Jun 9, 1999

I'm looking for suggestions on where to mount my new inverter (25-12) and a couple of golf cart batteries. Has anyone seen any installations that they have thought were very good?

Jun 9, 1999

My Trace 1500w Inverter Charger is mounted on a bottom platform aft of fwd bulkhead of the port cockpit locker. The removable bulkhead aft of that group leaves a space above, and has a plexiglss window/guillotine to view and access the aft facing working panel of the Trace inverter laid on its side.
This makes a pretty tight packing on the port side, which I'll probably regret...

Jun 9, 1999

Last year I installed two 6 V golf cart batteries as a 240 AH house bank, keeping one 12 V multi-purpose as a starting battery. All three of these batteries fit (just) on the platform built into Spirit--originally, by the look of it--behind the aft bulkhead, stb'd side, accessed through the stb'd cockpit locker. The large converter/battery charger is mounted on this bulkhead, too, along with the Racor filter: plenty of room for all of it. (The water heater and fresh water pressure pump take up the comparable space to port.) I rigged an automotive seat belt and buckle so that I can tighten it down across all three batteries, locking them in place, theoretically, through a 360 degree roll. Battery boxes will not fit on the platform. I put a rubber mat over the top of the batteries so they can't be shorted out by a dropped tool, etc.-- but acid leakage would be a problem in a knockdown or worse. So it goes. . .

I'll send along measurements for locations of my cutter's inner forestay and fixed intermediates next time around.

Jun 9, 1999

I have two new large (220Ah) AGM batteries mounted against the forward bulkhead of the stbd cockpit locker, where the wet batteries were, and one Optima (spiral) starting battery against the fwd bulkd of the port cockpit locker. My Trace 1500w Inverter Charger is mounted on a bottom platform aft of that battery, parallel to and outside of the water heater surmounted by the Adler Barbour Refrigerator. The removable bulkhead aft of that group leaves a space above, and has a plexiglss window/guillotine to view and access the aft facing working panel of the Trace inverter laid on its side.

This makes a pretty tight packing on the port side, which I'll probably regret... The pumps are located on a shelf against the fwd bulkhead and above it all, for more convenient access, with looped cables so they can be brought in the cockpit for check/repair!

August 15, 2001

BdF: Have a Trace 1500w charger inverter, which lost charging capability in the Azores, having burned the unprotected transformer upfront. Back in US a year later, still under warranty, repairman said the Heart interface is a more reliable machine... I had planned for a microwave and toaster oven, but did not use them unless in harbor afterall, and rarely at that since the charger went bust early in my sabbatical year. So, you may review loads and go for a smaller inverter. I found no need for perfect sinusoid...

Sep 26, 2001

I just purchased a Heart Freedom 10 charger/inverter, the 2000 controller, and will be installing two banks of golf cart batteries. I will be re-wiring my boat as well. Since there was some creative wiring already done, I am going to remove a lot of it and start from scratch. Does anybody know the original schematic color codes of the SW II? I would prefer to go back to the original coloring as faithfully as possible.

Oct 15, 2001
I installed the Freedom 10 and 2000 controller 5/6. years ago. We also went to 4 golf cart batteries. I replaced them this past spring, no reason, just felt it was time for replacement. I think maybe I had too much money yo spend that month. My project for this winter is a total ac and dc rewire and have purchased the boat wire. Need to order a new panel. Yes, I think you will definately enjoy the Freedom 10/ 2000 system.

1512 Feb 11, 2002

I will be installing my inverter in the next day or so and was wondering if it really is necessary to install a second battery switch that the Link 2000 manual recommends. I have two banks of paired golf cart batteries with a 1,2, both or off switch. The Link 2000 manual suggests a second one that routes the inverter directly to the batteries, leaving it out of the starter circuit when the switch is off. Perhaps they are concerned with the starter load being put on the inverter (in the charging mode) in the event of battery bank failure. It seems to me that it should be fine as long as the inverter were turned off at dockside, or when you are disconnected from shore power. I would like to hear your thoughts on this one.

James, Niko 91

1513 Feb 11, 2002

I was going to hook my inverter directly to the house batteries and connect the charger line to the starting battery.

I don�t think that starting current will have any effect if you�re not putting a 110 load on the inverter.

Howard

1525 Feb 11, 2002

James,

I�m assuming you speak of the refrige insulation. We used 12 oz. woven cloth. Mat seems best to ensure bulk and multi-axial strength but is usually a poor surface to achieve a smooth finish. Generally after using mat in an area that requires strength and eye appeal I do grind, fill and fair the mat and the cover with glass cloth appropriate to the requirement.

Paul Sea Quill # 29K

1534 Feb 12, 2002

I recently purchased a Makita cordless drill and I read in the manual that the use of an engine-powered generator is not recommended nor are step up transformers as a power source for the battery chargers. I also read in my Heart Inverter manual that certain small battery chargers don�t function on modified sine wave AC. As a result, I�m concerned that I may not be able to use recharge my cordless tools offshore.

Has anybody had any experience with this?

James, Niko (91)

1535 Feb 12, 2002

I did some research at the Heart Interface website and read that most cordless tool chargers work fine with mod-sine. Makita power tool chargers were specifically reported to work fine with modified sine wave AC. However, DeWalt chargers were reported to fail prematurely due to compatibility problems. The site states that you should monitor the temperature of the charger by touch during the first 15 minutes of operation with mod-sine. If it gets warmer than when operating from standard line AC, you should unplug it.

They also mention the fact appliances and equipment that rely on the AC input to operate their internal clocks may operate too long or not enough e.g. microwaves breadmakers.

They recommend using a line conditioner (PCLC series) made by Shape Electronics in Addison, Illinois, ph. 708-630-8394 or 1-800-367-5811 if you want to operate products incompatible with mod-sine. They have a website at http://www.shapelectronics.com/.