I got a replacement battery today under warranty from battery world.
The last battery got run too low over a week in feb because i accidently left the inverter switch on.
So the battery had a full charge, everything else was off, but i came back after a week to find the battery run right down and the inverter switch on.
Im baffled to why this would happen. Solar panel(40watts) has been charging fine. Usually i come to the boat and the battery is full.
I guess my question is about the draw from inverters. It seems they draw alot of power. Sometimes if i have a few things on and turn the inverter on, it beeps as theres not enough power. It tends to tip things over the edge. I really seems to be a drain on the battery, even with nothing plugged into it.
i def need more power in the long run, but for day sails, its only the radio and possibly the fridge for about an hour tops.

It might be worth grabbing a cheap amp meter from china on ebay..
run everything through the earth and it will show what your drawing in amps.
I was lazy and havennt got round to re wiring the inverter through the battery monitor so a cant see how many amps the tv draws so i just keep a eye on the volts and it hardly changes, it usally tells you how many amps they draw not loaded up, perhaps google your stats on inverter

www.batterystuff.com/kb/tools/dc-to-ac-amperage-conversion-run-through-an-inverter.html



Perhaps this may help.

What Id like to see on the market is some one like Ryobi power tools making kitchen and household appliances and the you could just swap out the batteries and recharge them from solar on a boat and Rv industries once someone got the message through there thick skulls they have a new market add on to their other power tools They have rechargeable radios that's about it add a deck winch adaptor to a low speed bit and you have a genoa power winch

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HG02 said..
What Id like to see on the market is some one like Ryobi power tools making kitchen and household appliances and the you could just swap out the batteries and recharge them from solar on a boat and Rv industries once someone got the message through there thick skulls they have a new market add on to their other power tools They have rechargeable radios that's about it add a deck winch adaptor to a low speed bit and you have a genoa power winch

Why not keep your old battery 12v power tools and toss the batteries. Wire up some flex with alligator clips and connect them straight to your ships battery. There is no need to have an ac/dc converter on a boat these days.

Invertors on Standby draws mA only, problem is what you plug in.
Don't forget any 240 V devices are terribly un efficient.
Very easy to work out - check the wattage /on 240v/ divide by 12 volts plus 20% losses over invertor.
you get amperage, clear picture how long your bat. capacity can last,
you'll be very surprise how thirsty all are

Do you have a solar controller on the solar panel , if it doesn't have a read out for state of charge and amps going in , you don't know what's going on . Maybe it's the charging supply playing up . Or maybe not , just a thought .

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Charriot said...
Invertors on Standby draws mA only, problem is what you plug in.
Don't forget any 240 V devices are terribly un efficient.
Very easy to work out - check the wattage /on 240v/ divide by 12 volts plus 20% losses over invertor.
you get amperage, clear picture how long your bat. capacity can last,
you'll be very surprise how thirsty all are

What i dont get is how i completely discharged the battery by just.leaving the inverter on for a week while there was sun.

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Ramona said...

HG02 said..
What Id like to see on the market is some one like Ryobi power tools making kitchen and household appliances and the you could just swap out the batteries and recharge them from solar on a boat and Rv industries once someone got the message through there thick skulls they have a new market add on to their other power tools They have rechargeable radios that's about it add a deck winch adaptor to a low speed bit and you have a genoa power winch

Why not keep your old battery 12v power tools and toss the batteries. Wire up some flex with alligator clips and connect them straight to your ships battery. There is no need to have an ac/dc converter on a boat these days.

Interesting concept so like now im onboard doing some work using my.ryobi battery tools. Are you saying to somehow make them run straight off the battery? My only real reason for using the inverter is laptop.

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Sectorsteve said..

Ramona said...

HG02 said..
What Id like to see on the market is some one like Ryobi power tools making kitchen and household appliances and the you could just swap out the batteries and recharge them from solar on a boat and Rv industries once someone got the message through there thick skulls they have a new market add on to their other power tools They have rechargeable radios that's about it add a deck winch adaptor to a low speed bit and you have a genoa power winch

Why not keep your old battery 12v power tools and toss the batteries. Wire up some flex with alligator clips and connect them straight to your ships battery. There is no need to have an ac/dc converter on a boat these days.

