Carver Owners Forum

Alanna Mo Cree wrote:QR_BBPOST Arco is coming out with 7KW alternators

Sounds like quite the project.

Considering the size and draw/output of those alternators will there have to be any mounting bracket and/or serpentine belt mods required on your gassers?

bud37 wrote:QR_BBPOST Considering the size and draw/output of those alternators will there have to be any mounting bracket and/or serpentine belt mods required on your gassers?

Based on the photos of the current 70A units I shared with them they don't think so. "You're engines are setup very nicely for high output alternators."

I'll definitely be keeping a close eye on things for the first little while since there isn't a large fleet out there yet.

I am on a very similar path. I’m looking for someone who has a 350 Mariner that’s wired for 220v. If you do, could you send me a link to your wiring diagram?

I have my 350 Mariner 110v boat overseas and have been using modified tool transformers as step-down isolation transformers for the available 220v shore power. It’s worked great, but my microwave is getting old and I’ll probably replace the original 24-year-old AC with a newer variable-speed 12v AC (Mabru). The Charles battery charger still works, but Charles is out of the charger business, so I can upgrade to a newer dual-voltage version. I presently have solar 25w trickle chargers on the starter batteries.

Except for the water heater, which I don’t really need, that’s all my 110v loads.

On my last haul out, I pulled the Kohler generator since it never ran well. I’m thinking about going solar with a LiFePO4 power station like EcoFlow or Anker Solix. Victron is good but more complex and expensive for my scenario and usage pattern. The Ecoflow has an alternator DC-DC charger that can recharge the batteries while the engine is running but go idle when not, so it won’t drain the lead-acid starter batteries. Since these power stations only come in 220v versions, I’m still stuck with running them through the step-down transformer via the original generator input. I was planning to run a separate 220v loop on the boat connected directly to the power station to power local appliances like a kettle and a Nespresso.

But then I had an idea: if my 110v loads are so few and can be replaced with 220v or 12v systems, is it possible to just run the 220v through the 110v panel? The advantage of USA boats overseas is the heavy solid-core Romex electrical cables vs the stranded smaller gauge wiring used in Europe. The 110v breakers are rated at 30 amps. According to Ohm’s law, as voltage increases, the amperage decreases, but the power stays the same. I’ll still use an isolation transformer for when I occasionally use shore power. Our sailing profile is usually only day trips to local coastal waters. Overnights usually at dockside.

I am leaning very heavy to the EcoFlow Delta Pro 3

What do you think?


Items referenced above
https://uk.ecoflow.com/products/delta-p ... er-station
https://www.anker.com/uk/a1780?ref=1780 ... heckspecs#!
https://us.ecoflow.com/products/800w-alternator-charger

I originally thought about going with one of the power stations, but I didn't want to bother with worrying about placement of the components on a gasoline powered boat.

My electrician, Victron, and I are dialing in the final details of the electrical upgrade now. There are a few components selected that are not available for general purchase yet, but when my electrician shared what I was looking to do all the distributors of the various components have gotten very interested in what is turning out to be very cutting edge. Hopefully cutting edge doesn't equal a lot of problems or downtime.

I'll probably have a final design in the next week or so. Some of the recent changes include:
48v generator replacement system

• 2x Arco 48v 9kw alternators with Zeus external regulation
• Custom built enclosure with blower system for cooling and slight positive pressure to allow install in gasoline engine room
• 4x 24v 200Ah LiFePO4 batteries (~16kWh usable capacity)
• Victron Multiplus II for 110v loads and 48v charging from shore power
• 48v system charges existing 12v AGM house bank (until that bank needs to be replaced and then I can go LiFePO4 by changing the charge profile)
• 2x Cerbo GX (one for 48v system and one for 12v house bank)
• 2x Touch GX 70 (one for 48v system and one for 12v house bank)

We're also considering upgrading the air conditioning to Mabru variable speed units, replacing the 12k BTU forward unit with a 9k and the 16k BTU salon unit with a 17k. The previous owner replaced the salon unit the year before selling, so the existing one is only about four years old. This would give about 10 hours run time to 80% discharge on batteries if both units are running at 100% of rated capacity the entire time. Given how much our existing units run I wouldn't be surprised if the new ones do run at 100% the whole time.

