FINALLY bought an inverter

[Jaxfishgyd]

Have gone thru most of the old posts on inverters so maybe I missed what I was looking for....
Bought a Samlex America PST-1505, 1500watt inverter off of Ebay two weeks ago for a whopping $79...... (list price for what I could find online is $459). New in box.
I understand the wiring aspect using breakers and fuses...
All I want it to do is.... run the refrig and on occasion, make coffee while we are cruising or anchored up when its cool (I WILL run the gennie when it's hot for the AC at night!).
I'm thinking of mounting it in the saloon where I had the old air handler hole that was located (grills in place so will have plenty of air to help cool it). and it be out of sight.... battery cable run measures at 6' from batteries. I also have room to put the breaker/fuses in the same area..
I have installed a pull out spice rack next to the refrig (was wasted space and looks good and is useable) so would need to pull it out and remove it to get to the power plug for the refrig..... So need a way to transfer it from shore/gennie power to inverter without having two plugs.
Am sure it's something simple and that I'm overthinking it... But isn't that what boaters do?

 

[Nonchalant1]

Doesn't the inverter automatically switch from pass-thru to invert when the power is off? If so, just set it up into the panel or power line for the refer. No need to switch plugs, etc. as long as it's already hooked up and running automatically. When you start the genny or plug into power, it shuts off the inverter function and passes power through from the panel, plus it may charge the batts if set up that way. You can also run one or two extra 120V AC lines from the inverter direct to the galley and lower helm so you always have 120V power plugs live there. That's how mine worked. It did not go thru the panel, just was on the refer AC power line and the extra 2 or 3 AC output plugs. Simple that way.

Doug

Have gone thru most of the old posts on inverters so maybe I missed what I was looking for....
Bought a Samlex America PST-1505, 1500watt inverter off of Ebay two weeks ago for a whopping $79...... (list price for what I could find online is $459). New in box.
I understand the wiring aspect using breakers and fuses...
All I want it to do is.... run the refrig and on occasion, make coffee while we are cruising or anchored up when its cool (I WILL run the gennie when it's hot for the AC at night!).
I'm thinking of mounting it in the saloon where I had the old air handler hole that was located (grills in place so will have plenty of air to help cool it). and it be out of sight.... battery cable run measures at 6' from batteries. I also have room to put the breaker/fuses in the same area..
I have installed a pull out spice rack next to the refrig (was wasted space and looks good and is useable) so would need to pull it out and remove it to get to the power plug for the refrig..... So need a way to transfer it from shore/gennie power to inverter without having two plugs.
Am sure it's something simple and that I'm overthinking it... But isn't that what boaters do?

 

[Boatsb]

Doesn't the inverter automatically switch from pass-thru to invert when the power is off? If so, just set it up into the panel or power line for the refer. No need to switch plugs, etc. as long as it's already hooked up and running automatically. When you start the genny or plug into power, it shuts off the inverter function and passes power through from the panel, plus it may charge the batts if set up that way. You can also run one or two extra 120V AC lines from the inverter direct to the galley and lower helm so you always have 120V power plugs live there. That's how mine worked. It did not go thru the panel, just was on the refer AC power line and the extra 2 or 3 AC output plugs. Simple that way.

Doug

That model does not have a pass through and need to be feeding a panel itself. It is a pure sine wave but has no charger or AC input.

 

[Pascal]

If you just want to power the fridge and maybe an outlet the easiest way is make a small subpanel with a rotary or a pair of dual Pole breakers with a safety slide. Insert that in the wiring going to The fridge and a spare outlet. This way you can safely switch sources

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

The inverter arrived today at the UPS store (where we get our mail) so will pick it up tomorrow..
Today replaced the 12 group 24 batteries onboard (was not fun) and have one bank that will be dedicated to the inverter, already have it wired to a battery switch so I can use it along with the starboard other batteries for the house bank/starter for when I'm not using the inverter.
Like Pascal's idea...I just want to keep it very simple and easy

 

[SKYCHENEY]

IMO, you bought the wrong inverter. You should have spent the $ for a marine unit with a pass thru and a smart charger. By the time you buy a rotary switch and set up the sub panel you will have just as much into it as if you bought the proper unit and without all of the features.

 

[Freeebird]

He just paid $79 for it. As for going with something else, have you checked the price of beer lately? This is Charlie we're talking about here!

