shore power / battery power

[gbphil]

Hi All

 

Still new to all this....

 

I'm currently in a marina with shore power hooked up.

 

Over the past day or so, when a pump (toilet, sink, heating thermostat) is in use, the lights on the boat dim or go out completely.

 

I have 2 inverters, which are both off  - as far as I can tell.

 

Any ideas about the dimming ? It's cause and how I can rectify it ?

 

Cheers

 

Phil

[WotEver]

4 minutes ago, gbphil said:

Hi All

 

Still new to all this....

 

I'm currently in a marina with shore power hooked up.

 

Over the past day or so, when a pump (toilet, sink, heating thermostat) is in use, the lights on the boat dim or go out completely.

 

I have 2 inverters, which are both off  - as far as I can tell.

 

Any ideas about the dimming ? It's cause and how I can rectify it ?

 

Cheers

 

Phil

Do you have a battery charger? Is it switched on?

[gbphil]

not sure ...

[roland elsdon]

You are either taking more out than you are putting in or you are not putting anything in. 

Start at the supply and work to the demand.

[gbphil]

I don't have an meter to check what is going where

[Alan de Enfield]

17 minutes ago, gbphil said:

Hi All

 

Still new to all this....

 

I'm currently in a marina with shore power hooked up.

 

Over the past day or so, when a pump (toilet, sink, heating thermostat) is in use, the lights on the boat dim or go out completely.

 

I have 2 inverters, which are both off  - as far as I can tell.

 

Any ideas about the dimming ? It's cause and how I can rectify it ?

 

Cheers

 

Phil

When you are 'on landline' (hook-up) it does not immediately convert all of your 12v appliances to 230v, so all of your lights, pumps, TV, phone charging, computer power, fridge, etc etc etc are still draining the battery.

 

You use the landline (230v) to power a battery charger that charges the batteries and replaces what you are using daily.

 

Switch your battery charger on & the lights will glow brightly again.

[jonathanA]

You don’t need a meter, a mk 1 eyeball is needed to see if you do have a charger or a combined charger inverter. If your not sure a couple of photos on here of your equipment and the clever people will soon tell you... 

[TheBiscuits]

18 minutes ago, WotEver said:

Do you have a battery charger? Is it switched on?

 

18 minutes ago, WotEver said:

I have 2 inverters, which are both off  - as far as I can tell.

Photos please.  One of them might be a combined inverter & battery charger.

 

Cross posted with jonathanA

Edited November 25, 2018 by TheBiscuits

[Sea Dog]

Where are you? Maybe one of us can pop round and give you a heads up.

 

[Alan de Enfield]

38 minutes ago, gbphil said:

Over the past day or so, when a pump (toilet, sink, heating thermostat) is in use, the lights on the boat dim or go out completely.

Just noticed this - what form of heating are you using and how is it powered ?

[gbphil]

Deeeerrrrions ....

Found a rocker switch on one inverter that should do the trick !!!

 

They should tell you this when you buy a boat !! Or maybe it's me not asking the right questions...

 

Thank you both for your swift and knowledgeable replies.

 

 

I know to to approach for my next stupid question.

 

Thanks again,

 

chers

 

Phil

 

[TheBiscuits]

2 minutes ago, gbphil said:

I know to to approach for my next stupid question.

Nah, stupid is not asking the question and sitting there in the dark!

[Sea Dog]

10 minutes ago, gbphil said:

Found a rocker switch on one inverter that should do the trick !!!

Let's hope it's for the battery charger or things'll get worse!

 

 

[gbphil]

Having actually LOOKED at the inverter, it says "inverter / charger" on it !!!

[Sea Dog]

2 minutes ago, gbphil said:

Having actually LOOKED at the inverter, it says "inverter / charger" on it !!!

Oh good. You need to look up the manual on the web so you know how to use it.  Most likely, it ought to be switched to charger when alongside on a shore supply with the shore 230v AC passing through to your sockets, etc and o inverter when you need 230v when you're out cruising. Don't take that as read though - read the manual and see how your system is configured.  Sadly, by running them so low, you've delivered your batteries a punishing blow.  Try not to discharge below about 50% remaining charge (I actually go for 60, but opinions vary).

[Alan de Enfield]

3 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Try not to discharge below about 50% remaining charge (I actually go for 60, but opinions vary).

How will he know when he reaches these figures ?

[Sea Dog]

2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

How will he know when he reaches these figures ?

No idea! He's only just discovered that he has an inverter/charger - let's let him have a good look at what he's got fitted first before we go into too much detail about that! 

 

[MtB]

14 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

How will he know when he reaches these figures ?

 

Self evident because 

 

"when a pump (toilet, sink, heating thermostat) is in use, the lights on the boat dim or go out completely."

 

Dear Phil, stick with it, it is a VERY steep learning curve you have just embarked upon. All the knowledge is here though for you, provided you can take some mild ribbing along the way

[gbphil]

as someone once remarked

 

"thank you, Mrs. Patterson"