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Moffittclan's avatar
Moffittclan
Explorer
Mar 28, 2016

TV inverter full time

Still trying to figure out all the mods to our new (to us) Class A. The TV has it's own inverter that you have to turn on be able to watch the TV. I've also plugged in the dish network receiver and hard drive into this so it can be watched on the road...We will be living in it full time for the next year or so. Is it alright to leave the Inverter on full time or should I switch it off each morning when we leave for work? My concern is if we can't leave it on, the DVR won't record and the receiver has to re-download the guide/ect each day (about 10 minutes).

Mike
  • I don't like the problems that come w/ transfer switches.
    So all my A/V components and pc chargers etc run on inverter whether on or off grid. Works good for me. When dry camping, to save 12v, I shut the inverter off when not using anything, and yes, the sat rec has to reload each time,....about 2 minutes.
  • Bill.Satellite wrote:
    If you are plugged in during that period the inverter should not be necessary to provide power to the TV and receiver as it should be designed to pass A/C when plugged in and act as an inverter when you are not connected to shore power.


    It depends on how it is wired. He states he has to turn on the inverter to watch tv. If this is true when he is on shore power, then the outlet he is plugging in to is only powered by the inverter.

    If you are plugged in, then yes, leave the inverter on so the DVR has power. If you are not plugged in but have adequate solar power leave it on. If you are not plugged in and do not have solar power, you may have to worry about the state of charge of your batteries.

    We leave ours on 24X7 but it is wired as a passthrough when we have shore power.
  • If you are plugged in during that period the inverter should not be necessary to provide power to the TV and receiver as it should be designed to pass A/C when plugged in and act as an inverter when you are not connected to shore power.
    If you are dry camping and want to keep the TV and receiver running then you must leave the inverter powered on. This is not at all a bad thing unless you don't have enough battery power in reserve to deal with the constant 25W draw from the receiver and a minimal amount more for the hard drive.
  • When you switch it, do you lose power for a split second or is it seamless?
  • I believe you can run it all day. But you might want to look into getting a transfer switch that will provide power to the devices from the 110 source if available or the inverter if not. That way when you are plugged in you don't use the inverter.

    My new Bay Star Sport is wired that way.

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