Cool Ideas
More people these days are asking if they can set up their boats to run air conditioning from their batteries. A few years ago, this wouldn’t have been possible, but with powerful inverters, efficient a/c and the right size battery bank, boaters are now able to enjoy cool, generator-free silence at anchor.
There are just a few details that have to be discussed first.
The Good Ol’ Days
The amount of electricity we expect our boats to store has steadily risen over time. Fifty years ago, a boat might have had a few lights and fans, a depthsounder and the need to start the engine. One or two small car batteries worked fine for this.
DC electrical systems used to run lights, fans, electronics and a few other low-amperage devices. Any larger loads were typically handled by an AC generator. Then, DC refrigeration systems proliferated, creating a need for larger battery banks. It was not uncommon for the DC refrigeration to triple the boat’s previous DC requirements.
The next big step came with powerful inverters that could provide AC power from the battery bank. This setup allowed more creature comforts, such as microwaves and TVs, to be brought aboard. It also increased the need for larger battery banks. Bow and stern thrusters brought another need.
Today, far more
