- #Boat shore power converter install#
- #Boat shore power converter generator#
- #Boat shore power converter plus#
Specific isolation transformers can raise the shore voltage to deal with voltage drop and can be used to adapt the vessel’s internal power system voltage to a higher or lower shore power supply.
#Boat shore power converter install#
Isolation Transformer. If you don't want to go that route, the second option is to install an isolation transformer designed to boost the 120V to 240V. It also makes sense if you are don’t intend to leave North American waters and have no need to run both the 50Hz and 60Hz systems. This works if you have found your forever boat, at a great price and in great condition. This could mean replacing the shore power receptacle, main AC panel, and wiring depending on what components in the system can safely be reused. Be wary of older units that use transformers which may need to be upgraded.Ī Complete Retrofit. Now that you know some differences to look for, what are your options? The first, and most expensive option, is to completely retrofit the boat. Consideration should be given to this during a retrofit and during the assessment phase.īattery Chargers – Most modern battery chargers will work fine on just about any voltage source and frequency. Wire Size - A European 230V, 16 or 32 amp service wiring will be too small to run at 120V or 120/240V, 30 to 50 amp service.Ĭircuit Breakers - Circuit breakers need to be sized accordingly to protect the conductors they are connected to. Otherwise you will have to replace the receptacles and the wiring.
If you are intending on using the boat around the world, then you could install a smaller, separate AC panel with a few North American receptacles in areas, such as the galley, to run some AC appliances and charge electronics. A connected AC motor runs slower, the internal current increases, the wattage decreases and the cooling decreases causing the insulation to deteriorate and it could burn-out and catch fire.Įlectrical Outlets - European boats are designed with European appliances in mind and have receptacles that are different from North America. There are several things that can happen if you run a higher electrical current through a 50Hz inverter. Inverters - Manufacturers build inverters for a certain amount of current, voltage and frequency measured in Hertz or cycles. One desirable feature of conversion from 50Hz to 60Hz is an increase in the power available by 15-20%.
#Boat shore power converter generator#
Conversion also changes the speed at which the generator operates at and may increase the noise level when going from 50Hz to 60Hz. Generators - Newer AC generators can usually be converted, but the older generators may not offer this option. Many fridge and air-conditioning motors and compressors can be sensitive to the wrong frequency and could overheat. If the boat was built pre-1990, it is less likely to have dual-frequency appliances. They must be dual-frequency and multi-voltage or they will not work. Here are a few things to look for:Įlectrical Appliances - some appliances can run at either 50Hz or 60Hz with voltages ranging from 100 to 240. When you are looking at a boat, consider the year of manufacture and the electrical specs. First, we will look at the major differences between these two systems and then we will look at a couple of different solutions. For example, or will both give you 1,000 watts, notice that as the voltage is doubled the amperage is reduced by half.Ī boat that is wired for the European market is not compatible with North American AC electrical standards and will not be able to connect to shore power. The advantage of a higher voltage means that you can design your boat's wiring system using smaller gauge wire and save wiring costs. The majority of the world runs at 230 volts and 50Hz. (note: some North American boats also have three phase at 208 volts). North American single phase shore power runs at 120 or 240 volts and 60Hz frequency with amperage ratings of 15, 30, 50 and 100. However, once the boat is in Canada, the boat’s AC electrical system might not be compatible to our North American AC electrical standards.Įuropean shore power generally runs at 230 volts and 50Hz frequency with amperage ratings of 16, 32 or 64.
#Boat shore power converter plus#
The current duty rate for importing a pleasure craft into Canada is 9.5%, plus the import GST. Boat buyers not only have the ability to choose from a global selection of makes and models but can also take advantage of fluctuating currencies and lower duties. The ability to source and purchase a boat on-line has been a game changer in the marine industry.
What are the electrical questions to ask when importing a boat from Europe to Canada?
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