inverters+efficient

[sawingknots]

my experience is that using even a small 12 volt fan will dran a 12 volt battery quickly,would a small inverter be more efficient if so how much more,thanks[yup denese the heat is killing me too]

[sailingdog]

How exactly do you think an inverter would be more efficient? Have you ever felt an operating inverter? If you had, you'd notice they're pretty warm to the touch...that's due to their inefficient nature...converting electricity to heat... and making the heat problem worse. Good 12 VDC fans, like the Bora from Caframo or the Hella Turbo don't draw very much electricity.

[sawingknots]

exactly where in my question do you read that i think they are more efficient duh,thats why i was asking

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by sawingknots

my experience is that using even a small 12 volt fan will dran a 12 volt battery quickly,

Even the most power hungry 12V fans, such as those sold by Wal*Mart for RV's, only draw about .8 - 1 amp. More efficient ones Like the Hella or Bora draw .25 A or less. It would take many days with one of the more efficient fans to kill a decent deep cycle battery. .25 X 24 = 6 Ah's per day.

Originally Posted by sawingknots

would a small inverter be more efficient if so how much more,thanks[yup denese the heat is killing me too]

Inverters can be horibly inefficient, and depending upon what you are running, can be as much as 30+% less efficient than going direct DC.

Just for grins last year I hooked up a small household fan to a 150 watt inverter. It drew 3.6 amps!!!! A 12v Bora burns .25 amps and still moves decent air....

[sawingknots]

thanks maine sail for the very helpful info and thanks again for giving it in a non-arrogant way

[paulk]

Look up the thread for homemade AC:http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...ome-diy-c.html
it's a hoot!

[sawingknots]

thanks paulk,actually that might just work,my boat is on one of the tva impoundments and the water below 10ft is quite cold,i think the reason is because the water is released from the bottem of the dams,on the coast[s.c.,g.a. and florida the water temp seems to remain more constant probablely because of tidal churn,thanks again,something tp ponder anyway

[tomwatt]

there are several posts on inverters and energy usage here on the forums... dig around. Having an inverter sized correctly for the load is a suggested help also. A big inverter with a small load has been suggested to be less efficient than a smaller one with a small load.

[LarryandSusanMacDonald]

sawingknots,

I don't think sailingdog meant his response to be sarcastic or arrogant. He has long been one of our more valued members. (Which explains his rep power of 9.)

Try not to be overly sensitive on sailnet - most of the folks here have lots of valuable information and are generously willing to share their knowledge.

[Boasun]

The picture used is worth ten thousand words....