Adding Inverter/Charger.Questions
Hi all, Looking at getting a budget inverter/charger unit from Tripp Lite for my 71 caveman Truck Camper. Currently my 110v and 12v systems are totally separate. I have shore power that feeds a ...
Forum Discussion
Our old camper has original limited shore power 120 too. I put in a 2000w inverter that can run all 120 things (not all at once) like the microwave, toaster, kettle, hair dryer, TV/DVD, etc, etc. With enough battery bank to run the inverter. (Can add batteries in the truck bed before the wheel wells connected to the batteries in the camper if need be--such as when no solar input is expected)
The converter/charger is the only thing left that runs from the shore power cable. That gets plugged into any shore power or generator.
On shore power, the inverter sucks from the battery bank same as when off grid, but now the converter supplies the battery bank. (along with any solar) The inverter can supply more 120 than limited shore power can sometimes.
Sometimes you gain on battery charging and sometimes you lose battery "depending", so you have to do "management" to keep the batts above 50% and to get them full at times.
This way, you are not limited to the original skimpy 120v set-up, and you have enough shore power juice when available to run the battery charger, which is on longer than the short high draw 120 hits so you can stay ahead over time.
The converter/charger is the only thing left that runs from the shore power cable. That gets plugged into any shore power or generator.
On shore power, the inverter sucks from the battery bank same as when off grid, but now the converter supplies the battery bank. (along with any solar) The inverter can supply more 120 than limited shore power can sometimes.
Sometimes you gain on battery charging and sometimes you lose battery "depending", so you have to do "management" to keep the batts above 50% and to get them full at times.
This way, you are not limited to the original skimpy 120v set-up, and you have enough shore power juice when available to run the battery charger, which is on longer than the short high draw 120 hits so you can stay ahead over time.
