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Systems

Power Supply

Inverters, chargers & distribution that never blink.

Power Supply is the chain that takes the energy you have stored and turns it into safe, usable power at every socket, light and appliance on board.

Two boxes do the converting, one box does both jobs at once, and three quieter layers carry the power safely to where it is used.

Inverter — Turns DC battery power into the AC your appliances expect.

Battery charger — Does the reverse: refills the bank from shore or generator AC.

Inverter/charger — Combines both in one box and usually adds transfer switching, so loads move between shore power and battery without anyone touching a switch.

DC distribution — The busbars and cabling that carry current from the bank to its branch circuits.

Circuit protection — Fuses, breakers and switches that limit fault current and isolate circuits.

Shore power — The inlet, cordset and connectors that tie the boat or rig to dockside or campsite mains.

Each part is sized against the others, not picked off a shelf number.

The inverter is sized to the AC loads that must run together, including the surge when a compressor or a motor starts. The charger is matched to the bank's chemistry and capacity, because a lithium (LFP) bank and a lead-acid bank want different voltages and profiles.

Protection is sized to the cable it protects and positioned at the source of the current, in line with recognised practice such as ABYC guidance on over-current protection and conductor sizing. Get that hierarchy right and the system is safe, serviceable and defensible at survey.

Vibration, damp, salt and heat are what kill terminals, connectors and enclosures in marine and overland use — so every component we carry is built for exactly that.

Selecting across compatible families is what lets an installer build a coherent system instead of assembling parts that merely coexist.

What to get right

  • Start from the AC loads. Add up the appliances that must run at the same time, then size the inverter or inverter/charger to that continuous demand, with headroom for the surge when motors and compressors start.
  • Match the charger to the battery. Charge profile and current must suit the bank's chemistry and capacity. Lithium (LFP) and lead-acid want different voltages and absorption behaviour, and a charger that is too big or too small shortens the bank's life either way.
  • Size protection to the cable, not the appliance. Fuses and breakers exist to protect the conductor. Choose ratings and positions in line with ABYC over-current practice, and fit isolation switches wherever you will need to de-energise a circuit safely.
  • Specify shore power for where it lives. Inlets, cordsets and connectors need the right ingress protection and locking, and the voltage, frequency and amperage must match the AC system on board.
  • Plan for the conditions and for the person servicing it. Favour enclosures, terminals and connectors rated for vibration, damp and salt, and leave room for the bank, for ventilation and for a cable run someone can actually follow.

What this covers

  • Inverters
  • Battery chargers
  • Inverter/chargers
  • DC distribution
  • Circuit protection
  • Shore power

Representative products

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an inverter, a charger and an inverter/charger?

An inverter turns DC battery power into AC for normal mains appliances. A battery charger does the opposite, using shore or generator AC to refill the bank. An inverter/charger is both in one unit, and usually adds transfer switching so loads pass between shore power and battery automatically, without a separate changeover.

My inverter has built-in protection. Do I still need fuses?

Yes. Built-in safeguards protect the device. Fuses and breakers protect the cable and the rest of the system from fault current, which is a different job. Over-current protection is sized to the conductor and positioned in line with recognised practice such as ABYC guidance, independently of whatever electronics sit downstream.

Can one charger handle both lithium and lead-acid batteries?

Only if it supports the chemistry and is configured for it. LFP and lead-acid need different charge voltages and profiles, so the charger has to be matched to the bank. The wrong profile costs you capacity, shortens life, and in some cases will not properly charge the bank at all.

Is shore-power hardware interchangeable between marine and overland use?

The principles are the same, but the hardware should suit the environment. Marine shore power calls for higher ingress protection, corrosion resistance and locking connectors against damp and salt. Overland rigs care more about vibration and dust. In both cases, confirm that voltage, frequency and amperage match the onboard AC system.