Interesting concept so like now im onboard doing some work using my.ryobi battery tools. Are you saying to somehow make them run straight off the battery? My only real reason for using the inverter is laptop.

you change you laptop to a laptop that plugs into a ciggy lighter I have an old Dell thats work was throwing out bought bought a Hybrid ssd/ hard drive TB and fitted it in added windows 7 buy a lead off ebay and plug it into the boat
The older apple desk top are 12 volt also you could buy one of these and wire it into you 12 boat system and update a few hardware bits to make it go a bit harder SSD / hard drive thisis an example below it may or may not be 12 volt but around this year they were 12 volt internally later apple update to a higher voltage
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Apple-Mac-Mini-Desktop-Server-MC408LL-A-October-2009/262481904571?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140106155344%26meid%3D4c7abbcad8ac4e8aa213036137290125%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D182079484768

If your Ryobi is around 19 volts Id look for a TV in the good guys with the power box one end goes to the TV the other 240 volt socket these TV usually run on or around the 19 volt make so you could utilize the ryiobi battery out of you drill to watch it.
They also sell TVs with a power box which coverts 240 volt down to 12 volt so you cut the wire after the power box and connect the two wires to your battery

If you brows the good guys and have a look on the back of the smaller TVs there should be a couple that have a power brick on the back check what voltage they produce and there shpould be a 12 volt TV in there somewhere you cut the power brick off and wire TV to 12 volts

I bought a 240 volt 32 palsonic off ebay works well 12 volt power brick

seeing you like your music

I bought a few usb hubs and HDMI to usb plus wires , plus other bits and pieces and have an old nexus 7 but I dont have the time just now its for maybe next year They can look messy but you can hide they later on.
5 volt off a usB plug

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Sectorsteve said..

My only real reason for using the inverter is laptop.

you don't need an inverter for that. you will waste less power using a DC-DC converter.

what kind of laptop do you have?

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fishmonkey said...

Sectorsteve said..

My only real reason for using the inverter is laptop.

you don't need an inverter for that. you will waste less power using a DC-DC converter.

what kind of laptop do you have?

Thanks ella. Ive got a MacBook air which is really light fast ssd and really long battery life. Pretty sure i can just get a adapter for it. I remember i was gonna get one doing.a.big.road trip.

there are plenty available on eBay however i would pay a bit extra and get one that meets Aust standards rather than the cheapest random one from eBay. make sure you get one with the correct MagSafe version.

this mob has some:

www.laptopplus.com.au/laptop-car-chargers.aspx?c=32

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Ramona said..


Why not keep your old battery 12v power tools and toss the batteries. Wire up some flex with alligator clips and connect them straight to your ships battery. There is no need to have an ac/dc converter on a boat these days.

I have done that with an old Ryobi 12 v cordless. The NiCad batteries are no longer available. It works fine on about 5 metres of lead.

However I also bought the latest Ryobi One + brushless drill which comes with both 2.5 ah and 5 ah batteries for $299 for home and boat use. It is a very powerful tool but does not live on the boat......yet. The range of tools that also run off these batteries is fairly comprehensive and include a SPOT light (other brands have torches and flood lights but not a SPOT light), and an air compressor that is good for tyres and inflatable boats.

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fishmonkey said...
there are plenty available on eBay however i would pay a bit extra and get one that meets Aust standards rather than the cheapest random one from eBay. make sure you get one with the correct MagSafe version.

this mob has some:

www.laptopplus.com.au/laptop-car-chargers.aspx?c=32

Yes i got burned buying a dodgy ac one from China . Didnt work. Took 6 weeks to get here

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Sectorsteve said..

fishmonkey said...
there are plenty available on eBay however i would pay a bit extra and get one that meets Aust standards rather than the cheapest random one from eBay. make sure you get one with the correct MagSafe version.

this mob has some:

www.laptopplus.com.au/laptop-car-chargers.aspx?c=32

Yes i got burned buying a dodgy ac one from China . Didnt work. Took 6 weeks to get here

If you are buying stuff from China, go through alibaba to get some protection from dodgy gear.

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cisco said..

Ramona said..


Why not keep your old battery 12v power tools and toss the batteries. Wire up some flex with alligator clips and connect them straight to your ships battery. There is no need to have an ac/dc converter on a boat these days.

