Forum Discussion

nikkijohnrv's avatar
nikkijohnrv
Explorer
Apr 09, 2014

battery

I would like to know if I can use my microwave and use my outlets off my battery? We have a travel trailer
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Off batteries... If you have at least 200 amp hours at the c/20 rate (IE a pair of Group 29, DEEP CYCLE, 31 DEEP CYCLE (Not Marine/Deep cycle in both cases) or a pair of Golf Car batteries and an inverter at least 1500 watts (mine is 2000) you can run a Microwave for a short time, the more battery the more time (i have over 500 amp hours).

    Off "Shore" power.. 20 amps one big ticket item (Microwave, Water heater, Air conditioner) Provided the batteies are not sucking major re-charge amps of your converter..

    Off 30 amps. 2 of the above
    And if your trailer is wired for 50 and you have 50. All you can eat.
  • Not unless you upgrade the electrical system, add batteries, and install an inverter.
  • Are you talking about boondocking, or just being able to run appliances while parked in your driveway? If the later, then you can get an adapter for your power cord that allows you to plug the TT into house current. You can't run the AC though.
  • Most TT don't come with capability as standard equipment. It takes an inverter to change the battery 12volt DC to 110volt AC. If your thinking of running a microwave then you will need at least a 1kW inverter. To run that inverter I would use no less than 4 6volt batteries as a bank. Then you also need the ability to recharge that battery bank
  • It can be done. You would need an inverter large enough to run the microwave. You would also need more than one battery to supply the large amount of power necessary. Many people equip their RV's this way but RV's rarely come this way from the factory. The cost of a cheap inverter and some additional batteries and cables would be hundreds of dollars.
  • Generally, no. However, if you have a big enough inverter, anything is possible.