Inverter Selection and Wiring
Some loads are only available as 120VAC 60Hz or 240VAC 60Hz products in US or 230VAC 50Hz products in Europe. Most notable is electric appliances in the galley, the largest being an electric cooktop or oven. Induction cooktops use far less power than electric cooktops. All but a few very expensive AC/heat cabin heat exchangers only come in 120VAC 60Hz or 230 VAC 50Hz versions. The smaller AC/heat units draw well under 1kW. The other AC loads are small kitchen appliances and bathroom appliances that only come in 120VAC 60Hz in US, only 230VAC 50Hz in Europe.
The remainder of this section will use 120V to mean 120VAC, 230V to mean 230VAC, and 12V, 24V, and 48V to mean 12VDC, 24VDC, 48VDC. Inverters often cite capacities in VA or W. For inductive loads (motors) these are slightly different but for resistive load VA and W capacities are the same. Inverter efficiencies are in the 90% to 95% range so DC power is only slightly higher than AC power. Due to inverter surge capability the suggested fuse size for most inverters is larger than the power in W divided by VDC, often double or more.
General information on inverters
To eliminate the potential danger of AC wiring it is best to put inverters near the loads and use the lower voltage DC wiring to distribute power. The cooktop and oven and other galley appliances are close to each other. The vanity would require a long run to reach the galley and therefore is a candidate for a separate inverter.
The larger inverters and inverter/chargers have higher power draw when idle than the smaller units. The range is 20W - 50W when idle. For this reason inverters should be shut off when not in use. This slightly favors using multiple smaller inverters.
The high current draw of inverters makes putting breakers on the circuit panel impractical. Blue Sea type A are limited to 50A but running the heavy wire to the breaker panel is inadvisable. An alternate is to use a high current solenoid and run only solenoid coil current through the breaker panel.
Smaller inverters have the added benefit that generally these have a set of GFCI outlets and a power switch on the inverter itself. If the inverter is mounted deep in cabinetry the outlets can be extended and many inverters support a remote switch.
An inverter (or inverter/charger) large enough to support the cooktop and oven would have to be installed out of the way but in a ventilated area and not near potential water intrusion. A lighted switch near the stove can be provided, using a high amperage solenoid to enable the cooktop and oven. The lighted switch should be bright enough to serve as a warning that the inverter is enabled. The inverter should be powered off when neither the cooktop or oven is in use. Nearly all inverter/chargers have provisions for a remote on/off switch. The need for a solenoid may not be eliminated if automatic load shedding on low battery SoC is needed. Some large inverter/chargers provide an output designed for a small external fan or a fan solenoid. A fan might be needed to improve ventilation.
This web page mentions manufacturers and products. Products often change, being updated or dropped. Occasionally manufacturers are bought and change priorities or go out of existance. In reading about manufacturers and products please note that this web page was last updated in 2025.
AC loads and power requirements
The selection of inverters and placement depend on the types of loads and where in the cabin they are located. Wire runs depend on the accessibility of potential wire runs.
gimballed galley stove
The selection of marine gimballed galley electric stoves is limited. Force 10 has only one electric stove (it is unfortunately not an induction cooktop) and it is large plus power hungry (about 5kW). A line of galley induction cooktops and electric ovens suitable for marine use is available from GN Espace yacth galley systems in the UK. It should be possible to order from the manufacturer and ship to the US. Their gimballed Levante 2 Induction Cooker uses 3.8kW and therefore a 4kW inverter would be needed. Another option is to purchase an inexpensive small induction cooktop and a large combination toaster oven and air fryer and build a gimballed enclosure. Such a combination would require a 3-4kW inverter.
