buying american

[zeehond]

We are thinking of buying a boat in the US and wonder what the problems are regarding the 110volt AC system once the boat is brought over to Europe. How does onel convert/transform into 220 v?

 

[Bejasus]

easiest way? Buy a 240/110v transformer, and stay 110. It's what I am doing.

 

[cormorant]

An electrician told me that although the voltage is less, the current is higher, therefore a US boat will have heavier wiring than a British boat. So if the wiring is ok it will be more than adequate for uk use. So you could change sockets and shorepower and not have to rip all the wiring out.
Don't really understand electrics beyond basic replacement myself, this is just what I have heard so check it out!

 

[mikesyam]

Did it this year with a 2002 Wellcraft martinique, new 240v shorepower socket leading to a stepdown transformer then linked into the origional 110v input after the shorepower socket, everything worked fine including the aircon and microwave.

 

[DaveS]

I would suggest that the best approach would depend on just what AC kit the boat is fitted with. If it has an aircon, microwave, etc. etc. then you're going to need 110V to run it all, so a transformer of some type (auto, isolating or hf) will be required. As others have said, keeping the whole of the AC system at 110V involves minimum changes and, if you use an isolating type 230V/110V transformer, you get additional advantages. The transformer rating required will depend on the maximum demand it is expected to supply, but expect it to be big, heavy and expensive (or just expensive if a hf type with good approximation sine wave generation is used). Your socket outlets will of course give 110V, which will be fine for things like laptops with switch mode power supplies that don't care what voltage they're fed, but could give difficulties with other items. Travel adaptors will be needed. I would advise against replacing the sockets with 230V types supplied at 110V: non-standard arrangement like this tend to eventually cause problems, particularly to unsuspecting third parties.

If there is little AC kit currently aboard, say only a battery charger and a couple of sockets, then it might be more convenient in the long run and cost a similar amount to convert the wiring to 230V, buying new sockets and charger (unless the latter is a switch mode type with wide input voltage tolerance). A major consideration would be the likelihood of ever sailing the boat back to the 110V part of the world at a future date...

 

[npf1]

The transformers don't need to be expensive. Most industrial transformer makers, of which there are a few in the UK, will be able to make you a continous duty isolating, step up/step down unit with soft start and MCB. They will also cost a fraction of the price of the "marine" branded equivelents. I had one made by a company who claimed to make them for Sunseekers. Have had no issues so far with any equipments onboard (aircon, microwave, charger etc).