BoatHowTo · video

What this video covers

Jan Attenstedt and Nigel Calder discuss methods for managing shore power when traveling between regions with different voltages and frequencies. Converting shore power directly requires expensive equipment, such as frequency converters, which are typically found only on superyachts. Instead, Calder recommends using a marine battery charger as the sole connection point for shore power. In this configuration, the shore power circuit terminates at the charger, which feeds the battery bank. An inverter then draws power from the batteries to supply the boat's AC loads. This setup allows the system to handle varying shore power inputs without requiring voltage or frequency transformation. Because the shore power circuit is isolated at the battery charger, this method also eliminates the need for a separate galvanic isolator or isolation transformer, provided the charger is a marine-grade unit. This approach offers flexibility for global cruising at a lower cost than dedicated conversion hardware.

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