Electrical systems are the least understood systems on a craft, and as such, people are sold trash recommended by friends, salesmen, and the 'look" of the unit.. , when they should be talking to professionals who design & specify this type of equipment.. As designers of marine power systems, we see time & time again, chargers & inverters that fail running at 50% load, pretty units whose cases & internals fail in an marine salt & damp environment.. If U insist on specifying your own equipment, at least go down to the local commercial docks, talk to fishing boat Captains or others who make their livings on a boat & find out what equipment they use.. If their equipment fails...they don't eat... Most of the electrical equipment provided by OEM's came originally, from the trailer industry, like refrigerators, chargers, etc & are used because they buy this trash at a good price, not for reliability. Stick with commercial equipment like Heart & Ample Power, if U go offshore or require reliability in your electrical components.. They will pay for themselves, over time.. What's a good night's sleep worth....... Ken Ongemach BSEE Marine Power Consultant

Ken, I am surprised as a power consultant you don't know there is no longer a "Heart" and is now Xantrex. Xantrex does have a less than stellar reputation of late so not a product one might consider commercial nor one that at least I would recommend. Your advise is good to look at what is being used in the commercial markets but there are many high quality, well built, well engineered units out there that are targeted to the pleasure boat owner that is as good or better than those found on commercial vessels. In addition, the demands and systems found on commercial boats are in many instances far different from those found on a pleasure vessel of the type most of us cruise on. Chuck To follow our adventures, go to http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/ http://sea-trek.blogspot.com/ --- On Sun, 7/19/09, Ken Ongemach <kongemac@tampabay.rr.com> wrote: > > If U insist on specifying your own equipment, at least go > down to the local > commercial docks, talk to fishing boat Captains or others > who make their > livings on a boat & find out what equipment they use.. > Stick with commercial equipment like Heart & Ample > Power, if U go offshore or > require reliability in your electrical components.. They > will pay for > themselves, over time.. What's a good night's sleep > worth....... > > Ken Ongemach BSEE

"Ken Ongemach" <kongemac@tampabay.rr.com> writes: >If U insist on specifying your own equipment, at least go down to the local >commercial docks, talk to fishing boat Captains or others who make their >livings on a boat & find out what equipment they use.. If their equipment >fails...they don't eat... What he said. Every fish boat I've ever seen uses Square D household-style br eaker panels for AC, and that's exactly what I put in Island Eagle. May not l ook "nautical", but on the other hand the panels cost $22 and the breakers we re under $10. Performance has been flawless. Scott Welch Product Manager, Open Text Collaboration and Social Media Group www.opentext.com 905 762 6101 "Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out ." - John Wooden