Why not just run an extension cord to a power strip, plug the fridge and coffeemaker into that, and run the extension to where the inverter will be and plug it in when you're cruising? It's not like you do that on a regular basis and have to justify spending beer money on something more exotic. Yeah, it's a quick, redneck fix, but what the hell?

 

[Pascal]

Extension cords are ok for temporary use or for a light, but a coffee maker and fridge can pull well over 15amps... Recipe for disaster

 

[Freeebird]

Extension cords are ok for temporary use or for a light, but a coffee maker and fridge can pull well over 15amps... Recipe for disaster

Not a problem with a heavy duty version.

I was kidding Charlie as much as anything as I know there's no way to pull both a fridge and his coffeemaker off a single outlet from the inverter. Not sure 1,500 watts will pull both anyway. That aside, what would be wrong with hard wiring a double receptacle in the galley into two circuits on the inverter?

You could even mark it as "Inverter Power". Sure, it would be a minor PITA to unplug and replug the fridge, but it wouldn't be that big a deal. Again, Charlie doesn't do a whole lot of cruising.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Ouch Randy..... We're 90% ready for real cruising now.. (her dad passed away June 6th at the age of 96 and she was his only relative sowe couldn't go "far" the last 10 yrs)

The only problem is... the refrig outlet is behind it and the only way to get to it is to disasemble the pull out spice rack... I could just rewire the outlet to a pole switch like Pascal said.To pull the spice rack out, then the refrig can be done in 10 mins
.There's plenty of room in the place the old air handler came out of in the saloon for the inverter and a pole switch. Heck can turn the refrig off while the admiral is making her coffee if had to.
Also the instructions don't say what size wire (less than 10' needed, more like 6') or what size fuse to use (best I can find online for a 1500 is 150)... Some diagrams show the fuse on the inverter itself between the pos/neg post, others say the fuse has to be within 18" of the batteries on the Pos wire...

 

[Freeebird]

I didn't realize you and the misses were about to start doing some major cruising and meant no disrespect... this time.

 

[Boatsb]

Dont worry about frying a 15 amp cord. The inverters 12.

 

[spartonboat1]

Extension cords are ok for temporary use or for a light, but a coffee maker and fridge can pull well over 15amps... Recipe for disaster

Triple ABYC Cert tech from a Hatt shop told me, when in doubt go over size on switches and wiring. If the wiring installed to/from the proposed inverter gets the slightest bit warm, while running power, then the wiring is undersized.

Also, don't forget to go with Ancor or other absolute marine grade wire.

M2CW...

 

[RT46]

you can get a switch that has a bar on it so you cant have the inverter and ship power on at the same time. they are about $150 for the switch at West Marine.

I have some kind of relay in my electrical pannel that swithes the from inverter to ship power when it senses incomming AC from the shore or generator.

I have a separate charger and a stand alone marine 3000 watt inverter.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

I cheated...
Was able to move the refrig plug up and next to the access door for the engine room O2 tank.(tank and refrig are located side by side). I then just ran a wire (4') from the inverter and installed it's own outlet next to it.. Takes me 10 secs now to open the door, move the plug and all is done. No chance of messing up.
Also ran a wire/outlet to the galley for the coffee maker or anything else we want to use.

 

[MikeP]

"IMO, you bought the wrong inverter. "

Totally concur with Sky...

 

[Boatnut]

Extension cords are ok for temporary use or for a light, but a coffee maker and fridge can pull well over 15amps... Recipe for disaster

Why would an extension cord be a recipe for disaster? Assuming of course one with adequate ampacity is used.

 

[Boatsb]

Why would an extension cord be a recipe for disaster? Assuming of course one with adequate ampacity is used.

Hey nut consider the source.

You can't fry a 15 amp.cord with 12 amps. Then again you may not be able to power what you want either.

 

[Boatnut]

Hey nut consider the source.

You can't fry a 15 amp.cord with 12 amps. Then again you may not be able to power what you want either.

Hey Hey, that's Mr. Nut to you. lol

 

[Freeebird]

I cheated...
Was able to move the refrig plug up and next to the access door for the engine room O2 tank.(tank and refrig are located side by side). I then just ran a wire (4') from the inverter and installed it's own outlet next to it.. Takes me 10 secs now to open the door, move the plug and all is done. No chance of messing up.
Also ran a wire/outlet to the galley for the coffee maker or anything else we want to use.

Uh... isn't that sorta what I suggested? Doesn't matter though... you bought the wrong inverter. Who cares if it does what you bought it to do?