snip>> I am wondering why no one is addressing another solution
that uses an alternator and Inverter technology that uses a
modified alternator (easily mounted), whose output is NOT
dictated by the RPM of the engine? To me, this seems to be an
ideal solution to a motor-driven source of AC power. There are
several outfits that sell this technology, and the amount of
kilowatts produced depends upon the model chosen. I wonder if
anyone on this list has such a unit installed? <<end snip
We have this exact system on MOJO, our 49-10 Robert Beebe
designed Passagemaker in steel. The unit is called "SeaPower"
and is engineered and manufactured by Mobile Electric Power
Systems (www.meps.com) in Garland, Texas (Dallas). Ours is an
older 5kw unit which will produce up to 40 amps of pure sine wave
120v power while underway, using only a maximum of 8 hp from our
engine. It does a great job of running our refrigeration, our
freezer and our 105 amp inverter/charger. With "only" 5 kw of
power, we do have to manage loads at startup, but once the
batteries are partially charged, it will simultaneously power our
110v hot water heater. Once the water is hot, it will run a
16,000 BTU air conditioner. The unit is over 13 years old and
the only maintenance we have done is to have MEPS replace the
bearings in the alternator this past summer when they started
getting a little noisy. MEPS company support was great,
turnaround time was only a few days and the cost to replace the
bearings was $289.30 which included return shipping. Having the
SeaPower means we never have to run our genset any time we're
underway, and when we arrive at our destination we have fully
topped off batteries, a full tank of hot water and the deckhouse
was nice and cool while underway if we needed air conditioning.
We have a 9 kw genset aboard, but we also have 1000 watts of
solar panels so between the solar panels and the SeaPower, the
genset gets little use. I don't know the cost of the systems
today. This unit was on MOJO when we purchased her and at that
time they sold for about $5K for a 5kw unit.
Ray
www.mvmojo.com
snip>> I am wondering why no one is addressing another solution
that uses an alternator and Inverter technology that uses a
modified alternator (easily mounted), whose output is NOT
dictated by the RPM of the engine? To me, this seems to be an
ideal solution to a motor-driven source of AC power. There are
several outfits that sell this technology, and the amount of
kilowatts produced depends upon the model chosen. I wonder if
anyone on this list has such a unit installed? <<end snip
We have this exact system on MOJO, our 49-10 Robert Beebe
designed Passagemaker in steel. The unit is called "SeaPower"
and is engineered and manufactured by Mobile Electric Power
Systems (www.meps.com) in Garland, Texas (Dallas). Ours is an
older 5kw unit which will produce up to 40 amps of pure sine wave
120v power while underway, using only a maximum of 8 hp from our
engine. It does a great job of running our refrigeration, our
freezer and our 105 amp inverter/charger. With "only" 5 kw of
power, we do have to manage loads at startup, but once the
batteries are partially charged, it will simultaneously power our
110v hot water heater. Once the water is hot, it will run a
16,000 BTU air conditioner. The unit is over 13 years old and
the only maintenance we have done is to have MEPS replace the
bearings in the alternator this past summer when they started
getting a little noisy. MEPS company support was great,
turnaround time was only a few days and the cost to replace the
bearings was $289.30 which included return shipping. Having the
SeaPower means we never have to run our genset any time we're
underway, and when we arrive at our destination we have fully
topped off batteries, a full tank of hot water and the deckhouse
was nice and cool while underway if we needed air conditioning.
We have a 9 kw genset aboard, but we also have 1000 watts of
solar panels so between the solar panels and the SeaPower, the
genset gets little use. I don't know the cost of the systems
today. This unit was on MOJO when we purchased her and at that
time they sold for about $5K for a 5kw unit.
Ray
www.mvmojo.com
