Plug-in hybrid-electric drive ... for your boat!
Components / DC-DC converter & battery charger Print version
EMP offers DC-DC converters from two manufacturers - Powernet in Finland and Victron in the Netherlands.
The Powernet ADC7480 can function as a battery charger and a DC-DC converter. It accepts a wide range of AC or DC inputs and produces a wide range of DC outputs. One 7480 unit is installed for each function desired:
  • as a battery charger to charge the 144 v battery pack from shore power and from 144 v solar panel inputs
  • as a DC-DC converter to produce 12 volt house power by stepping down the battery pack's 144 volts.
  • as a second DC-DC converter if needed to produce 24 volt house power


Powernet ADC7480
When the 7480 functions as a charger for the 144 v main battery pack, it automatically accepts whatever AC input is available - 110 v, 60 Hz or 220 v 50 Hz, - including off-spec versions of each from erratic local power supplies.

The same 7480 box also accepts DC input from a 144 v solar array. Power from a lower-voltage solar array would feed into a 7480 serving as a DC-DC converter for the house batteries.
Weight Dimensions Case VDC input range VAC input range Hz input range
7.1 kg 400 x 250 x 80 mm aluminum 70-369 70-264 47-63
15.7 lb 15.7 x 9.8 x 3.1 in
Function Model Voltage in Voltage out Amps out Connector
DC-DC converter ADC/7480/12 144 VDC 12 VDC 200 copper terminal
DC-DC converter ADC/7480/24 144 VDC 24 VDC 127 copper terminal
Battery charger ADC/7480/160 110/220 VAC 160 VDC 20 cable
Victron Centaur 12V-60 A battery charger
Layout diagram (above)
BatterySelect DIP switches (below)
The DC-DC converter made by Victron Energy of Alemere, The Netherlands, is an extension of the company's Centaur line of battery chargers. It accepts DC input ranging from 90 volts to 400 volts.

Like the PowerNet 7480, the Centaur's range more than covers the voltage of our 144 VDC battery pack and the extra high voltage that can be produced by a 12 panel solar photovoltaic array such as the one on our Lagoon 47 test boat. Under minimal load, individual solar panels can produce up to 20 volts each on a sunny day, totalling potentially 240 volts overall. (See test result story.)

And of course, since it started life as a battery charger, the DC-DC converter also accepts AC input, from 90 volts to 265 volts at 50 or 60 Hz. This AC-DC capability allows owners of the E motion system to charge the house 12 volt batteries not only from the main 144 VDC battery pack and a high voltage solar array but also from shore power.

On the output side, the DC-DC converter can charge three separate, isolated lower-voltage battery banks simultaneously. Each output can carry full rated current.

There are three consecutive charging regimes: bulk, absorption and float. The unit charges at bulk rate until output has dropped to 70% of rated amps, then switches to a constant-level absorption mode for four hours, followed by a low-level float rate.

The DC-DC converter comes in 12 volt and 24 volt output models. Current output for the 12 volt models ranges from 20 to 200 amps, and for the 24 volt models from 16 to 100 amps.

The DC-DC converter charges all standard marine battery types, selectable by DIP switches (left).

The unit is easily installed with top and bottom brackets (right). A separate Z-section mounting plate is fastened to the wall and the upper bracket hung from it. The lower bracket is then screwed directly to the wall from the front.


DC-DC converter accepts a wide range of AC
and DC inputs with three separate outputs.
Charge profile for 12 V, 100 A model
Dimensional drawing (in mm)
showing mounting brackets
12 V Models
12 V, 20 A 12V, 30 A 12V, 40A 12V, 50 A 12V, 60A 12V, 80A 12V, 100A 12V, 200A
Charge Current (A)
20 30 40 50 60 80 100 200
Recommended Battery Capacity (A-h)
80-200 120-300 160-400 200-250 240-600 320-800 400-1000 800-2000
Weight lbs
8.4 8.4 11 11 11 26 26 35
Weight kg
3,8 3,8 5 5 5 12 12 16
Dimensions - LxWxD inches
14.0x8.5x4.3 14.0x8.5x4.3 16.8x9.4x5.3 16.8x9.4x5.3 16.8x9.4x5.3 19.9x10.0x5.2 19.9x10.0x5.2 19.9x10.0x9.1
Dimensions - LxWxD millimeters
355x215x110 355x215x110 426x239x135 426x239x135 426x239x135 505x255x130 505x255x130 505x255x230
Battery connection studs
M6 M6 M8 M8 M8 M8 M8 M8
24 V Models
24V, 16 A 24V, 30A 24V, 40A 24V, 60A 24V, 80A 24V, 100A
Charge Current (A)
16 30 40 60 80 100
Recommended Battery Capacity (A-h)
45-150 120-300 160-400 240-600 320-800 400-1000
Weight lbs
8.4 11 26 26 35 35
Weight kg
3,8 5 12 12 16 16
Dimensions - LxWxD inches
14.0x8.5x4.3 16.8x9.4x5.3 19.9x10.0x5.2 19.9x10.0x5.2 19.9x10.0x9.1 19.9x10.0x9.1
Dimensions - LxWxD millimeters
355x215x110 426x239x135 505x255x130 505x255x130 505x255x230 505x255x230
Battery connection studs
M6 M8 M8 M8 M8 M8
Electric Marine Propulsion
Ft. Myers Beach, FL
phone 239.463.1824 fax 239.463.1485