www.iFourWinns.com

New to forum, been reading for awhile but this is my first post.
I have a question for you guys who may have experience with this.
After spending a weekend on my new Sundowner (2001 - 215) we
realized that we can't live without morning coffee. My question is
should I buy a 12 volt coffee maker or an inverter to use a 110v coffee
maker. I have no experience with 12 volt appliances and don't know how
well they work. May also want to use an electric cooler and fan in the
cabin. Thank you! Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Has anyone swapped out a light in the cabin for a small fan?
Ron

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Ron & Kathy
2001 215 Sundowner

Hi Ron,

You could an use inverter to run a coffee maker but you must be VERY mindful of the power ratings on the coffee maker and the inverter.

Some coffee makers require in excess of 1000w of power at 120v ac. WATTS = Volts x AMPS (at any voltage)
For example, the one on my kitchen counter is rated at 1100w. It brews coffee in about 10-15 min.

1000w at 12 volts would be 1000/12 = over 80 AMPS!!

so to power your typical 120v coffee maker you would need at LEAST a 1000w inverter. They are not at all 100% efficient either, a 1000w inverter that will indeed provide 1000w AC would probably draw close to 100A. (100a on a battery for 20min will probably kill it.....so you would probably need to run the engine unless you have some "herkin'" batteries!!)

12v coffee makers are not much better. To make them so they don't kill the battery before the coffee is brewed, you have to design them to not draw a lot of current, of course if you do that they take a LONG time to brew ............. Here's one: be sure to read the reviews too http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0045876515272a.shtml.


What do you mean by "electric cooler"? If that means air conditioning, they'll draw lot of current also............ An electric fan doesn't draw much power and there's a lot of 12v models available....

I think if I wanted to make coffee on my boat I'd use a small propane model....(those have their own safety concerns though.......there's no free lunch!!)


Cheers,

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1987 Four Winns Liberator 211, formerly OMC 460 King Kobra powered, replaced in 2006 by a 1997 Mercruiser 454/Bravo III

I would install another battery (ship battery) if you don't already have one and connect an inverter to it to use for "accessories" that require 110v . This will leave a starting available to get you home and the alternator will charge the ship battery on the trip home.

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"Kokomo"
2006 Four Winns Vista 318

The cooler (ice chest) we looked at was an Igloo cooler for drinks powered by 12 volt.
It would fit into the area that the factory ice chest fits now.
Usually they sell these to plug into your power port and they're popular with truck drivers.
We do have two batteries that we can switch to either or both.
We read the reviews and decided to skip the coffee pot. WalMart sells an acceptable
alternative. A cup of coffee that self heats for around $2.00 and it's not bad, not Starbucks
but it's not bad. I appreciate the info on the inverter also as I don't want to drain a battery just to make coffee. Thanks for your help!
Ron

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Ron & Kathy
2001 215 Sundowner