Shore Power Conversion

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andrewa

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Can anyone help

I have shore power on my boat but it is American, i.e 110V 60Hz, I can convert the power fairly easily or so I thought by using a heavy duty builders transformer, unfortuately these output 110v 50hz not 60, has anybody had the same problem and could they advise how they overcame it.

Any guidance would be appreciated.
 
Andrew, try this question in the PBO forum, good luck

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<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.freeware.mcmail.com/435.htm>http://www.freeware.mcmail.com/435.htm</A>
 
I have just purchaed an amrican boat, the way the owners sorted this issue is by instling a heavy duty inverter so
1 connect to marina power 220 at the plugs and inverter chreges battries
2 running on engines inverter supplies 220 to plugs , I could not belive at first
3 running on gen the gen runs anything which is still 110 and inverter supplies 220 to plugs and charges battries,

Bingo


I love it because it works , I am not sure How powefull the inverter is ?? it runs the telly and a kettle at the same time !!


Tom
 
I see, inverter is a way to go as well. So far after getting info from the PBO forum I have bought a portable builders transformer and am making up some cables, 110v 50hz should make no difference to the electrics I will be powering up because none of them use the frequency for time keeping. I have been thinking of adding an inverter later to power an electric kettle and other bits and pieces. I have 3 110amp batteries available and a spare starting battery so power shouldn't be a problem next season. Will take a good punt around the boat show next week.
 
Off the top of my head answer Andrew, so may have not thought out the detail but, if it were my boat, I’d try the builders transformer, but be sure that it is suitably rated (power) of course if you plan running 110 volt heating loads (eg, electric kettle) as some of them probably are not (my guess is though that you would only want to use the 110 volts for original 110 volt kit and have additional 230 volt outlets for kettles, for example). You say that none of the loads use frequency for time keeping but there is another factor to consider. Some electronic systems use input transformers in their circuitry and these are generally designed to operate at their design frequency for optimum performance. The transformer electrical impedance (effectively it’s resistance to current flow) falls off as the frequency reduces and net effect could be more heat dissipation in the transformers (running warmer), but I’d be surprised if that was a problem (worth monitoring kit temperature though when/if tried). Also, there are some electrical loads (such as induction motors that may perhaps be fitted in, for example, some cooling fan applications), which are frequency dependant. Net effect would be that they would run at nearly 20% slower at 50 Hz if designed for 60 Hz and may also tend to run warmer (as voltage requirement probably also proportional to frequency). These factors considered, I’d give it a try. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks Jean, I have gone for the builders option and am planning on doing the below. I have got a 110v 15amp transfomer for £80.00 and am making the cable up which I will require, I am going to monitor closely as you suggested for heat build up especially in the battery charger.

Run exisiting 110v kit off the 15 amp builders transformer
Put in an inverter with 2 x 240v AC sockets for UK kit over the winter layup period.

Andy
 
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