Inverters and Gensets

Installing an Inverter

My inverter in located in the 'wine cellar', powered by three deep cell batteries. This amp-guzzling device needs all the battery it can get! The port battery is electrically separated, which allows me to get at least one engine going after an all-night stay. The ‘battery parallel’ switch then gets the other engine going. With the poor energy storage ability of lead acid batteries, the inverter batteries are pretty low after a night on the hook.

Since the starboard alternator has to charge a bunch of batteries, I installed a lighted toggle switch instead of the stock, push-button, battery-paralleling switch. This forces the port alternator to do some of the work. The lighted 'ON' feature reminds the helmsman to turn it off! Both alternators are now one-wire type with a proven output of 75 amps (port) and 100 amps (starboard).

Where the Gen-Set Should Have Been Located

Instead of that mechanic's nightmare that Marinette used--with the gen-set stuffed between the engines--this is how John Hall did his installation. Note that all THREE engines are completely accessible. Slick!