine electrician will do these installations correctly as a routine > matter. It is large portable inverters that are dangerous. A jumper cable > clamp is not a safe way to carry 100 amps for very long and few to none of > these setups will have correct fusing on either the AC or DC side. > > I have permanently installed 300 and 1200 watt inverters on my boat. I > usually have the 300 watt unit switched on for charging phones, radios, and > computers. I can throw a switch and use the 1200 watt unit for tools, hair > dryers, the shop-vac, or any other large load. It draws about .9 amps at > idle so I don’t use it routinely. I bought a hydraulic wire crimper from > Harbor Freight to get all the battery cable crimps done right and it was an > easy job making up all the wiring. I got a Kisae auto-switch from West to > switch the outlets over from shore power to inverter when the shore power > is turned off and then back again when it comes on. > > As for 12 volt appliances, most of them are much more expensive than the > 120 volt version and by definition cannot be more efficient if they have > the same power (except for inverter loses). I did discover that my little > Dirt Devil 120 volt vacuum is WAY more powerful than a 12 volt car vacuum. > It does use more power, but gets the dirt the first pass, not after 5 > passes, so it evens out in the end. > > > > Joe Della Barba > > j...@dellabarba.com > > > > Coquina > > C&C 35 MK I > > *From:* CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] *On Behalf Of *Josh > Muckley via CnC-List > *Sent:* Saturday, December 19, 2015 9:34 AM > *To:* C&C List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > *Cc:* Josh Muckley <muckl...@gmail.com> > *Subject:* Re: Stus-List Venetian parade > > > > A clamp on inverter is temporary and more powerful than a cigarette > lighter inverter but still considerably less powerful than a permanent > installation type. It has jumper cable clamps for attaching to the battery > studs. The following is just one example. > > BESTEK 2 AC Outlets 1000W Power Inverter with Battery Clamps and Car > Cigarette Lighter Plug > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SLDDHQ/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_NGwDwbG6XRHSP > > To my surprise, my marine surveyor actually advised against permanent > installation style inverters. He explained that a typical 2000w inverter > can draw so much current that a "proper" and safe install is challenging. > He had apparently seen quite a few fires as a result of bad inverters or > poor installations (inadequate conductor size, insufficient cooling, too > small of a battery bank). He advised that most appliances can be found in > 12v variants and are more efficient. If/when the occasional need (xmas > lights) for 120v presents itself a clamp-on is what he recommended. > > Josh Muckley > S/V Sea Hawk > 1989 C&C 37+ > Solomons, MD > > On Dec 19, 2015 8:30 AM, "William Walker via CnC-List" < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > What is a clamp on inverter? > Bill Walker > > Sent from AOL Mobile Mail > ------------------------------ > > On Friday, December 18, 2015 Josh Muckley via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > Cigarette lighter inverter should be able to power a good number of LED > strings. A clamp on inverter would be an even better guarantee of > sufficient power. > > Josh Muckley > S/V Sea Hawk > 1989 C&C 37+ > Solomons, MD > > On Dec 18, 2015 10:08 PM, "William Walker via CnC-List" < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > I would love to hear ideas for lighting the boat for Venetian parades. > LED? Can I use Christmas lights that are on sale? No generator on board. > Bill Walker > CnC 36 > > Sent from AOL Mobile Mail > > > _______________________________________________ > > Email address: > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the > bottom of page at: > http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com > > _______________________________________________ Email address: > CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including > unsubscribing -- go to the bottom of page at: > http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com > _______________________________________________ > > Email address: > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the > bottom of page at: > http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com > > > _______________________________________________ > > Email address: > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the > bottom of page at: > http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com > > >
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