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Which Voltage on a Medium Size Cruising Yacht? | Ask The Expert with NIGEL CALDER
August 1, 2026 · 3 min · 1K views
What this video covers
Jan Attenstedt and Nigel Calder evaluate the feasibility of upgrading a 2003 Hallberg-Rassy 43 from a 12-volt electrical system to a 48-volt house bank.▶ 0:39 The owner plans to replace an 840-amp-hour AGM bank with a 22-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion phosphate battery system.▶ 0:25 Calder notes that a 48-volt system allows for high-output charging, such as an 8-kilowatt integral alternator, while keeping conductor sizes manageable.▶ 1:22 He suggests that a 24-volt system using high-power alternators may offer a more cost-effective alternative depending on the required charging speed and duty cycle.▶ 1:58 Converting to 48 volts requires replacing existing 12-volt hardware, including inverters and windlasses, and necessitates communication between the battery bank and charging devices.▶ 2:51 Attenstedt emphasizes that such a transition involves a comprehensive review of the entire electrical system rather than simple component replacement.▶ 3:11 The project requires significant investment in new hardware and system integration.▶ 3:18
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