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dpgllg's avatar
dpgllg
Explorer
May 12, 2018

finishing installing Battery Disconnect and power inverter

My 2017 Grand Design draws power to Co2 detector and Slide 2 even when battery disconnect is turned off. The slide when in blocks the back of 5th wheel and the dealer said this is a safety device.

Well I'm going to install a battery disconnect that will kill everything when off and also a small power inverter.

My question is will the power inverter draw power from the battery when the inverter is not being used? I went online and some say yes others no so I'm really not sure.

What I would like is to connect the inverter to the disconnect switch and when power is on BUT I'm not actually using the inverter it will not draw from battery.

There is a power switch on inverter and I would keep this at off until I wanted to use inverter.

Thanks!

Dave

14 Replies

  • Inverters mfg today
    Most will draw something, when off
    Because they are not truly off

    The switches are control switches, not main power switch, they are too small to carry even the 25 amp load of a 300w inverter
    No way are they going to carry the power of a larger inverter
    If they built them with mechanical electrical relays operated by the switch
    There would be no drain when off
    But it's all electronic controls, and there is always some drain,
    For storage mode you need a mains power disconnect
  • My Xantrex 1800 seemed to draw power even when switched off. Not much as I would guess just a few milliamps. Never measured it but it was enough prevent my 15 watt solar panel from keeping the battery charged. I would remove the main fuse in storage.

    An inverter on and idling will draw almost 1% of rated power.
  • With mine, as long as the inverter power switch is off, no power is drawn.
  • If the inverter has a switch that eliminates any 12V draw, you can install a battery disconnect anywhere you want. Typical inverters behave like that and there are some that automatically do that but are in standby until 120V power is needed.

    For your application where assumed storage disconnect is needed, install the disconnect close to the battery. If you choose a master disconnect switch with the right terminals, you can move the CO2 alarm and the slide to the load side of that switch. The only circuit that needs connection to the battery beyond a disconnect switch is the emergency break-away system for braking. Leave that directly connected to the positive polarity terminal of the battery. The reasoning is that even if you hook up and drive away with a battery disconnect switch in the "off" position, your emergency braking system will still operate.