Depending on which option is used, GN Espace or home unit and which home unit, either a 4kW or a 3-4kW inverter will be needed. More importantly the GN Espace requires 230V while the home units (sold in the US) will require 120V.
galley outlets
The galley is small. Two outlets should be enough. The most often used appliance would be a coffee grinder and a 4 cup coffee maker or something to heat water for a french press. Some other appliances might be a food processor, blender, immersion blender, slow cooker, toaster oven, air fryer, or small microwave. One or more of the prior items may be on board space permitting. Most of these can be run individually using a small inverter. A 2kW inverter would provide about 16A at 120V and should prove adequate.
vanity AC outlets
The vanity AC outlets are not expected to need much power. Normal use is charging an electric toothbrush or electric razor. A guest might bring a hair blow dryer. This could draw 1200-2000 watt. Except for the hair blow dryer a 2kW inverter would be far more than needed and 2kW should be enough for even the most powerfull hair dryer.
air conditioning and heat
The heat pumps being considered draw under 5A at 120V (600W). A surge of over 20A (2400W) may occur but last under 200 msec. See available heat pumps for AC/heat for details. Most 2kW inverters can handle about 4kW for brief periods. Thermal breakers are slow to react and so would not be affected by a high turn on transient.
Inverter wiring
Inverters will be needed in the galley area, the vanity area, and the v-berth area (for AC/heat). The high amperage breakers will be on the starboard side above the pilot berth entrance. Solenoids and shunts will be placed in the cavity above the pilot berth, very near the high amperage breakers.
Wire access forward from the high amperage breakers and solenoids may be poor on the starboard side due to limited space for wire runs near the navigation station. Wire runs athwartship must be passed behind the refrigeration area on the port side. Forward access on the port side is difficult but available near the refrigeration and behind the galley stove but very good forward of there to the shower area. Access behind the shower is difficult but available. Wire access in the v-berth area is good.
The galley is on the port side. From the high amperage breakers and the solenoids wires will be passed aft a few feet, then to the port side, then forward to the galley area.
If there is enough space near the navigation station to pass wires on the starboard side, then the wiring to the vanity and v-berth area will be passed along the starboard side as this is the shortest wire run. If passing wires past the navigation station proves too difficult the route along the port side past the galley and then under the v-berth will be used but this longer route should be avoided.
Inverter selection
The Available Electrical Components page has information on the inverters considered in the Available inverters section. The Available breakers and Available solenoids sections have information on other components related to inverter wiring.
Three 120V inverters are needed to handle loads of up to 1800W (12A on a 15A circuit). These are the galley outlets, the vanity outlets, and the AC/heat inverter. These are intended to use 24V, though 48V would be fine. The best choice for this use is the Renogy 2000W 24V 120V inverter. This is by far the lowest cost inverter of this type from a well known and reputable manufacturer.
One inverter is needed for the galley cooktop and oven. The inverter choice depends on the cooktop and oven choice. See Available galley cooktops and ovens for details on these components.
If the GN Espace cooker is used, then there may be few or no good inverter choices available in the US. The 230V 50Hz models are generally not sold in the US. It may be possible to buy directly from Victron. One choice is the the Magnum 4300W inverter (MS4348PE). This model may be discontinued or unavailable in the US but is available at some sites for just over $2,000. The Outback M-series (marine) is only available in 120V, stackable to 240V. The E-series is 230V. There are two 48V models. The FXR2348E is sealed and rated at 2300VA. The VFXR3048E is vented and rated at 3000VA. Two FXR2348E in parallel would yield 4600VA, more than enough for the GN Espace cooker (but at a cost of $1700-2300 each).
If the induction cooktop and air fryer toaster oven is used, then candidates are the Renogy 48V 3500W inverter (may be marginal), the Magnum 4000W 48V inverter/charger, and the a few Victron models. Victron options include a pair of MultiPlus 48/2000/25-50 inverters, a Quattro 5000VA 48-Volt inverter/charger and a MultiPlus II 48V/5000VA inverter/charger. The Victron 48/5000 inverter may be discontinued though it is listed on Victron's web site. The Victron MultiPlus-II 120V 5000VA 48-Volt inverter/charger seems the best choice at just under $1,500.