Running entire TT off batteries

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fitznj wrote:
Maybe I don't understand the question but every TT I have owned has a 12V furnace, so why would you need 120V?

The only 120V items are the AC, microwave and some of the outlets but the furnace will run on 12v whether you are plugged into shore power or not.

Did I miss something here?

Gerry

You're not missing something. In theory, you don't need 120v at all, except for the microwave, etc. It's more of a convenience thing.

coolmom42 wrote:
A solution that seems much simpler & less expensive to me:

Install a couple of 12V outlets, get a couple of small portable inverters with AC outlets & USB outlets, and plug the small inverters into the 12V outlets. Use the inverters to charge your electronics & watch TV.

Having been through this exercise myself recently I'd have to disagree that running additional wiring throughout the trailer is "simpler" when all the wiring one needs is already in place in the form of the trailer's 120 vac wiring. Install an inverter of any size near the battery (or batteries) and simply plug the trailer's main service cable into the inverter - done, and within the limits of the inverter, battery supply, and inverter input wiring the inverter will power the entire trailer just as if it were plugged into shore power, with no additional modifications to the trailer required at all. Nothing could be "simpler" than that. :)

If you disconnect your batteries from supplying the 12V system, your lights & furnace will not work.

A solution that seems much simpler & less expensive to me:

Install a couple of 12V outlets, get a couple of small portable inverters with AC outlets & USB outlets, and plug the small inverters into the 12V outlets. Use the inverters to charge your electronics & watch TV.

You can also use the portable inverter in your vehicles. And you are not out a fortune if one of them dies.

Depending on the size of your trailer & the number of people using it, you may only need or want one outlet & inverter.

You can also use the 12V outlets for 12V appliances.

Of course if your heart is set on using a hair dryer and/or microwave, you will need a 1000-2000 watt inverter wired to your 120 V system. But either one of those by itself will suck your batteries down in less than an hour of use. Your solar system will have to do some fast recharging to keep those batteries above their preferred 50% charge state. If you pull them down below 50% you will dramatically shorten the battery life.

fitznj wrote:
Maybe I don't understand the question but every TT I have owned has a 12V furnace, so why would you need 120V?

The only 120V items are the AC, microwave and some of the outlets but the furnace will run on 12v whether you are plugged into shore power or not.

Did I miss something here?

The OP obviously has a limited understanding of his trailer's dual electrical system ... he's simply asking if it's possible to connect an inverter to run his trailer "whole house" and as already indicated the answer is "Yes, of course". I did just that with a 1000 watt sine wave inverter, installing it in my trailer's front pass through storage compartment where it would be out of the weather, well ventilated, safe from those with sticky fingers, but close to the tongue mounted battery. Currently I power it with just a single G27 battery so my use is limited but within those limits the trailer behaves just as it would when plugged into shore power. With dual 6 volt batteries the OP is even much better off so if cost isn't an issue I'd suggest he invest in a quality 2000 watt sine wave inverter and install it in a similar fashion. Yes, he could set it up with an automatic transfer switch for even more convenience but I find that simply plugging the trailer's main service cable into the inverter when shore power isn't available works just fine. Sure, a larger inverter idling does draw more power than a couple of smaller inverters just turned on as required to feed specific devices but the convenience of powering everything running on 120 vac, including all the receptacles, can't be beat and especially if a remote is mounted inside the trailer a larger 2000 watt inverter can also be turned on/off as required, limiting any unnecessary draw on the battery.

Pics of my own installation (7 pics).

Maybe I don't understand the question but every TT I have owned has a 12V furnace, so why would you need 120V?

The only 120V items are the AC, microwave and some of the outlets but the furnace will run on 12v whether you are plugged into shore power or not.

Did I miss something here?

Gerry

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Sure you can do that. Of course no AC. Some limited Microwave and hair dryer use if need be. You will lose a little power when inverting but not that much. When you put in your inverter you need to be as close as possible to your battery's. I put in a 2k inverter and can do what you are talking about. The thing is though is I bet your trailer runs well on 12 volt as well as your furnace. The only reason I put in the inverter is so I could run a 120 refrigerator. Anyway there are some people here that are very knowledgeable on the subject, they can tell you about wire gauge and inverters etc. JMHO