I have done that with an old Ryobi 12 v cordless. The NiCad batteries are no longer available. It works fine on about 5 metres of lead.

However I also bought the latest Ryobi One + brushless drill which comes with both 2.5 ah and 5 ah batteries for $299 for home and boat use. It is a very powerful tool but does not live on the boat......yet. The range of tools that also run off these batteries is fairly comprehensive and include a SPOT light (other brands have torches and flood lights but not a SPOT light), and an air compressor that is good for tyres and inflatable boats.

Me too, with Lithium Battery drill and Multipurpose tool. Although they are designed to work best at 14V they work fine at 12V. I took out the battery packs in mine and soldered wired onto the positive and negative terminals up inside the tools instead. On other end of wire is cigarette plug. The wire is 20ft long so usually I can go anywhere on the boat and use them.

No 240V or inverters required.

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Trek said..

cisco said..

Ramona said..


Why not keep your old battery 12v power tools and toss the batteries. Wire up some flex with alligator clips and connect them straight to your ships battery. There is no need to have an ac/dc converter on a boat these days.

I have done that with an old Ryobi 12 v cordless. The NiCad batteries are no longer available. It works fine on about 5 metres of lead.

However I also bought the latest Ryobi One + brushless drill which comes with both 2.5 ah and 5 ah batteries for $299 for home and boat use. It is a very powerful tool but does not live on the boat......yet. The range of tools that also run off these batteries is fairly comprehensive and include a SPOT light (other brands have torches and flood lights but not a SPOT light), and an air compressor that is good for tyres and inflatable boats.

Me too, with Lithium Battery drill and Multipurpose tool. Although they are designed to work best at 14V they work fine at 12V. I took out the battery packs in mine and soldered wired onto the positive and negative terminals up inside the tools instead. On other end of wire is cigarette plug. The wire is 20ft long so usually I can go anywhere on the boat and use them.

No 240V or inverters required.

I think I am missing something here. Why are you not using cordless drills as cordless? Have the batteries died? I needed a cordless to fix a hole in the boat below the waterline, wouldn't have been able to without it. I guess you could use the wired drills with a battery pack.

I think their point is to use these tools as theyll run off boats power. You could also just have some charged up and having the charger with you and some tools. Hopefully when your cruising for a few months you.wont have to do much work. Im def gonna remove the inverter. Dont need it. I used it for jig saw , the vacuum cleaner and laptop. Removed vacuum cleaner yesterday(ill just use sponges, dust pan and brush) ive installed multiple 12v sockets. Enough for phones tablets and the lappy when i get the adapter. Tools wise the guy who owned the boat had hand tools aboard. Hand drill hsndsaws etc. Not a bad idea maybe

I charge my dyson cordkess; Bosch cordless drilll, phone , ipad and watch tv all through my inverter power points scattered throughout the boat. I find very little amp draw from theses chargeing devices. Biggest draw is large Tv 3 to 4 amps and fridge 3 to 4 amps.

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PhoenixStar said..

Trek said..

cisco said..

Ramona said..


Why not keep your old battery 12v power tools and toss the batteries. Wire up some flex with alligator clips and connect them straight to your ships battery. There is no need to have an ac/dc converter on a boat these days.

I have done that with an old Ryobi 12 v cordless. The NiCad batteries are no longer available. It works fine on about 5 metres of lead.

However I also bought the latest Ryobi One + brushless drill which comes with both 2.5 ah and 5 ah batteries for $299 for home and boat use. It is a very powerful tool but does not live on the boat......yet. The range of tools that also run off these batteries is fairly comprehensive and include a SPOT light (other brands have torches and flood lights but not a SPOT light), and an air compressor that is good for tyres and inflatable boats.

Me too, with Lithium Battery drill and Multipurpose tool. Although they are designed to work best at 14V they work fine at 12V. I took out the battery packs in mine and soldered wired onto the positive and negative terminals up inside the tools instead. On other end of wire is cigarette plug. The wire is 20ft long so usually I can go anywhere on the boat and use them.

No 240V or inverters required.

I think I am missing something here. Why are you not using cordless drills as cordless? Have the batteries died? I needed a cordless to fix a hole in the boat below the waterline, wouldn't have been able to without it. I guess you could use the wired drills with a battery pack.

