AC and DC generators serve different roles on boats. An AC generator powers 120-volt accessories and charges batteries, while a DC generator charges the batteries directly, which then supply power to the boat’s AC system through an inverter. DC generators are typically used on smaller boats due to their limited AC power output.
DC generators are gaining popularity due to their efficiency. Fischer Panda’s Chad Godwin explains that they simplify power systems and offer smoother transitions between DC and AC power. Fischer Panda offers two diesel-powered DC generators: the 12-volt AGT5 (5 kW) and the AGT6 (5.5 kW), with custom options available for boatbuilders.
The demand for DC generators has increased with the rise of lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, which are lighter and more efficient. DC generators provide quieter, faster, and more effective low-RPM charging than outboard engines, making them ideal for these batteries.
DC generators also offer benefits over AC models, being lighter, more compact, and more fuel-efficient. Fischer Panda’s AGT generators are up to 50% lighter and 30% smaller, consuming less fuel since they don’t need to run constantly for AC power.
Fischer Panda’s DC generators compete with Navico’s Fathom e-Power system, which uses alternators in Mercury outboards to charge batteries. However, outboards need higher RPMs for heavy power demands, while the AGT6 generator provides an efficient alternative at low RPMs.
These generators are quiet (66 dB(A) at 7 meters) and have an automatic mode to maintain battery levels. While they require a separate diesel fuel tank, they produce fewer emissions than gasoline engines. Fischer Panda’s DC generators are already used by several boatbuilders, including Regal’s “LivePower” system in the 50 SAV model, offering a quieter, more efficient marine power solution.
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