Should I make sure to unplug shore power before using my 1500 watt inverter? I can`t think why the two would ever be in use at the same time. After all, if I have shore power, why would I ever need the inverter? Only scenario I can think of is during a temp power outage after already plugged in.
Also, can I leave the inverter connected to the battery when not in use (inverter output switch "off") or should I use an input disconnect from the battery?
And lastly, does the converter need to be turned off when running the inverter. I`m not getting any help from the mfg. I`ll only be using cord connected loads directly from the inverter, not plugging shore power cable into it. Mainly tv and dvd after quiet hours. Thanks.
"It`s not important that you know all the answers, it`s only important to know where to get all the answers" Arone Kleamyck
"...An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." Col. Jeff Cooper
Sunset Creek 298 BH
If it's a stand alone inverter then use a disconnect on the 12 volt side to be safe
As for plugging into shore power.. The rule is that you have one, and only one, power source hooked to a wire (At a time) so if you have done some fancy wireing so that the inverter and shore power can both connect, at the same time, to the same wire.. Then please undo that. IF however you plug the TV (And support devices) into the inverter and then plug the rig into shore power..
That is one very advanced form of UPS, perfectly allowed
Just make sure there is no way for inverter output and shore power to be on the same wire at the same time.. that's very very bad
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
The inverter is stand-alone. I am planning on running a separate output circuit(s) through wiremold to the rear of the entertainment center and mount it to a separate box just to have it near the tv/dvd and convenient to other small plug ins. It`ll just be a plug on the line side that gets plugged into the inverter sticking through the face of the nightstand next to the bed. I`m not trying to run the whole trailer through the factory 120v system by plugging the shore power cable into the inverter. My inverter isn`t nearly big enough for that and I have a generator anyhow. When I started looking at power contingencies, I quickly realized the cost of batteries and inverter capable of running the whole trailer was more than I wanted to pay. All I wanted to do was be able to run a few things after quiet hours.
I am concerned about whether the inverter connected to the battery will somehow backfeed or interfere with the converter. The battery neg. is connected to the TT frame and so are the 120v equipt. grounds. The equip. ground on the inverter is also connected to the frame and I`ve read here that connecting the battery neg. and equip. grounds on some inverters is a bad idea. Hashing this out in my head, it looks to me like this is exactly what will be happening if I connect the equip. ground on the inverter to the frame of the TT as per directions.
I am not sure where I stand on this installation. I`m going to try to contact the factory for more help Mon.
And, while I`m thinking about it, the only way to have an actual effective equiptment ground when running the inverter, is to leave the shore power plugged in. Without the shore power ground, a short from the inverter hot side output (120v) to ground would go back to battery neg., since this is the only common path provided. What are the implications of that? There must be some difference in potential there. I don`t have enough education to figure out what happens when you feed 120vac into a 12vdc neg. terminal. I`m trying to think at what point would the circuit be completed.
I can`t help but wonder if I shouldn`t run a separate ground rod when using the inverter. The generator has a ground terminal and I made a rod to use with it, but not sure how reliable it is. Maybe the equipt. ground on the case of the inverter should go directly to a ground rod? Any thoughts?
Ok you are planing on making what amounts to a custom, installed "Extension cord" so you can plug in the TV and Radio, and nothing else. Just to the inverter.. Suggestion, get a red or orange outlet for the outlet end of the plug (Means "Emergency Power in case you wonder) makes it easy to be sure which you are plugging into
Now.. Grounding. Not a problem The reason for a safety ground on electrical and electronic stuff is because in your house the neutral is bonded to ground. There are several failure modes where YOU can become the "path of least resistance" back to ground.. not good. So they put in the 3rd wire safety ground
When running off the inverter ... Not a problem, no ground path on the source side (unless you wish to provide one.. There may be a grounding screw on the inverter, some have 'em. ground to the chassis, which is the same, Electrically, as the battery negative) if you wish
And now that you have described your install
That will work on problem there is no way the inverter can "Back feed" as it has nothing to feed back on the 12 volt side, and no path on the 120 volt side, as you described what you are planing to do..
Basically you end up with this
Shore power---Converter---Battery---Inverter---TV/RADIO etc.
And that is called a "Power line conditioner" they sell them for about 1,200 bucks (And up) at your local electronics store. Work real good (Provided the inverter is a true sine wave) NOTE: Radio Shack is no longer an electronics store.. They play at it.. I'm talking something like Fulton Radio or Joe's Electronic Supply. (Not that you need to know that)
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