How hard to install an inverter to run my TV's?

lacofdfireman wrote:
So my plan was to use the 12v inverters but after checking I have no 12 bolt outlets by any tv's. So it's back to square 1.

With a small inverter (150w to 300w) and small transfer switch it is easy to wire in next to the electric panel.

nayther wrote:

OK, so meter is Fluke 29, is that a sine wave meter? Use it for general multimeter functions so never gave it much thought.

It may depend on which series it is, but at least the series II version is not a true RMS meter, but average responding. From the manual: "AC conversions are AC-coupled, average responding, and calibrated to the RMS value of a sine wave input."

Note that any style of multimeter will give accurate results with a sine wave; it's when the waveform deviates from a sinusoid that the readings become incorrect (or at least are not RMS readings) for your multimeter--and, for that matter, for my Fluke 73 series II, which is generally similar but a lower-end model and gray rather than yellow. They are excellent meters.

So my plan was to use the 12v inverters but after checking I have no 12 bolt outlets by any tv's. So it's back to square 1.

tropical36 wrote:

nayther wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:

nayther wrote:
how's this one look:

http://www.bestconverter.com/SSW-600-12A-600-Watt-Pure-Sine-Inverter-with-1200-Watt-Surge_p_488.html#.WFb7qFwtG2k

I've got a Harbor Freight 400 watt now but its only putting out 102 volts with no load and 13v input, voltage drops off to below minimum with any load so assume it's a POS. Only running TV and satellite or DVD player on dedicated hardwired plugs.

Had good luck with Randy at Best Converter with an upgrade there.

It sounds like the wires running from your battery to the inverter are too small. You need some nice large wires, likely #10 or #8 wires, from the battery to the inverter to prevent the voltages from dropping. If you are trying to use a cigarette lighter to power the inverter it will likely not power anything more than a small TV due to the tiny wires leading to that plug.

that's not it, have very short #8 wire, inverter is only 2' from battery bank.

How are you reading this voltage and if the inverter is of the modified sine wave variety and you're not using an RMS voltmeter, then you won't get a true reading and probably lucky to see 102? I've also seen some MSW inverters, like mine, read very high and maybe above 130vac without using a RMS device.
On further edit, I guess this one has already been suggested and more than once.
Oh well, doesn't hurt to repeat it, I guess and maybe for getting the point across to would be dis-believers.:)

OK, so meter is Fluke 29, is that a sine wave meter? Use it for general multimeter functions so never gave it much thought.

Thanks everybody be for the replies. I'm going to start with the small 12v inverter first and see where it takes me from there.

All this debate is nice, and reveals some good points. But, in all reality, at sometime you are going to have to recharge the batteries, either by shore power, generator, or solar. You will always have to put more power back in than you take out, you know, the laws of physics. Some of the lower priced inverters use 4 or more amps of 12 volt power when just turned on, and not supplying any 120 volt AC power. If you are driving down the road, you may break even on power, as the extra load to charge the batteries will not show up in fuel mileage. If you are wanting to power a TV/DVD while driving, a small 12 volt power plug in inverter will work as the current requirement will not matter, and there is usually a 12 volt outlet near the TV in the bedroom, and you will not need to do any rewiring of the MH.

nayther wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:

nayther wrote:
how's this one look:

http://www.bestconverter.com/SSW-600-12A-600-Watt-Pure-Sine-Inverter-with-1200-Watt-Surge_p_488.html#.WFb7qFwtG2k

I've got a Harbor Freight 400 watt now but its only putting out 102 volts with no load and 13v input, voltage drops off to below minimum with any load so assume it's a POS. Only running TV and satellite or DVD player on dedicated hardwired plugs.

Had good luck with Randy at Best Converter with an upgrade there.

It sounds like the wires running from your battery to the inverter are too small. You need some nice large wires, likely #10 or #8 wires, from the battery to the inverter to prevent the voltages from dropping. If you are trying to use a cigarette lighter to power the inverter it will likely not power anything more than a small TV due to the tiny wires leading to that plug.

that's not it, have very short #8 wire, inverter is only 2' from battery bank.

