Our Roadtrek has an inverter for the TV & DVD player. There is a switch to turn the inverter on and off, and the TV & DVD don't work unless the switch is on. So, even if we're on shore power we have to turn on the inverter to watch a movie. Problem is we forget to turn it off when we go to bed and it runs all night... The owner's manual says to be sure to turn it off when not using.Is there a way to switch to shore power when we're hooked up or maybe get a lighted switch for the inverter so we are reminded that it is on?How does the average inverter user handle this?

Mine is the same way. I did it because it is the simplest way so you don't need any transfer switches. If you on shore power, no need to turn it off. If you dry camping, it no biggee if you leave it on, just uses maybe a 1/2 amp of battery power.And yes, I do have a lighted switch for the inverter, and still forget to turn it off now and then,....its no bigee

pasusan wrote:Is there a way to switch to shore power when we're hooked up or maybe get a lighted switch for the inverter so we are reminded that it is on? Sure. Plug the TV into a different outlet; one that is not fed by the inverter.OR plug a small night light into the same outlet off the inverter.It really isn't much of a problem as the inverter should not draw much power when there is no load.I solved this problem by getting a 12 V TV instead of messing with an inverter.

Leave the TV and DVD on and just use the inverter switch to turn them on and off.Our inverter runs other things too so we have to actually unplug the TV since it is still on in standby drawing power when it is "off"

Most inverters (if they are of any quality) draw very little idle amps. I leave mine on, all the time I'm camping.

This average user usually leaves it on 24/7. Probably harder on them to be turned on and off frequently.

First time with an inverter | Good Sam Community

BFL13
Explorer II
Jul 18, 2017
pasusan wrote:
BFL13 wrote:
Leave the TV and DVD on and just use the inverter switch to turn them on and off.

Our inverter runs other things too so we have to actually unplug the TV since it is still on in standby drawing power when it is "off"
Thanks for that - we'll try using the inverter switch to turn things off. If we can't seem to do it we'll end up replacing the switch with one that is lighted while on.

You can use a night light that goes in a 120v receptacle as a reminder. I use my three-light tester for that instead. If no receptacle free with TV and DVD plugged in, you can use a power bar to get more receptacles.
pasusan
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
2oldman wrote:
This average user usually leaves it on 24/7. Probably harder on them to be turned on and off frequently.
Ours is from 2004 (probably 2003) and there's a fan that runs continually while it's on. The manual does say to turn it off when not in use so that's what we want to do.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 18, 2017
pasusan wrote:
Ours is from 2004 (probably 2003) and there's a fan that runs continually while it's on..
Yes, cheap inverters have continually running fans.
pasusan
Explorer
Jul 19, 2017
Thanks to everyone for the replies. I've got a better grasp on how folks deal with them and what we can do in our situation. :)
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 19, 2017
Mine is switched off because I camp long enough where 12 amp hours a day makes for a cumulative negative total.

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