I just recently realized quite by accident that in order to boondock with our RV, we will need to have a power inverter installed either by us or by a professional. 1. How difficult is it to install? 2. I have seen a lot of formulas for what size inverter we might need, but honestly, I still can't really make sense of it. What would you recommend? I would like to be able to use a toaster, hair dryer, watch TV sometimes, maybe a few other small appliances. Also, I guess how many batteries does the average rv need for boondocking?3. I am disappointed and frustrated that we have been shopping for a new fifth wheel for quite a while and have told sales person that we have talked to that we are hoping to do some boondocking. Not a single one of them ever said, "did you know that you need a power inverter?" Can anyone think of anything else that we will need since salespeople don't seem to have a clue?Thanks everyone for your input.

You can get a 300 - 500 watt inverter for about $30 - $50, and plug it into a cigarette lighter receptacle. You can install a cigarette lighter receptacle near the TV set, or near your dinette table, or your bedroom nightstand, or all three. I ran #10 wire back and forth from the battery in one RV and from the fuse panel to the receptacle in another RV. What ever is closer, or easy to do. Put in a 30 amp fuse, and you are done. As for batteries, a pair of batteries will hold about 2,000 watts. This is plenty for most RV's. Your RV will use 35 amp hours per day just to run the refrigerator, CO meter, and propane detector. A average group 27 battery is 105 amp hours. Group 24 is about 85 amp hours. Golf cart batteries are 220 amp hours, but it takes two of them to make up 220 amp hours at 12 volts. Your TV set probably uses between 85 and 110 watts, or about 8-10 amp hours per hour. Cell chargers are much more efficient, with a plug in 120 volt one using about 0.5 amp hours per hour, while direct 12 volt one might be as little as 0.2 amps per hour. DVD player is about 20 watts, or about 1.5 amp hours per hour. It might be more efficient to use a computer, about 1.5 amp hours including the screen. Have fun boondocking! I always loved to find a forest service area, or campground over the private campgrounds that seem to be so crowded. Fred.

A hair dryer will eat up batteries pretty quick. Mine will draw over 100AH, which won't last long even with my 300AH battery bank. The battery bank size will depend on how long you want to go between charging. Salesmen probably know little about boondocking or your needs. Many people who boondock don't feel the need for 120V AC power without a generator. A 1500w continuous 2000w surge inverter should give you all the power you need. I have the xantrex x-power 1500 and it works very well. I have it wired thru a pair of xantrex inline transfer relays to power all of my general outlets. An auto transfer switch is a good idea so that you can power any outlet with the inverter, but shore or generator power will overrode the inverter. You won't want the microwave, a/c, fridge, or converter on the inverter circuit but the remaining circuits can be. At a minimum a pair of 6V batteries is what you want. If you use the inverter a lot you will need to recharge more often, or have 4 6V batteries installed... But they will take 2x as long to recharge from a 50% SOC.

Appliances with heating elements (hair dryer, toaster, etc.) will require a lot more power than other appliances (tv, computer, etc.). With a generator, you should be able to run the heating element appliances (but not necessarily at the same time). Without a generator, you'll be more limited.I stay at dry campgrounds (no hookups), so I've picked up a lot of boondocking behavior. Since I don't have a generator and don't want one, I only run what I can on propane and/or battery power. No toaster - I grill my bread (lightly butter both sides and grill in pan on stovetop). No hairdryer - I let it dry naturally. Fridge on propane; water heater on propane. No microwave. I may hop on my laptop to watch a movie, etc. I charge my phone each night. I play music with my mp3 player and powered computer speakers. I turn on lights when inside at night as needed. I spend a few hours in bed reading my kindle using a LED puck light. I run a 12v fan as needed as well as vent fans. By the end of 4 days, I haven't even put a dent in my group 31 AGM battery.

Congrats on the new unit whatever it will be. In defense of the salesman an inverter would not be something considered necessary for dry camping. It is a nice to have but certainly not a need to have. The RV is designed to operate using 12 volts and propane. However if you decide there are some things that run from 120 volts you feel you need for camping then sit down and make a list of what they are. The size of the battery bank, inverter and possible solar system will be determined by that list. There are 30 dollar solutions for simple needs all the way up to 5000 dollar systems for more elaborate needs. Happy camping.

