Transformers

[Edo Kazumichi]

Hi ya'll!

I've got a Xantrex Truecharge 20 connected to a Marinco power inlet. Problem is that I'm in a 220V country.

I've also got a 100 watt transformer. Seems to me that I could simply cut my Marinco power cord and wire the transformer's output into that then plug it into the boat.

I'm ONLY running the battery charger off of the shore power and won't be plugging anything into my AC outlets so I don't think I have to worry about the transformer's low power output.

Will this work?

Thanks in advance. This crowd is always a big help!

Edo

[sailingdog]

I don't think that is going to work. The numbers are just wrong.

The Xantrex Truecharge 20 outputs 20 Amps @ 14.5 Volts, or almost 300 Watts... You've got a 100 Watt transformer.

[Edo Kazumichi]

Okay. So, if I get a transformer of at least (20 x 14.5 =) 290 watts then it should work, right? Any other problems that you can see?

[sailingdog]

IIRC, you're probably going to need closer to a 350 Watt transformer. Per the Xantrex specification sheet, the Xantrex Truecharge 20 is only 85% efficient, which means to get the 290 Watts or so out, it needs to have about 350 watts as an input.

[camaraderie]

EDO...I am not understanding. What does the transformer "transform"? In the 220V countries I've been in...transformers are used to transform dockside 220V/50hz power into 110V/50hz power and are wired with a 30amp female marinco plug to allow you to run your 30A shorepower cord. Thus the Xantrex should see 110V power (50hz) and run just fine. Why would you be cutting power cords? Do you not have access to female marinco plugs?
I don't understand the wattage issue either as I've never heard of a 100 watt dockside transformer. All the dockside transformers in the Caribe are big heavy affairs capable of running air conditioning as well as other on board stuff, so maybe I am just thinking about this wrong!

Oh...and in any event...I'd get something at least 50% bigger than my continuous need to allow for losses and startup loads.

[sailingdog]

Cam-

I don't think he's using a standard "dock-side" transformer of any sort. I think he's trying to cobble together a work around to solve the problem on a very temporary basis...at least that is my hope...since the real solution would be to either get a proper marine transformer setup or a 240 VAC battery charger.

[camaraderie]

ahhh...got it. Ditto your advice!

[brak]

Considering a price of something like that, it probably would have been cheaper to get a native 110-220v charger for the boat (and a lot less problematic).

BTW, I actually thought Xantrex covered the entire range, until I got it installed and read the manual What a bummer, I haven't seen a 110v only electronic device in years.

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by brak

BTW, I actually thought Xantrex covered the entire range, until I got it installed and read the manual What a bummer, I haven't seen a 110v only electronic device in years.

That was my first thought, too, brak. I'm almost shocked the Xantrex is 110VAC only. Not that it'll likely ever be an issue for me, but you never know.

Jim

[brak]

I bet they do it on purpose, to charge more for a "dual voltage" version just like TrueCharge 20 and 40 are the same hardware with different firmware on it.