Expert: Dave Nyce - 10/6/2009

Question
Hi, my friend and I are building a boat and we have electrical things aboard, if we put an alternator on it for the power do we need a converter? And could the alternator supply enough power for say a computer? thanks,    Morgan

Answer
You would probably use the alternator (and a voltage regulator) to charge a 12V battery. If you want to operate 120VAC equipment, then you will need an inverter.  An alternator & voltage regulator & battery combination of the type used in a car or motorboat should have no problem driving an inverter to operate a laptop computer.

Hope this helps!

Dave