boatmike
Well-known member
I have a similar setup on my Prout 37ft Cat to you. Weight is my prime consideration but might not be yours. I have solved the problem of OCCASIONAL 220v usage by installing an invertor that gives me 220v from my 12v battery bank. BUT don't forget the power drain! I have upped my service battery bank to 450amp hours and have a 1000W invertor (I can tell you where you can get one for about £140 if you are interested) This means if I run for one hour at maximum watts I will use up about one quarter of my battery charge..... But I won't because I am only going to use it for a maximum of 15 minutes at a time at about 600W.... You need to calculate your current draw. Frankly the dive compressor might be OK but I would "deep six" the washing machine as they are very power hungry beasts and weigh lots and take up oodles of space.....But it's your choice of course. I would fit a bigger sink instead and hand wash! Incidentally I have two honking great big solar panels that give me 4 amps even when the sun ain't shining. That's about 140amp/hours per week minimum 210 when the sun comes out. I find this plus having a sterling intelligent charger on a 70amp alternator on my main engine keeps me in positive charge. I stress this is only an OCCASIONAL usage of 220v though. If you are going to run more than this (and I suspect you might with a washer) you need to hook up to shore supply or buy a genny perhaps. Thought : how many overnight stays will you have when shore power is available? Most of us go into marinas sometimes. A diesel genny will cost you £3500 plus? an invertor at £140 is cheaper and will fit in a very small space and will allow you to use other things too when not in marinas providing you manage the charge/discharge budget. Oh and before someone else tells you you can't run electric motors from a modern modified square wave invertor... you can. They are much better than the old generation and should really be termed quasi-sine wave as there ain't much you can't run off one that is used well within its maximum capacity. Either way enjoy your sailing and remember 220 on any boat is potentially lethal. Don't rely on the battery negative to provide an earth. Ground the system to a hull earthing plate seperately!!! Live long and prosper!!!!
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