Outback Inverter and Batteries

[jcrlaw]

Installed my new Outback Inverter/Charger VFX3232M and the Mate last week and I think it is great. I have several questions for those who have this inverter and recommended it:
1. Do you have the battery temperature sensor?
2. What do have for battery banks (how many, make, etc.)?
3. With your battery bank, what kind of amp hours are you obtaining?
I am considering new batteries or adding another set and appreciate the advice.

Thanks in advance for the responses.

 

[MikeP]

I installed that inverter last year; I don't have the mate so I can't answer your first question.

I have the oem Port 32v batt bank connected to the Outback. I don't know the AH rating of the batteries. The PO installed them and I cannot read the sticker on the side of the batts because the box obscures it. Although I'd like to know the AH rating, I am not interested enough to actually lift a batt out of the box just to read it! I can say for certain that they are generic 8v wet cell batts - they are certainly not Rolls/Surettes!

My system is not wired to assume all a/c loads. I have a relay that switches some of the a/c circuits from shore/genny to the inverter. So I have to turn on the inverter (remote switch on the panel at the top of the galley stairs) and flip the switch that changes over the circuits (in the same panel). With the 3232 I could automate this but the circuits were installed back when the original inverter was installed by Hatteras of Lauderdale in 1980. It works fine so I didn't/don't see any reason to change it. This made the Outback inverter a simple "drop-in, hook up the same wires, we're done" installaton.

The circuits that are switchable are the fridge, wall socket at the microwave, wall socket at the starboard aft portion of the salon (stereo/tv), starboard wall socket in the master stateroom above the shelf (tv and shelf fan). I have had the boat out of the water for 36 hours with the fridge running the entire time. I have had the boat at anchor, inverter only, for approximately 24 hours with the fridge, tv, a fan, and the microwave operating at "normal" intervals during that period. In both cases, the batt bank started the port engine with no hesitation.

This is not a lot of load but the performance of the batts/inverter exceeded my expectations. As a result, we have no need for additional batts for the inverter. Obviously if you wanted to add a hair dryer or any other heavy-draw equipment running for more than a very brief period, more batt capacity would probably be necessary.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I installed my 3232 and the Mate last winter. I did as Mike and just use the port (house) bank. The batteries are Interstate and they are at least four years old. I don't know the amp/hour rating as they were installed by the previous owner. I have not used the inverter much but the house bank seems to keep up fine. The longest on the hook was 5 hours with fridge, stereo, some lighting and vacuum and hair drier all used during that time.

I wired it so that it feeds the entire boat, but I did not wire up the charger side since I already have a wonderful smart charger. I also did not put the temp sensor on for this reason. I did buy the Mate to control because I thought it would come in handy. In reality, I have not touched any of the settings and it is really of little use to me. I mainly just use it an an expensive on/off switch.

 

[Brian Degulis]

I installed mine about 6 months ago

I do have the battery temp probe and the Mate controller

I combined both battery banks and added a small independant bank for the gen sets. So I'm running 8 Deka 8V they are pretty large I think around 200 AH each so that would be 400 AH @32V total. I did that to have the largest possable capacity and have the ability to start the gensets if I ever depleted the house/start bank.

I wired mine with no provision to bypass the inverter when on gen or shorepower. I did that so it would switch over to invert mode if the shore power failed. The only thing that would be drawing would be the fridge and that would run for days without killing the batteries.

I will be adding a switching system that will allow me to bypass the AC around the inverter and at the same time allow the charger in the inverter to run. The problem I'm having is when There is a lot of people on the boat the AC loads going thru the inverter come close to the capacity so that causes the charger to back off and stop charging. So the batteries are then supplying the DC loads without being charged.

Brian

 

[LIBERTY]

I installed the 3232 with Mate & temp sensor about 10 months ago. I do not fully understand the function of the temp sensor, but because long term (overnight) generator use pushes generator room temp to 125 degrees having some allowance made for temp makes sense. I recently ducted my engine room blowers to suck air out of the generator room. Now generator room temps hang around 115 degrees. Noteably, the bulkhead between ER and GR was 2 1/2 inches thick. I am a big Mate fan as it allows you to see what's up. Overnight frig, ice maker, some lights and TV are no sweat for port bank of new Rolls batteries. Nice to have all 110v AC, except air, when motoring. However, have found with overnight anchoring that the hour long or so generator running in the morning for hot water, coffee, breakfast and hair drying is not enough to top the batteries back up. 12-14 hours taking out at 5-8 amps can not be put back in less than about 3 hours with the input I have with a C-Charger and the Outback, but sure beats running the genny all the time or doing without.