I have a 30 amp 5th wheel. I just spent a week in SE Tenn and we tripped the pole breaker twice. We had the water heater and fridge on elec, the AC was on along with the TV. With the microwave on and the AC compressor kicks on, POP goes the breaker. Just remember to turn off the AC for a bit. Did I mention that my forgetter works perfectly. I've also tripped the breaker on my generator before. Mostly I forget about the fridge being on automatic, the microwave and the Air Cond will run at the same time with the gen unless the fridge is on elec. Momma doesn't like it getting to hot while cooking, and I do like eating. If I could just remember that fridge being automatic. Oh well the breaker seems to jog my memory.We spent 3 nights/2 days boondocking. No TV, radio ran a couple of hrs, minimal lights mainly a LED and a florescent. Ran the water pump for showers and dishes, Fantastic fan and a Cool fan in the bedroom 3 nights. With 2 12v batteries the voltage was at 12.3 when we left. 12.0 volts is considered a 50% charge and the max that I like to draw them down too. I have a 2,000 watt cont inverter but don't even take it with us. It will draw 2 amps or about 25 watts just being turned on and not in use. We have a 12 TV in the bedroom if we want to watch something.1 fully charged 12 battery on my inverter will make 2 pots of Mr Coffee and start the 3rd before the inverter kicks off due to low voltage @ 10.5 volts. As stated, anything with a heating element is not your friend. All appliances should have their wattage listed on them. Amps X volts = watts or 2 batteries will have a bit over 100 amp hrs to get to a 50% charge. At 12 volts this means a bit over 1200 watts for 1 hr. Boondocking would be more appropriately called electrical management training.

Adding a power inverter | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

AH64ID
Explorer
Jul 29, 2014
A hair dryer will eat up batteries pretty quick. Mine will draw over 100AH, which won't last long even with my 300AH battery bank.

The battery bank size will depend on how long you want to go between charging.

Salesmen probably know little about boondocking or your needs. Many people who boondock don't feel the need for 120V AC power without a generator.

A 1500w continuous 2000w surge inverter should give you all the power you need. I have the xantrex x-power 1500 and it works very well. I have it wired thru a pair of xantrex inline transfer relays to power all of my general outlets.

An auto transfer switch is a good idea so that you can power any outlet with the inverter, but shore or generator power will overrode the inverter. You won't want the microwave, a/c, fridge, or converter on the inverter circuit but the remaining circuits can be.

At a minimum a pair of 6V batteries is what you want. If you use the inverter a lot you will need to recharge more often, or have 4 6V batteries installed... But they will take 2x as long to recharge from a 50% SOC.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Jul 29, 2014
You can get a 300 - 500 watt inverter for about $30 - $50, and plug it into a cigarette lighter receptacle.

You can install a cigarette lighter receptacle near the TV set, or near your dinette table, or your bedroom nightstand, or all three. I ran #10 wire back and forth from the battery in one RV and from the fuse panel to the receptacle in another RV. What ever is closer, or easy to do. Put in a 30 amp fuse, and you are done.

As for batteries, a pair of batteries will hold about 2,000 watts. This is plenty for most RV's. Your RV will use 35 amp hours per day just to run the refrigerator, CO meter, and propane detector. A average group 27 battery is 105 amp hours. Group 24 is about 85 amp hours. Golf cart batteries are 220 amp hours, but it takes two of them to make up 220 amp hours at 12 volts.

Your TV set probably uses between 85 and 110 watts, or about 8-10 amp hours per hour. Cell chargers are much more efficient, with a plug in 120 volt one using about 0.5 amp hours per hour, while direct 12 volt one might be as little as 0.2 amps per hour.

DVD player is about 20 watts, or about 1.5 amp hours per hour. It might be more efficient to use a computer, about 1.5 amp hours including the screen.

Have fun boondocking! I always loved to find a forest service area, or campground over the private campgrounds that seem to be so crowded.

Fred.

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