[PUP] Synchronizing Inverters

[Dan Gill]

I have had several direct e-mails to the effect of "What are you talking about?"  A synchronizing inverter allows you to use smaller generator or shorepower without overloading it or tripping breakers.  They do this through wizardry that monitors power demand relative to available power and protecting your source from overload.  When demand exceeds supply capacity, the inverter senses this, synchronizes itself to the source (voltage, frequency, phase, and sometimes waveform), then parallels itself to the source and picking up the load.  This happens in milliseconds and is essentially invisible and seamless.

The additional power is , of course, drawn from the house bank.  When the demand drops below the limits of the source, the inverter then uses what is available over boat demands to recharge the house bank.  The advantages are huge:
    1. No more tripped shore power breakers
    2.  No struggling to start air conditioners or other big loads
    3.  Using a smaller genset is lighter, cheaper, and usually quieter
     4.  The smaller genset is run at a higher average load which is good for it
    5.  The genset is run at a more effecient power setting which is more economically
   6.  System reliability is enhanced.

That's it in a nutshell.  These inverters were one of the best attended seminars at IBEX (International Boatbuilder's Exhibition) this year.  One of the main issues is that E-11 does not permit two power sources connected to load at the same time.  European boats have been using these for several years.  I am using a Victron product on my Duck 44.

Dan Gill
dd44 "Pelagic"