electrical use while at dock

[torcano]

My boat has an automatic battery charging system when plugged into dockside power. If I am on the boat in the evening and plugged into dockside power, what is actually running the cabin lights and cd palyer? Do these devices still draw the boat's DC current from the battery? Does the charger just keep replacing power as the battery drains down? The other option is that the AC converter converts the dockside AC to DC current and supplies current directly to the lights and other electrical devices on board without draining the battery.
Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: electrical use while at dock

it really depends on how your boat is wired. i would hope when dockside all the 12 volt stuff operates off the converter. and charges the batteries.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: electrical use while at dock

Look at it this way -- If all the 12V stuff suddenly had to operate from shorepower it would operate for a nanosecond and all the smoke would get out of the wires. 12 Volt DC devices do not operate well (or live long) when powered by 120 volts AC. That's why you have a converter. It's job is to convert -- and charge. Batteries are not perpetual motion matchines. Their engergy needs to be replenished as its consumed.

 

[torcano]

Re: electrical use while at dock

Thanks. I understand that you can't run a 120 Volt current through a 12 Volt system. I was curious if the converter charges the battery and at the same time provides the converted current to the appliances. Ther real issue is am I reducing the life of my battery by using lights and appliances while plugged into dockside power?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: electrical use while at dock

Torcano, Normally cruisers are wired such that they have 110VAC outlets along with 12VDC outlets. Items such as microwaves, water heaters and airconditioners will work off the AC, while the lights are usually DC. The fridge is usually dual voltage.

You will need to determine how much DC wattage you are using at dockside and see if your battery charger can supply that much. if not, your batteries will discharge.

 

[torcano]

Re: electrical use while at dock

Thanks, Chris1956. My battery guage on the dash usually reads 14.4 Volts. If I leave the refrigerator and CD player on while on dockside power would a drop in this number mean I am consuming more power than my ac generator can replace?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: electrical use while at dock

As long as your volatge stays above 13.0V or so, you are fine. A fully charged battery is around 12.65V. Float chargers tend to sit around 13.2V.

Again, look at the specs of the convertor to see what it can put out.