06/27/2012 08:47:47 PM
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DaleHollow
Admiral
Posts: 606
Joined: 06/27/2007
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Does anyone know if there is a device, that will auto shut off my inverter once the batt. bank is drawn down to a pre set point.
I have heard you never want to take your batts past a 50% discharge.
Not so interested in a gauge to watch but a system that will auto disconnect.
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"Come OOON Back............
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06/28/2012 04:24:53 AM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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The inverters will all shut off at a certain point, but whether this is adjustable I don't know. Maybe the manufacturer can help you.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
Edited: 06/28/2012 at 04:25:42 AM by stmbtwle
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06/28/2012 08:40:48 AM
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DaleHollow
Admiral
Posts: 606
Joined: 06/27/2007
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Originally posted by: stmbtwle
The inverters will all shut off at a certain point, but whether this is adjustable I don't know. Maybe the manufacturer can help you.
the real question is shutting the draw down b4 you begin damaging the batts, all that I have read indicates You never want to discharge them (the batt.)
below 50%. If I understand the life span of the battery is gauged by the number of times you draw the batts down
then build back up. With the point being made not to take them lowering than 50%.
Thus a low voltage auto disconnect which auto shuts the system down with a grace period warning system, would certainly be helpful.
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"Come OOON Back............
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06/28/2012 09:41:19 AM
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EastTNBoater
Admiral
Posts: 226
Joined: 11/27/2002
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How would you do this? Based on voltage level - if so, what would you consider 50%? Based on amp/hours drawn since the last full charge?
I understand what you are asking, I just don't know how you are measuring "below 50%".
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06/28/2012 11:16:08 AM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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State of charge affects voltage, so in theory if you determine what voltage is 50% charge, you might be able to adjust the inverter to cut off at that point. However LOAD also affects the voltage, and a heavy load could temporarily draw even a fully charged battery down below the cut-off point, and the inverter would cut off even if the battery was fully charged or nearly so.
Amp hours since the last full charge might be better, but for that you'd need a device programmable to the battery capacity. Battery monitors such as the Tri-metric are, but as far as I know they're just monitors. I don't know if they could turn off your inverter for you.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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06/28/2012 03:32:27 PM
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GoVols
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 08/08/2011
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My Xantrex inverter has a remote display with a menu system that has set-up options. One of the many options is LBCO or Low Battery Cut Off. You set it to cut off at a certain volt (I think) or maybe it's amps (can't remember).
I called my boat's manufacturer and asked them about the proper settings on it when I got new batteries this spring. They talked me through it and it's set up properly now.
Basically we'll be sitting around on the boat and all of a sudden, the boat goes dark! It cuts everything off that's running off the batteries. I can't remember what the voltage is that I have mine set at, but STMBTWLE is correct, I usually can push a button on the inverter monitor to turn everything back on after the LBCO tripped it. If I turn off several lights and such, it'll continue to run for a while longer on the batteries, so the voltage can falsely trip it, but it usually is getting low at that point. So, I have to fire up the generator and start charging the batteries / running the boat.
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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.
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06/28/2012 04:04:22 PM
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DaleHollow
Admiral
Posts: 606
Joined: 06/27/2007
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Originally posted by: GoVols
My Xantrex inverter has a remote display with a menu system that has set-up options. One of the many options is LBCO or Low Battery Cut Off. You set it to cut off at a certain volt (I think) or maybe it's amps (can't remember).
I called my boat's manufacturer and asked them about the proper settings on it when I got new batteries this spring. They talked me through it and it's set up properly now.
Basically we'll be sitting around on the boat and all of a sudden, the boat goes dark! It cuts everything off that's running off the batteries. I can't remember what the voltage is that I have mine set at, but STMBTWLE is correct, I usually can push a button on the inverter monitor to turn everything back on after the LBCO tripped it. If I turn off several lights and such, it'll continue to run for a while longer on the batteries, so the voltage can falsely trip it, but it usually is getting low at that point. So, I have to fire up the generator and start charging the batteries / running the boat.
Next time your on your boat if you can get me the model number of your remote sounds like that is the remote control panel I need, my xantra is about 5 years old,
I"ll try calling tech support an seeing what they tell me.
