I use a 750 Watt Vector Power Inverter . It was installed in the trunk because of the noise from the cooling fan . A cable was extended to the front seat for convenient charging of computer, cell phone and other electronic devices. Another female outlet is in the trunk for camping equipment such ; C-Pap, radio, reading lights, refrigerator, coffee pot. Of course , never exceed the 750 watt capacity at one time. The inverter will emit a signal when it is overloaded.
A battery separator # 1315 from sure Power Industries controls the deep cycle Optima # D31M battery from the main engine battery. The auxilliary battery is located in the trunk above the differential for a weight distribution factor. The vehicle is a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis. I use it for traveling throughout Canada and US and camping mostly at CG and sometimes dry camping. The Battery Separator (Smart Solenoid) has a capability of using 24 Volts , for lets say cranking a diesel engine or winch. This system is quite effective but not as sophisticated as the systems used by Travelnutz from Michigan. Read the instructions and use heavy guage wires and you will have a great system.
George Hebert
You will have to use a 30 amp 120 volt A/C minimum DPDT "double pole double throw" (6 wire connections) relay between the 1000 watt inverter output wire and your coach's "outlets only" revised wiring system to prevent any back flow charging from the shore power's 120 volt wiring system into the inverter.
Thanks! That's what I figured one would have to do. I have also thought about doing something different, like turn off the breakers on all the things I don't want powered, then back feeding through the outlet in the docking station. The only thing is that I do not want to power the converter, and am not sure that is on a circuit breaker. If the docking station outlet happens to be on the same circuit as the outlet near my sofa bed, then I could just turn off that circuit's breaker, and back feed it. Of course I would have to be sure I manually remember to unplug the inverter and turn the breakers back on. Anyone do anything wacky like this?
I should reveal that, while I'm not an electrician, I am an EE, so have a basic understanding of electricity!
I have a 1750 Watt Xantrex with the intent to make coffee early in the morning and watch TV at night but only used twice. I found out how fast this inverter sucks up my bactery state of charge during coffee brewing so I bought one of those stove top coffee drip unit instead.
I got the inverter for a reasonable price on Ebay compared to CW but the 1/0 gauge of copper cables are very pricey. One set back is your batteries have to be in a good charged state (i.e. over 50% charged) or the inverter will self shut down which is a good thing. If you plan on solar charging or having possibly more than 2 batteries than it might be worth your while. It's a nice gadget in the trailer eventhough I have not used in over 18 months.
For a 1750 watt inverter you need to have a min of 3 deep cycle batteries with a capacity of at least 600 minutes of 23 amp draw total. 800 or more is very desireable. Less stored energy than 400 minutes of 23 amp draw will very quickly draw a battery down the 50% charge especially when using any resistance heating devices. A starting type battery does a lousy job of powering any inverter. They have a lot of available current for a very short duration then go flat and won't hardly even light your head lights. Lower current draw divided equally over multiple deep cycle batteries will give many times the usable duration of reserve service life even with resistance heating devices which are somewhat like a proportional shorting across the battery terminals. 1000 watts of inverter AC coming from a single deep cycle battery will kill it quickly while 333 1/3 watts coming from each of 3 same size batteries "1000 total watts" will give nearly 5 times the usable draw life.
For what it's worth! We have a combo toaster/oven 1300 watts, a coffee maker 900 watts, an electric fry pan 1200 watts, microwave oven 1000 watts, and 19 inch flat screen LCD TV, Bose wave radio - low wattage, electric can opener - low wattage, 12V incandescent lights and some LED lights, etc. We use these every day when boondocking except for the fry pan which is used only when cooking outside at the table or for fish. DW loves fish but doesn't like the fish smell in the RV! We have yet to ever draw our battery setup down to "shutoff" in 3 days of breakfasts and general living etc in the over 20 years we've used the inverter systems. lunch/dinner is usually on the grill or other various ways of cooking but usually not using the inverter. Usually using the propane or the generator. You learn NOT to waste current and shut it off when done using an item when on inverter current. We wouldn't consider trading our silent inverters for our generators or propane type cooking for breakfasts etc or times when "quiet" is so precious! Boondocking at the most beautiful and remote places is very special with sights those in the fancy hookup campgrounds will never see. Been there, done that so many times!
2004 Chev 2500HD D/A crew cab LB 4X4 - Air Bags - Loaded
915 Lance Camper with 2'X 8' rear porch (my own design n build)
29 ft Carri-lite 5th wheel - 1 large slide - specially built
36 ft Carriage - 3 axle 5'er -NOW SOLD- Looking at some new 5'ers
I am a true fan of True sine wave inverters.. With a True Sine inverter if the device(s) do not draw more power than the inverter puts out... They work
With MSW inverters.. The USUALLY work.. Big difference there AM radios for example DO NOT WORK with MSW as a rule (i'm sure there are exceptions)
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
I didn't see where anyone asked what you plan to use an inverter for so I will. This could change the whole concept.
My thoughts are that they are a very good investment but not for the sake of it.
I also would not consider anything but pure sine but others will.
I was able to solve my inverter wiring woes by using two transfer switches. This way I never have to worry about pulling plugs or throwing switches. All I have to do is start the inverter when needed, and if the wife or I forget it's on and fire up the generator there’s no worries about back feeding it, it just kicks into gen power or shore.
I do not use a converter in my system, I simply run off the batteries for 12v power. The batteries (6ea 6V golf cart) are charged in 3 banks by a 3 bank Zantrex charger that only runs when power is supplied by shore/gen.; it is wired in front of the secondary transfer switch. The inverter is wired to the secondary transfer switch which is wired directly to the panel.
We do allot of dry camping where we are parked close to other people and could not be without an inverter. I enjoy my late night movies and early morning coffee. Plus the wife likes to make a bag of popcorn or heat a blueberry muffin with out fire ring up the gen. at 10-11PM.
Going to all the work and cost of installing a good inverter is not for everybody. But if you like you’re quiet time with out the drone of a generator running. It's well worth it.
This past spring, I installed a 2000W Xantrex inverter/charger in our 10 year old motorhome. We bought the motorhome used and thought that the missing inverter would be no big deal, but after one season without one, we decided to make the plunge. I bought a nearly new inverter on Ebay and purchased the other components such as 4/0 wire, cable lugs, additional batteries. I installed a sub-panel specifically for the AC circuits hooked to the inverter, and esentially all of the outlets except the microwave, and block heater are supplied through the inverter. Nothing to plug or un-plug, no switches to throw, fast load and temperature compensated charging, just plain convenient and it works.
With us living on the east coast, (well almost) and our biggest list of things to see in the west, we tend to drive hard for a few days to get west and then slow down. That means several days of 12 or 14 hours behind the wheel, then a short stop parked in the corner of a Walmart lot to sleep. It is so nice to just hoist the antenna, watch to local news and weather on TV, and have the coffee maker ready to go for the morning. If we're still not passed out, drop a movie in the DVD player and lull ourselves to sleep. No generator needed, and the convenience of having AC available while traveling down the road, again without need for the generator. We have on occasion, put ingredients in the crockpot and cooked our lunch while traveling down the highway. That may not be the best deal for the engine alternator, but oh well.
All in all, there is a lot of convenience in an inverter. Is it needed, no more than the TVs, microwaves, and sleep number beds. However, I am glad to have it available.
Me, the DW, 2 dogs and more.
1998 Overland Larado, 41', one slide, 325 Cummins, '02 Jeep Liberty Upgrades we've done: SMI-Air Force 1 towed brake system, replaced all 3 TVs with new hiDef LCDs, inst. Xantrex 2Kw Inverter, Prog. Ind. HW50 surge protector
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