Underway is actually better for the engine. My alternator regulator will back off charging if the alternator overheats. Does yours do that? I would say go ahead and give it a try and see what happens, but the potential for damaging the alternator does exist. If you don't have temperature sensing you might get an IR thermometer to check on the alternator.

The other way to do this is belt an air conditioner compressor off the engine like a car.

Joe

Coquina

On 9/19/2020 11:13 AM, Edd Schillay wrote:
Joe,

Thanks. I wasn’t looking to run all night at anchor. I was only thinking if we were moving under power with little to no breeze behind us, if it were possible to cool down the cabin a little, or at least get some relief standing in front of a vent for a short time.

All the best,

Edd

———————————————-
Edd M. Schillay
Captain of the “Starship Enterprise”
C&C 37+ | Sail No.: NCC-1701-B
Venice Yacht Club | Venice Island, FL
www.StarshipSailing.com
———————————————-
914.774.9767   | Mobile
———————————————-
Sent via iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone. iTypos. iApologize


On Sep 19, 2020, at 11:01 AM, Joe Della Barba <j...@dellabarba.com> wrote:



That would be a marginal operation at best. The most benign thing that would go wrong would be the inverter overheating and shutting down. If that doesn't happen, running an alternator that hard for hours on end is pretty tough duty, I would not be surprised if the alternator died an early death.

The worst case scenario is trying to run the AC at anchor. Long ago I dealt with a company that was selling 3 KW AC generators that belted off the main engine. End result was people running their engines all night to run the AC and carbon fouling them to death.


Joe

Coquina

On 9/19/2020 10:24 AM, Edd Schillay wrote:
Listers,

As some of you already know, we installed air conditioning on the Enterprise a couple of months ago. We are currently at the dock on Captiva Island and the cabin is a glorious 75 degrees.  According to the installer, at startup and maximum compression, the air conditioning on the boat will draw 1400 Watts.

Years ago, when I repowered the boat with a new Beta 30 engine, I added a 120A alternator and a 2000W inverter, mostly so my wife can use her hairdryer when under way.

My AC panel is switchable between Shore Power and the Inverter’ power.

So here’s the question: Do you think it’s possible to actually run the air conditioning with the engine running? The math seems to work, but I am hesitant to give it a try.

And, if it doesn’t work, what would actually happen? Are we talking a tripped breaker or something bad like alternator issues.

Signed,

Clueless in Captiva.

All the best,

Edd

———————————————-
Edd M. Schillay
Captain of the “Starship Enterprise”
C&C 37+ | Sail No.: NCC-1701-B
Venice Yacht Club | Venice Island, FL
www.StarshipSailing.com
———————————————-
914.774.9767   | Mobile
———————————————-
Sent via iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone. iTypos. iApologize


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