Hi Phoenix. Its because to drill a small number of holes or sand a bit here and there etc the batteries last fine. But to renovate a boat where you might want to use the tool all day (me) the batteries go flat way to fast (flat in 1 hour). Running of the boats batteries they go indefinitely.

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Trek said..

PhoenixStar said..

Trek said..

cisco said..

Ramona said..


Why not keep your old battery 12v power tools and toss the batteries. Wire up some flex with alligator clips and connect them straight to your ships battery. There is no need to have an ac/dc converter on a boat these days.

I have done that with an old Ryobi 12 v cordless. The NiCad batteries are no longer available. It works fine on about 5 metres of lead.

However I also bought the latest Ryobi One + brushless drill which comes with both 2.5 ah and 5 ah batteries for $299 for home and boat use. It is a very powerful tool but does not live on the boat......yet. The range of tools that also run off these batteries is fairly comprehensive and include a SPOT light (other brands have torches and flood lights but not a SPOT light), and an air compressor that is good for tyres and inflatable boats.

Me too, with Lithium Battery drill and Multipurpose tool. Although they are designed to work best at 14V they work fine at 12V. I took out the battery packs in mine and soldered wired onto the positive and negative terminals up inside the tools instead. On other end of wire is cigarette plug. The wire is 20ft long so usually I can go anywhere on the boat and use them.

No 240V or inverters required.

I think I am missing something here. Why are you not using cordless drills as cordless? Have the batteries died? I needed a cordless to fix a hole in the boat below the waterline, wouldn't have been able to without it. I guess you could use the wired drills with a battery pack.

Hi Phoenix. Its because to drill a small number of holes or sand a bit here and there etc the batteries last fine. But to renovate a boat where you might want to use the tool all day (me) the batteries go flat way to fast (flat in 1 hour). Running of the boats batteries they go indefinitely.

OK, I get that for a major refit. No shore power?

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PhoenixStar said..

Trek said..

PhoenixStar said..

Trek said..

cisco said..

Ramona said..


Why not keep your old battery 12v power tools and toss the batteries. Wire up some flex with alligator clips and connect them straight to your ships battery. There is no need to have an ac/dc converter on a boat these days.

I have done that with an old Ryobi 12 v cordless. The NiCad batteries are no longer available. It works fine on about 5 metres of lead.

However I also bought the latest Ryobi One + brushless drill which comes with both 2.5 ah and 5 ah batteries for $299 for home and boat use. It is a very powerful tool but does not live on the boat......yet. The range of tools that also run off these batteries is fairly comprehensive and include a SPOT light (other brands have torches and flood lights but not a SPOT light), and an air compressor that is good for tyres and inflatable boats.

Me too, with Lithium Battery drill and Multipurpose tool. Although they are designed to work best at 14V they work fine at 12V. I took out the battery packs in mine and soldered wired onto the positive and negative terminals up inside the tools instead. On other end of wire is cigarette plug. The wire is 20ft long so usually I can go anywhere on the boat and use them.

No 240V or inverters required.

I think I am missing something here. Why are you not using cordless drills as cordless? Have the batteries died? I needed a cordless to fix a hole in the boat below the waterline, wouldn't have been able to without it. I guess you could use the wired drills with a battery pack.

Hi Phoenix. Its because to drill a small number of holes or sand a bit here and there etc the batteries last fine. But to renovate a boat where you might want to use the tool all day (me) the batteries go flat way to fast (flat in 1 hour). Running of the boats batteries they go indefinitely.

OK, I get that for a major refit. No shore power?

Swing mooring in Elvina Bay north of Sydney. Not even TV :-)

For example it took days and days to cut this hole to get the engine out. It was unfortunately built into the boat and was a seized blob of iron that had been under a foot of seawater for two years.

Do you live at elvina bay trek?

Is that the fuel tank above or a hot water service trek?

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HG02 said..


I bought a few usb hubs and HDMI to usb plus wires , plus other bits and pieces and have an old nexus 7 but I dont have the time just now its for maybe next year They can look messy but you can hide they later on.
5 volt off a usB plug

You're very handy with computers HG, in addition to engines, boats, women etc. etc.

I'm interested in the HDMI space - how and where do you use the "HDMI to USB" converters?