New Inverter issue

We have been off the dock for several days. Headed south and anchored in the N/W corner of Lake George behind Drayton Island.
The weather was cool and A C was not needed.
Inverter was set-up to start the lil gen-set when its batteries got low.

TVs, Computers, 115Vac lights, Crock Pot, Coffee maker, Micro-wave oven, Refrigerator & Ice maker were all working great. 2 days later, the inverter batteries were still delivering very well.

We were all so happy the inverter was running so fine for so long with its new batteries. No gen-set running. 1 to 2+ GPH diesel fuel not consumed

Then little things were noticed; The Raritan Crown head started running slow, DCv lights were not as bright, DCv potable water pump a lil weak.

Then AIS sounded a strange alarm. A GPS repeater went blank. A depth sounder went blank.

We forgot about the ships main batteries. Both 32V banks run the house demands and were dead (port) and low (stb).

A DCv to DCv converter keeps a 12V electronics battery charged from the stb battery bank when a gen-set is not running also.

In near 20 years, never had this problem before; inverter batteries lasting longer than the house batteries.

Well, out of HOT water anyway, Gen-sets have their own battery, Lit one up and all back up quickly and a nice hot shower after dinner.

So, not really an inverter problem but a new issue because of a too-good inverter system.



Next;
I don’t want to run either 40A battery charger thru the inverter but I can not find any 32V, low current, battery trickle or maintaining chargers.

Anybody have any lead s or ideas?

I had 16 batteries before, now down to 14.
As much as I recommended a house bank to others when they can, I'm not going to create a 32V house bank here.
No room, and the boat is on a diet.

Thank you four thoughts

Well, your idea is what we ended up doing, twice.
Butt;
Unlike AGM batteries, these starting & house flooded batteries are not the type I would want to discharge down much, nor often.
Was searching for a low current 32v trickle charger that would not burden the inverter much.
Just some way to help the 32v banks until we start the gen-set as needed for hot water or stove/oven cooking.

Have some weather coming in on us. Sadly, back on our dock last night.
As soon as we can, were back out on the river to enjoy this pleasant temp weather.
It is so quiet and calm with out a gen-set running.

Yep, I have a mess below.
Two 32v banks for the engines and split house as you said.
Two 12v batteries for electronics and gen-sets.
One 24v bank for the inverter.

Always had an inverter. Mostly for when the boat moved, it could push air thru itself, no need for a gen-set while running.
Small inverter bank was kept up with a second alternator mounted on the port engine. Fridge (beer) cold, computers, TV, lights and more ran un-interupted.

When we could, gen-set off at night. The next morning the inverter batteries may make the coffee , may roll over and die.
I had to fix this.

For almost 3 years I have been working on this newer inverter system. 230Vac @ 4kw from 24Vdc. Was considering running our cabins AC unit on it.
All these years, all the expense, all the fine tuning and I never considered the house batteries would die before the inverter batteries would.

So, my big issue now; not to damage my fresh flooded house/starting batteries.
I'll have to dock side experiment and find how long the house/starting batteries can run before their state of charge (SOC) lowers to a damaging level.
First SWAGs, not long.
Then determine how long till their back to 100% SOC.

AND for now;
Start a gen-set to keep the 32v battery banks healthy, probably daily (or as needed).

Later;
So, instead of connecting a AC unit, I may have to connect one of my big asp 32v chargers to it.
It appears no such thing as a 32v batter maintainer (auto trickle charger).

If I can find one (& can afford it), I'll install a 24V/32V DC to DC converter.

Frak,, this may accelerate my conversion to all 24v. Was not planning on this for another 20 years.
Maybe I'll start another Go-Fund-Me account for this.

No, Everything still up there.
Still, even with panels, I would need a 32v solar charge controller.
And, the green on the money tree is near gone. I hope some of that green comes back in the spring. That green seems to have shorter seasons these days.

I'm just going to have to run the gen-set every evening on these comfortable days.
Figure when near 100% SOC and turn it back off.

Now, when we travel to the keys or islands, It's hot, ACs and water makers are running.
One of the gen-sets is always running unless we sleep on the deck (that we do when we can).

I luv spending OPM (other peoples money) also.
AND, thank you for your thoughts,, but no.

It is 4 x 8v for a 32v bank.
I have no more room for any batteries.
Boat is on a weight diet. Adding a mile of 3/8" G chain did not help much. 6 inverter batteries really tipped some scales.
Adding batteries requires a healthy money tree that is currently bare and bent over.
If the green comes back in the spring, it would be cheaper, lighter & longer living; to have a 32v charger custom built (ACv to DCv or DCv to DCv). But then, my fuel budget gets zinged (again).

So, As you and others have stated, just run the gen-set a lil each day.
But this just bums me; fancy asp inverter system, that works great, and I still have to run the gen-set. F M

No, far from horrible.
Just crappy humorous.