I just spent nearly 1500 on new agms......so the rest of the story is easy to understand.
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"Come OOON Back............
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06/28/2012 04:24:51 PM
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DaleHollow
Admiral
Posts: 606
Joined: 06/27/2007
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the way we use our HB, IM beginning to believe the 2000 Honda port. gen we use as a major power source could easily take the place of all the $ spent to maintain a high end inverter system. The 5 years of a trouble free system almost makes the system impossible to boat with out it.
Till its time to begin replacing batts. etc.
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"Come OOON Back............
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06/28/2012 08:50:30 PM
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harvrbt
Member
Posts: 179
Joined: 08/07/2009
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I have a low end home built system and it has worked trouble free for three years. I hardly ever use the generator.
Fred
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Yesterday was the best day of my life..... I bought a Houseboat!! Check out our blog of our houseboat refurbish!! http://fredsfriendlyblogspot.blogspot.com/
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07/02/2012 06:41:21 AM
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GoVols
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 08/08/2011
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Originally posted by: DaleHollow
the way we use our HB, IM beginning to believe the 2000 Honda port. gen we use as a major power source could easily take the place of all the $ spent to maintain a high end inverter system. The 5 years of a trouble free system almost makes the system impossible to boat with out it.
Till its time to begin replacing batts. etc.
You know, by the time you add up the cost of the inverter and regular battery replacement, I wonder what the cost vs benefit equation would look like. I spent $1K on batteries this spring and I can run most of a day without the gen.
Some quick calcs:
12.5 kw gen drinks ~1.2 gal / hr under load
battery bank cost = $1K every 6 years
marina gas = $4.35 / gal
benefit from $1,000 by using generator
$1,000/$4.35 = 229 gallons of gas for generator use
229 * 1.2 = 275 hours of generator usage in 6 years or 12 days of operation.
How many hours is normally put on a generator in a single season? There's some at my dock that run their gen the entire weekend they're on the water. I try to use mine somewhat sparingly, but it's hard to when it's 100 degrees outside!
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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.
Edited: 07/02/2012 at 06:42:20 AM by GoVols
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07/02/2012 06:50:03 AM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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Originally posted by: harvrbt
I have a low end home built system and it has worked trouble free for three years. I hardly ever use the generator.
Fred
I have a "low end home built" system as well and it's worked well for the past 10 years. I don't even HAVE a generator and rarely plug in.
The inverter runs 24/7; solar panels and the engine alternator take care of charging.
12 days of operation in 6 years isn't much... 12 days a year would be more like it, and that would bring your cost to $6k for generator fuel alone (that just paid for my solar array twice over).
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
Edited: 07/02/2012 at 06:59:41 AM by stmbtwle
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07/02/2012 07:13:56 AM
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42gibson
Member
Posts: 144
Joined: 11/19/2010
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i never leave the dock till my gen is running.
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1991 gibson 44 executive
454's
norwich,ohio
docked on the good ole ohio river in marietta
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07/02/2012 11:00:50 AM
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GoVols
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 08/08/2011
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Originally posted by: stmbtwle
12 days of operation in 6 years isn't much... 12 days a year would be more like it, and that would bring your cost to $6k for generator fuel alone (that just paid for my solar array twice over).
I figured this up when justifying the extra expense this season to add 2 more batteries to my bank. Needless to say, it'll pay for itself.
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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.
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07/02/2012 06:28:05 PM
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harvrbt
Member
Posts: 179
Joined: 08/07/2009
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For me it is as much the convenience and lack of noise. We don't have A/C so our load is minimal and as I said before we only start the generator to run the trash compactor or microwave and then just for a few minutes and not very often. Besides I run a solar company so it only makes sense for me to have a solar powered boat!! LOL
Fred
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Yesterday was the best day of my life..... I bought a Houseboat!! Check out our blog of our houseboat refurbish!! http://fredsfriendlyblogspot.blogspot.com/
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07/02/2012 07:42:15 PM
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DaleHollow
Admiral
Posts: 606
Joined: 06/27/2007
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Originally posted by: GoVols
Originally posted by: DaleHollow
the way we use our HB, IM beginning to believe the 2000 Honda port. gen we use as a major power source could easily take the place of all the $ spent to maintain a high end inverter system. The 5 years of a trouble free system almost makes the system impossible to boat with out it.