One note on solar. I brought up having solar panels, but the calculations just don't work yet for this size boat. At some point in the future I hope that more efficient solar panels come to market and I'll look to add a hard top with solar. The system I'm putting in will be able to be upgraded to solar fairly easily.

I don't know what colour the salon front window bra is if you have one..... but I found that changing from the black to white lowered the radiant heat inside the salon a considerable amount on a few different boats.

Our window bra is black and about ready to be changed. Any concerns with keeping a white one looking clean? I've also talked to my tint guy about using a reflective tint. It made a difference, though I wouldn't say it was too big a difference, on my truck windows.

Alanna Mo Cree wrote:QR_BBPOST Any concerns with keeping a white one looking clean?

I used something called phifertex marine mesh....that was a while back though and you do have to clean it every now and again. That depends on how clean the fibreglass coaming is above the window....streaks

There may be some better materials now though, worth a look around, even a light beige may be ok.

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Alanna Mo Cree wrote:QR_BBPOST I originally thought about going with one of the power stations, but I didn't want to bother with worrying about placement of the components on a gasoline powered boat.

My electrician, Victron, and I are dialing in the final details of the electrical upgrade now. There are a few components selected that are not available for general purchase yet, but when my electrician shared what I was looking to do all the distributors of the various components have gotten very interested in what is turning out to be very cutting edge. Hopefully cutting edge doesn't equal a lot of problems or downtime.

I'll probably have a final design in the next week or so. Some of the recent changes include:
48v generator replacement system

• 2x Arco 48v 9kw alternators with Zeus external regulation
• Custom built enclosure with blower system for cooling and slight positive pressure to allow install in gasoline engine room
• 4x 24v 200Ah LiFePO4 batteries (~16kWh usable capacity)
• Victron Multiplus II for 110v loads and 48v charging from shore power
• 48v system charges existing 12v AGM house bank (until that bank needs to be replaced and then I can go LiFePO4 by changing the charge profile)
• 2x Cerbo GX (one for 48v system and one for 12v house bank)
• 2x Touch GX 70 (one for 48v system and one for 12v house bank)

We're also considering upgrading the air conditioning to Mabru variable speed units, replacing the 12k BTU forward unit with a 9k and the 16k BTU salon unit with a 17k. The previous owner replaced the salon unit the year before selling, so the existing one is only about four years old. This would give about 10 hours run time to 80% discharge on batteries if both units are running at 100% of rated capacity the entire time. Given how much our existing units run I wouldn't be surprised if the new ones do run at 100% the whole time.

One note on solar. I brought up having solar panels, but the calculations just don't work yet for this size boat. At some point in the future I hope that more efficient solar panels come to market and I'll look to add a hard top with solar. The system I'm putting in will be able to be upgraded to solar fairly easily.

Hi, Regarding your enclosure for installing in the engine space, have you considered putting the control and battery in the cabin space either under the berthing or dining areas? I am looking at replicating the Battle Born all-in-one system https://battlebornbatteries.com/product/lpp6500/ In my case, we removed the CRT TV from the carver and have a cavernous space in that area now, which could house the Victron control components. LiFePO4 do not off gas so they are safe in the living spaces.

dlldxb wrote:QR_BBPOST have you considered putting the control and battery in the cabin space either under the berthing or dining areas?

Yes. The captain, electrician, and fabricators were all on board with converting one of the lockers in the mid-cabin to be an electrical space. The admiral said that was fine if she was given equal or greater air conditioned storage space somewhere else.

The "compromise" is the admiral keeps her storage and I get a 36" x 26" x 24" enclosure to house the new electrical components in place of the existing generator.

Arco is coming out with 7KW alternators.

I don't have a lot of experience with gas engines, but from all my research about my Cummins diesels, the alternator drive system on a 370HP 6BTA will not support driving an alternator output above about 60-70 AMP’s at 700 Idle RPM, or much above 180- 200 AMP at 1500 RPM.

Again, I realize this is for my diesels, and gassers are a whole different animal, but it seems wild that they could drive a 7KW alternator.

Following closely as I really love this concept of ditching the genny!


Kyle