MarineAir and 50 Hz

R

RickUSA

New Member
Joined
3 May 2002
Messages
6
Location
usually sea
Visit site
We have a new boat, equipted with a MarineAir "50/60 Hz" system. It is label something like 60 Hz 220 volts, 50 Hz 195-208 Hz. As the boat is built in and sailed to a certain extent in Europe, where the power is 50 Hz and up to 230 volts, I have asked MarineAir to clarify what this means. They seem hesitant to give a real answer, particularly in the area of warranty.

Has anybody any thoughts or comments? Nobody seems to have had any problems with these, but the label does worry me.

Rick
 
What does the MarineAir do for you? From your post it sounds like an wind driven A/C generator.
If that is the case, whatever you have connected to it now will work the same in europe as it does at the moment.
Your problems start when you try to connect the 110v 60hz devices to european 230v 50hz shore power. Then its not so much the frequency (hz) of the supply but the voltage that will kill the devices.
Some devices are switchable from 110v 60hz to 220(230)v 50hz.
 
I have installed air 403 gennys [not marine] & they generate ac which is then rectified to 12/24/36/48 dc depending on model. Suggest you check owners manual [p 30?]. Good luck
 
230v shouldn\'t be a problem...

Most MarineAir aircon systems which are rated at 230VAC 60Hz can be run at 50Hz but with a reduced output. Don't see why they shouldn't take 230V at 50Hz. As far as warranty is concerned, how would the manufacturer be able to prove what voltage the unit has been running on?
 
Most motors wil run on either 60Hz 220-230V or 50Hz 230-240V.
I believe that most of mainland Europe is on 60Hz. The UK being 50Hz.
About the only motors that don't like the change in frequency from 50 to 60 Hz are some heater-fan motors. Because of the air resistance, some cannot get up to speed. Also, some synchronous motors, as in older clocks, will either run faster, or not at all because of gear loading.
The only diffence you "may" see is that the motor will run a bit faster - somewhere around 15%. It will make no differnce to the motor cooling as the cooling fan on a motor will throw more air over it to cool it. And anyway, where there is 60 Hz, the voltage is lower.
Most motors made these days, are made to run on 50 or 60 Hz.

regards,
Philip
 
I had one ordered from USA for European use , and it is set for 220V , with no option for other voltage.
 
Thanks. I wasn't too sure, as all the container ships I worked on were built in Germany, and were 60Hz. I wonder why???

But as I said, the motors should run on 50 or 60 Hz - so long as it is a decent induction motor. Only the speed will differ, but that should not effect the operation of the cooling unit.

regards,
Philip
 
220v will be fine!....the 240v we refer to in the UK is an RMS value (Root Mean Square) and is only a guide figure. I lived in Germany for a couple of years and bought a number of electrical items all labled 220v, I'm still using many of them down here in Cornwall!

TôMö
 
Also continental Europe is mainly 50 Hz. The rest you are spot on. Seems to be they only change labels but not the innards. Mine is labelled 220V 60Hz and runs fine on 230 V 50Hz. There is a 15 % loss of power though.
In any case it is always worthwhile to check whether ALL components are the same voltage. They managed to ship to me a 220V main unit and a 110 V waterpump :(((
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top