How are you reading this voltage and if the inverter is of the modified sine wave variety and you're not using an RMS voltmeter, then you won't get a true reading and probably lucky to see 102? I've also seen some MSW inverters, like mine, read very high and maybe above 130vac without using a RMS device.
On further edit, I guess this one has already been suggested and more than once.
Oh well, doesn't hurt to repeat it, I guess and maybe for getting the point across to would be dis-believers.:)

Bill.Satellite wrote:

nayther wrote:
how's this one look:

http://www.bestconverter.com/SSW-600-12A-600-Watt-Pure-Sine-Inverter-with-1200-Watt-Surge_p_488.html#.WFb7qFwtG2k

I've got a Harbor Freight 400 watt now but its only putting out 102 volts with no load and 13v input, voltage drops off to below minimum with any load so assume it's a POS. Only running TV and satellite or DVD player on dedicated hardwired plugs.

Had good luck with Randy at Best Converter with an upgrade there.

It sounds like the wires running from your battery to the inverter are too small. You need some nice large wires, likely #10 or #8 wires, from the battery to the inverter to prevent the voltages from dropping. If you are trying to use a cigarette lighter to power the inverter it will likely not power anything more than a small TV due to the tiny wires leading to that plug.

that's not it, have very short #8 wire, inverter is only 2' from battery bank.

nayther wrote:
how's this one look:

http://www.bestconverter.com/SSW-600-12A-600-Watt-Pure-Sine-Inverter-with-1200-Watt-Surge_p_488.html#.WFb7qFwtG2k

I've got a Harbor Freight 400 watt now but its only putting out 102 volts with no load and 13v input, voltage drops off to below minimum with any load so assume it's a POS. Only running TV and satellite or DVD player on dedicated hardwired plugs.

Had good luck with Randy at Best Converter with an upgrade there.

It sounds like the wires running from your battery to the inverter are too small. You need some nice large wires, likely #10 or #8 wires, from the battery to the inverter to prevent the voltages from dropping. If you are trying to use a cigarette lighter to power the inverter it will likely not power anything more than a small TV due to the tiny wires leading to that plug.

lacofdfireman wrote:
We have a 07 Georgetown 350DS SE Bunk model class A. We are having a blast with this motorhome but our Generator hours are getting out of control. We have put almost 500hrs on our generator this year and our biggest reason was for watching TV as we travel down the road. Kids enjoy laying on the bed in the back room and watching TV shows etc while we travel. Just wondering if there is a better more efficiant way to do this and I'm sure an inverter has to be the way to go. We have currently 2 Trojan T105 6V batteries running our coach. All our TV's are LCD's so don't think they would drain the batteries to fast. How can I go about this? Is it going to be a major deal to make this work or is it possible without having to tear into walls etc. I have no idea how I'd run power down to my batteries for the inverter. Is there any special way without to much demolition? I'd like to do this myself. Also what type of inverter and power do I need. And how can I hook it up so it runs all the tv's?

The easiest way is to pick a compartment very near the house batteries (do no mount it in the battery compartment) and run min. #2awg wiring to a 1100watt modified sine wave inverter from the batteries, like this one....
INVERTER
Then run #12awg romex or armored cable from the inverter's 120vac outlets to your shore power compartment. Just be sure to shut off all heavy power breakers before plugging the inverter in to your shore cord. This will take some adapters that you should have on board anyway.
Even though, you should be watching what you're doing, by using this method, so you won't trip the inverter or suck your batteries dry, you save a lot of work with running dedicated outlets here and there and can easily run anything you want and where you want within reason, by doing nothing else. For instance you can run the fridge while going down the road and with a residential unit, probably all night long after an evening of TV.
With whatever outlets you might leave powered up (ac's must be off), use good common sense and don't be plugging hair dryers and the like into them. having said that, people have made a pot of coffee in the morning and got by with it. Once you're done though, you're done and have pretty much depleted your batteries. Alternator should charge them back up going down the road, but still not a good practice. Now once you're moving, you could actually do a lot, including putting the slow cooker on for dinner, by securing such in the sink.
As for just watching TV in the back, you might get by with just plugging in a 150watt inverter into the nearest 12vdc outlet. Many don't have much luck with these though, as they tend to put long runs of small gauge wire to feed these things. Only way to really know, is to try it.
Whatever you decide, I certainly wouldn't be running a big genset, just to power up small appliances, like a TV.