www.iFourWinns.com

Do you run your A/C while underway? Did you have to change out your alternator for this setup?

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

We don't have A/C on-board edit - looking back on the prior post, I see that I wrote A/C when I meant 120-volt AC (another potential project). However, that would be too much continuous load for a typical 1500 watt inverter and it would draw the batteries down fairly quickly. For example, if you had four Group-31 deep cycle batteries as house power (let's say they are real good ones and have 100 amp-hour capacity), you would have 400 amp hours. Running an inverter at 1500 watts, you would have about 1.3 hours of power. Running the boat's engine would increase this time a bit. The A/C is best run with a generator.

The standard Volvo engine alternator is fine for charging unless you have really drawn the batteries down and you want them full up in a quick time frame .... then run the Honda to charge them via the shore-power circuits.

By the way ..............................

The December, 2007 issue of Boating, has a DIY article on installing a marine generator.

The February 2008 issue has a DIY on installing an inverter/charger. While this one has useful info., I will not be doing my install just like this. Mine will be inverter only, installed off the house batteries and will be an alternate supply to the shore-power input (which will be either the portable gen or actual shore-power) so will need a transfer switch for shore/inverter.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Gordon -- I happen to notice the shelf space in the engine compartment, as well. I really had not paid attention until yesterday and I was wondering what else I could store in that area. Extra batteries might do the trick.

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__________________________________________

2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

Since it's so inconvenient to get the engine hatch open, we have not really used the engine compartment for anything that we would want to get to regularly. So, using this area for either a hard-mount generator or extra house batteries .... makes sense.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

I would think that adding another set of house batteries would add greatly to the boating experience when you are away from shore power. You could easily run just about anything with a good inverter EXCEPT for A/C.

If you won't want to buy a generator - and you don't care about A/C - I think adding those 2 extra house batteries is the way to go.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I was considering the same on adding batteries and my dealer stressed that the alternator would need to be upgraded to carry the load of the extra batteries. You may want to double check that before you burn out our alternator/voltage regulator.

I have not had the time to pursue this but will try during the off season.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

You do bring up a good point, Jnizi.

Here are some considerations, in this area:

* A wet lead-acid battery can accept about 25% of it's capacity, in charging amps.

* The alternator should be sized to have a capacity of about 25% of the total capacity of your battery bank. Why? See the point above.

With these two points in consideration, a 400 amp-hour house battery bank should have a 100-amp alternator. Bigger is fine, but it will not charge the batteries any faster. Smaller will just take longer to charge the batteries .... and .... the alternator will potentially run hotter and have a somewhat shorter life.

I think the alternator on our 2003 model 5.7 GI-DP is 75-amps. This is about 18% of the theoratical battery bank capacity. I'm OK with that ..... knowing that, in this case, I may be shortening the alternator's life. Besides, I certainly won't be fully discharging (to 50% charge) the batteries on a daily basis.

And ......

If we also have a Honda (or similar) generator, this can be used to juice up a well discharged battery bank, anyway.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

captwalt,
could you please explain how you set up the additional gas tank for extended run time?
Thanks.

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2005 Vista 268 "ALTEAN"

I will get you some pictures this weekend.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

double post

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

Here you go...

What you need is

Topside Fuel Tank (mine is 3 gallons)
Fuel Line
Fuel line tank connectors
Extra Gas Cap for eu2000

Here is the gas cap in which I modified by inserting the male fuel line connector.


Here it is with the fuel line attached


Finally I strap down the tank under the rear seat out of the way

So, the generator will draw through the cap? Are you basically mounting the fuel line connector where the cap vent was? I don't have the gen yet, so I can't look at this.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Yes.


That's exactly right. When you start to use the genny you open the vent on the tank itself.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

Note you can always purchase a complete kit for about 110 bucks.
http://store.wisesales.com/extended-run ... ingle.html

My setup just saved me about 80 bucks.

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Walter

2003 248 Vista - VP 5.0 GXi
2009 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4x4

Thanks for the info Walt. Just had the boat wrapped and now am eagerly looking forward to next summer! My wife is expecting our 3rd girl so my son and I plan on seeking refuge by sleeping on the boat all summer! Will be nice to run the AC. The only other thing I need to do is install a TV/DVD player, but I'll wait until the spring to look into that since I know there are some here who have been successful.
Hopefully it won't be a long cold winter!

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2005 Vista 268 "ALTEAN"