Inverter install idea. We have no inverter

kmb1966 wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
First question, why?
Second question, what do you want to power?
Third question, how big is your battery bank?
Last question, how do you plan to recharge the batteries?

Why?: We want to have outlets live in the event we want to plug in a laptop, or something small like a blender, or can opener, or the 1 tv we have.
What?: Laptops, front tv, small items but like the idea of all outlets being available.
How big is the battery bank?: 4 6-volt Trojan

My thoughts on this is that we would only use it this way when driving down the road (we don't boondock). When we plug in we would turn back on the charger. I can do this install myself with the only cost being the inverter itself and the wire, receptacle.
The other methods go beyond my capabilities and would likely be much more costly with exactly what benefit?

It’s not as complicated as it seems. In your existing breaker box you circuit breakers that feed each circuit. Usually the outlets are only a few breakers. Typically 1 for the kitchen and another for the bathroom and one more for the rest of the outlets. You are removing one of the breakers and replacing it with a new 30 amps single breaker. Then use 10 AWG wire to the inverter. Another 10 AWG wire will come from the inverter to a new sub-panel next take the wires for the circuits that you want to power out of the existing panel and connect them into the new inverter panel. Finally install the breakers from the existing panel into the new panel.

The problem with using a plug to power a coach from an onboard inverter using the existing wiring is it is dangerous. You can easily have a “hot skin“ condition. Non-hard wired inverters are not designed to be connected to any type of distribution wiring. There can be dangerous voltages present on the neutral line. It seems easy but is against code for a reason.