Till its time to begin replacing batts. etc.
You know, by the time you add up the cost of the inverter and regular battery replacement, I wonder what the cost vs benefit equation would look like. I spent $1K on batteries this spring and I can run most of a day without the gen.
Some quick calcs:
12.5 kw gen drinks ~1.2 gal / hr under load
battery bank cost = $1K every 6 years
marina gas = $4.35 / gal
benefit from $1,000 by using generator
$1,000/$4.35 = 229 gallons of gas for generator use
229 * 1.2 = 275 hours of generator usage in 6 years or 12 days of operation.
How many hours is normally put on a generator in a single season? There's some at my dock that run their gen the entire weekend they're on the water. I try to use mine somewhat sparingly, but it's hard to when it's 100 degrees outside!
I can run a Honda 2000, for less than 4 gallons for 24 hous plus., tv frig celling fans lights...
my 12.5 has been sitting all summe idle...
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"Come OOON Back............
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07/02/2012 07:59:28 PM
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DaleHollow
Admiral
Posts: 606
Joined: 06/27/2007
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so for those who use solar energy obviously you store the energy, or use it instantly,
I assume the other option is store it in a battery bank, for later use
so when there is solar power available do u just feed a inverter an take advantage of the free power during lighted conditons?
we all certainly enjoy an use our boat time differently dont we......
now there is a statement no one can, disagree with lol
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"Come OOON Back............
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07/03/2012 05:09:32 AM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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Most of us have big battery banks; that's the only way I know of to "store" electrical energy. The solar panels charge the batteries, which run ALL the electrical loads, either 12v or 120v with an inverter. My inverter runs for weeks on end, and the solar array is NEVER shut off.
I have 6 golf batteries; some folks have more that that.
You can also store solar hot water, but that's a whole different system, from the electrical energy part.
If you MUST have air conditioning, you pretty well have to have a generator. Running AC off a solar array is possible but pretty much prohibitively expensive.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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07/03/2012 07:15:21 AM
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GoVols
Member
Posts: 87
Joined: 08/08/2011
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Originally posted by: stmbtwle
If you MUST have air conditioning, you pretty well have to have a generator. Running AC off a solar array is possible but pretty much prohibitively expensive.
Actually someone on here had a bright idea to create a type of A/C system that could run off 110V without the gennie. Next time you're in the water at the lake, extend your feet down into the water like you're standing up. You'll notice the water at your feet is considerably colder than the surface water. I can't rember who it was, but this person extended a hose about ~8' down into the water to capture the colder water. He put a small 110v pump on the hose and pumped it into a radiator / heat exchanger unit inside the boat. With a 110v fan blowing air past the heat exchanger, he made himself a nice A/C unit that could run without the gennie! That's some rednect McGaiver stuff rite dare!
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16x66 Sailabration on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville.
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07/03/2012 12:30:20 PM
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FranticallyRelaxing
Admiral
Posts: 370
Joined: 09/10/2006
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Go to this webpage, it's a PDF of a Xantrex marine inverter-- turn to page 6--
http://www.xantrex.com/documen...arineOwnersManual.pdf
- it states that it shuts down inverting at 10.0 volts. Don't know if it's "industry standard" or anything, I'm pretty sure it's "typical".
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 1988 SkipperLiner 53x14 1995 Tracker Party Cruiser 32 *for sale* 2003 Chaparral 260 SSI 2000 Allegro Bus 40' DP
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07/03/2012 12:54:52 PM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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GoVols I've always wished I could try that with 12v equipment and run it all directly off the solar; I figured a 12v "bait" pump and an auto radiator with the attached 12v fan should work nicely, particularly if I went down 20-30 ft.
The idea has been around for years, I should think if actually worked on the lakes some enterprising soul would put together a "package" that could be installed on any lake boat.
However here in the Gulf of Mexico it would be a total waste of effort as the water temperature is apt to be 85-90 degrees. Houseboat waters are too shallow to find cold water.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
Edited: 07/03/2012 at 12:57:10 PM by stmbtwle
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