inverter question

If my inverters had remote switches I'd probably turn them off at night while we are camping. But since they don't, I usually just leave them on. Yes, there is parasitic draw from leaving it on but I don't worry about it as long as the sun shines the next day (solar panels). Since my usual practice is to leave them on, I also have a few LED nightlights plugged in.

I have the inverter turned off most of the time. We turn it on if we need to charge a cell phone or computer or to heat coffee in the microwave. Then we turn it off again. No need having it turn on if not in use.

I use a CPAP and don't use it while we're camping,but have found that even though I have lost 30#, I am still over the DOT sleep apnea line for not using it.. Oh, and they will ask for your smart card when you get your physical.
I am trying to decide if I want to spend the extra money for a 12V adapter for my new one and wire in a 12V plug off of the radio in the bedroom or just run the inverter all nite. Even tho I am on the line,my CPAP helps me get to sleep better.

In our last three RVs we have left the inverter on all the time. The first 3 didn't have AGS. The current one does. I did have to add batteries to ensure the batteries stayed above 50% DOD. A common mistake is measuring voltage under load. The 12.1 VDC DOD number is based on the battery being at rest i.e. With no load. If the battery is under load then that number is incorrect.

It depends on how long we'll be dry camping. If it's only a couple of nights, I leave it on but if I feel a need to be conservative I'll shut it off. I do have good battery and solar capacity.

Since I always run the genny in the morning for breakfast to run the coffee maker. microwave. and other high draw appliances charging is not an issue. Same in the evening to run stuff. It just kind of purrs in the background so again charging is not an issue.

This is a subject that really is personal preference sensitive and everyone just does what they feel comfy with.

tahiti16 wrote:
...I only turn on the inverter if I need it to power something...

Same here, why run it if you don't need it?

I leave mine on. And yes, the idle draw is quite a bit. Still, when boondocking we run the genny morning and evening for a while, and it hasn't been a problem.

When we go solar and try to ween ourselves off the genny, that will change.

Also, somehow I need to get my family to agree that resources are a finite thing that require management.

supercub wrote:
Ok, thanks for the input.........I have been turning it off, and now will continue........I was just hoping to be lazy and not have to get up out of bed at night to turn off the invertor after I turn the TV off. Oh well......so I won't be quite so lazy LOL.
Brian

Add another on/off switch next to the bed....:W......Dennis

tahiti16 wrote:
I only turn on the inverter if I need it to power something as it has it's own parasitic load on the batteries even when nothing is calling for power. Can be from 1-5 amps depending on the inverter.

I do the same

We installed a second smaller inverter for the bedroom tv and receiver. If we forget to turn it off or fall asleep it isn't such a drain on the batteries as the amp draw is about a 1/3 of our house inverter.