On the water the use of marine deep cycle batteries is common. They are used to start outboards, run onboard elec-tronics, electric trolling motors, as well as LED lights for fishing at night.
Using good batteries and the right setup can provide some quiet time on the water. How-ever, if you want to run these devices for extended periods of time, the need to charge the batteries becomes apparent.
A portable generator fills the void, however the challenge with a generator is the output is in Alternating Current (AC) and most trolling motors, onboard electronics, and lights are pow-ered by Direct Current (DC). A solution for this problem is found in a converter. A converter takes AC power from the gener-ator and converts it into usable DC current.
Converters come in a wide range of current (amps) and voltage ranges (12V, 24V and 48V) to meet the needs of most fishermen, as well as other out-door enthusiasts, like people who travel off the grid in RVs.
The converter can act as a power supply and provide the needed current, at the proper voltage, for the load that is placed on it. Additionally, most converters have built in tech-nology to safely charge deep-cycle batteries through multi-stage “smart” charging where the battery is monitored during the charging process and the voltage/current drops as the battery gets closer to a full charge.
When looking to purchase a converter it’s important to un-derstand your needs. Most on-board devices require 12 volts and draw a certain amount of current. Add up all of the current requirements to determine the size of the converter you will need.
Use this handy calculator for converting Watts to Amps.
I use converters for two purposes:
1 - to power the devices in my boat when I have the generator on.
2 - to charge my batteries after I leave the water.
I have one converter connect-ed to each battery. When I’m on
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CONVERTERS/
INVERTERS
The Keys to a Long, Quiet Night on the Water
BY PETE GREGOIRE
17
Obscure Adventures Magazine