Inverters
Brad: Does anybody have any words of wisdom regarding the use of inverters? Our cigarette lighter adapter doesn't seem to work when on battery only (including with the engine running), and I ended up having to connect an inverter directly to the battery in order to charge my phone/computer. Any experience out there in this regard?
Jon: Do you have a TV installed on the boat? If so, you should have an inverter to run the antenna/TV when off of shore power. I have a 400W Xantrex inverter for my setup and although we don't use the TV when away from the dock, I do use it to charge phones, VHF etc.
If you don't have an inverter for the TV and you only want to charge small items, I've used the Xantrex version of one of these for years--you plug it into the cigarette lighter and it produces plenty of power to charge your items--the fan is a bit loud, but well worth it--Here is a link to the West Marine version....
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=98252&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50523&subdeptNum=505
29&classNum=50541
hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions...
Brad: Thanks, Jon! I don't have a TV installed on the boat, and declined to have a microwave as well so I bet that would explain the inverter issue that I amhaving.
I will try the Xantrex... you're a wealth of information, as always, Jon!
Jon: Do you have a TV installed on the boat? If so, you should have an inverter to run the antenna/TV when off of shore power. I have a 400W Xantrex inverter for my setup and although we don't use the TV when away from the dock, I do use it to charge phones, VHF etc.
If you don't have an inverter for the TV and you only want to charge small items, I've used the Xantrex version of one of these for years--you plug it into the cigarette lighter and it produces plenty of power to charge your items--the fan is a bit loud, but well worth it--Here is a link to the West Marine version....
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=98252&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50523&subdeptNum=505
29&classNum=50541
hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions...
Brad: Thanks, Jon! I don't have a TV installed on the boat, and declined to have a microwave as well so I bet that would explain the inverter issue that I amhaving.
I will try the Xantrex... you're a wealth of information, as always, Jon!