I would like to add an additional battery (have one group 27 now), possibly a solar charging system and an inverter.I hate that the 120V outlets don't work on battery power. Seems crazy you can't charge a cell phone.Anyway, I would like to an an inverter. My goal would be to wire it into the system with an automatic transfer switch for shore power/battery power. Seems awfully involved.Is the better option adding an inverter with a dedicated female 30 amp outlet on the side of the rv near the front where the batteries are, and simply plug the shore power cable into the inverter when needed?Seems easy enough, but not "clean". I would really rather add an inverter and transfer switch. Has anybody one that that can explain the process? Does the converter need to stay? Can it go? If the converter is removed, how do the 12V outlets and lights and water pump run? Will they run off of battery power without the converter when on shore power?Im confused about that one aspect.

I'll step aside and let those with more experience chime in. But I can provide a basic overview.With two batteries, you can't power a very big inverter. Not big enough to do what you are proposing. Would you be happy with an outlet or two? The best thing at this point would be for you to list the items you must be able to plug in and run, those things that would be nice but not absolutely necessary, and those that would truly be a luxury to have 110v to run.

you don't say what type of RV you have but factory inverters are usually only come on the bigger motorhomes.so not sure why you'd think that the 120v AC outlets should run on 12v DC power. i installed a 400w inverter in my 24' HTT. connected it straight to the batteries, routing the wires through cabinets and out the front of the trailer, where the other wires come out. it has an on/off toggle switch on it.can run the tv and dvd on it and also recharge electronic devices.for dry camping, that's all i need. don't need to have all the 120v outlets usable on 12v battery power.not sure what other things you'd need them for, if you're dry camping.

You need to do a lot more research into what you plan.This is a link to an excellent discussion of 12 Volt systems; part 2 of the discussion goes into inverters. You need to thoroughly read and understand this before you go further.http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htmWith 2 #27 batteries, you can't run more than the entertainment center for a few hours at a time. Maybe a SMALL microwave for a few minutes to warm up things, not to cook.300 watts or so of solar would be enough to keep the 2 #27's charged for most uses.Regards,Doug

We use a regular cell phone charger that plugs into a 12- volt system. It came with our phone.

If your inverter is "whole house" running everything 120v in the RV, then the converter must be turned off (various ways to do that) or it will use more battery juice than it can put back in, and your batteries will go flat--this takes a while so you do get a chance to notice the converter is still on and shut it off :)You will want your fridge on gas, not auto, or else it will see 120v and run on that. Water heater on propane whenever you have that on. Air conditioner off. DW trained in use of microwave and hairdryer (you too :) )Then for whole house, just plug the shore cord into the inverter.Another way is to have just certain things run off inverter which runs a sub-panel (which does NOT include the converter!)Another way is to have an inverter with a transfer switch so you can be whole or part house on inverter and the rest (or all of it) on shore power or genYou can do anything you want really. Here is what I do as an example only, not recommending it unless it suits you too. In this case one inverter is whole house with shore cord into it and the other does only certain items that have been displaced from whole house for when off-grid (they usually go back to whole house when we have shore power but don't have to be--can still use the inverter method for them)http://forums.trailerlife.com/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26237237.cfm

Adding Inverter for dry camping | Good Sam Community

doughere
Explorer
Dec 21, 2014
You need to do a lot more research into what you plan.

This is a link to an excellent discussion of 12 Volt systems; part 2 of the discussion goes into inverters. You need to thoroughly read and understand this before you go further.

http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm

With 2 #27 batteries, you can't run more than the entertainment center for a few hours at a time. Maybe a SMALL microwave for a few minutes to warm up things, not to cook.

300 watts or so of solar would be enough to keep the 2 #27's charged for most uses.

Regards,
Doug
bikendan
Explorer
Dec 21, 2014
you don't say what type of RV you have but factory inverters are usually only come on the bigger motorhomes.
so not sure why you'd think that the 120v AC outlets should run on 12v DC power.

i installed a 400w inverter in my 24' HTT.
connected it straight to the batteries, routing the wires through cabinets and out the front of the trailer, where the other wires come out. it has an on/off toggle switch on it.
can run the tv and dvd on it and also recharge electronic devices.

for dry camping, that's all i need. don't need to have all the 120v outlets usable on 12v battery power.
not sure what other things you'd need them for, if you're dry camping.
Snowman9000
Explorer
Dec 21, 2014
I'll step aside and let those with more experience chime in. But I can provide a basic overview.

With two batteries, you can't power a very big inverter. Not big enough to do what you are proposing. Would you be happy with an outlet or two? The best thing at this point would be for you to list the items you must be able to plug in and run, those things that would be nice but not absolutely necessary, and those that would truly be a luxury to have 110v to run.

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