General RV Solar Questions?
I'm planning to add a couple of new high end Kyocera 140 panels and build up a new system out of them. Currenly I have what my old 95' Squire 400 came with which is a substandard and smaller panel wi...
Forum Discussion
Hi Lex,
Running DC wiring for a long distance (say 5 feet) results in lots of voltage drop. A 200 watt 120 volt load transliterates into 20 amps @ 12 volts. Many inverters will go to low voltage fault at 11 or 11.5 volts. Even a small coffee pot will draw 50 amps and a toaster 90 amps.
It is usually better to mount the inverter close to the battery bank and then to feed the existing 120 volt ac wiring. I prefer manual systems, so I unplug the OEM converter, and set the fridge to propane. Others use a transfer switch with a sub panel to do this automatically.
In a one person situation a single inverter that can handle 125% of the maximum "one item" load required is pretty much ideal. Some of the upscale units do "auto sense" when a load is place on them. That cuts down on the overhead of operating the inverter full time.
I've just had installed a 3000 watt boost inverter from Magnum. For you, that may be "over kill" size wise. They do make some smaller units.
I did also get their remote which allows me to "tweak" the inverter--for example limiting shore power to 15 amps when I'm at a friends home--so I don't blow a breaker. For me this was an essential item as I'm often without access to the shore power breaker--and if it overloads I'm stuck without any shore power.
So do your 120 volt energy audit--and figure out the size that will meet your needs. Then set a budget and start looking. Pure sine wave is nice to have--but if you are on a budget (I am, always) modified sine wave can run most items. Some of the exceptions are items such as Mac computers, induction cookers and heating blankets. Using those on MSW will let out the magic blue smoke.
I went 5 years before I saved enough money to upgrade from my $200 Cobra 2500 watt MSW inverter to the top of the line 12 volt Magnum.
Canadian Tire/Xantrex sells a nice 2000 watt PSW unit for under $400.00. If it fails it is a throw away.
Running DC wiring for a long distance (say 5 feet) results in lots of voltage drop. A 200 watt 120 volt load transliterates into 20 amps @ 12 volts. Many inverters will go to low voltage fault at 11 or 11.5 volts. Even a small coffee pot will draw 50 amps and a toaster 90 amps.
It is usually better to mount the inverter close to the battery bank and then to feed the existing 120 volt ac wiring. I prefer manual systems, so I unplug the OEM converter, and set the fridge to propane. Others use a transfer switch with a sub panel to do this automatically.
In a one person situation a single inverter that can handle 125% of the maximum "one item" load required is pretty much ideal. Some of the upscale units do "auto sense" when a load is place on them. That cuts down on the overhead of operating the inverter full time.
I've just had installed a 3000 watt boost inverter from Magnum. For you, that may be "over kill" size wise. They do make some smaller units.
I did also get their remote which allows me to "tweak" the inverter--for example limiting shore power to 15 amps when I'm at a friends home--so I don't blow a breaker. For me this was an essential item as I'm often without access to the shore power breaker--and if it overloads I'm stuck without any shore power.
So do your 120 volt energy audit--and figure out the size that will meet your needs. Then set a budget and start looking. Pure sine wave is nice to have--but if you are on a budget (I am, always) modified sine wave can run most items. Some of the exceptions are items such as Mac computers, induction cookers and heating blankets. Using those on MSW will let out the magic blue smoke.
I went 5 years before I saved enough money to upgrade from my $200 Cobra 2500 watt MSW inverter to the top of the line 12 volt Magnum.
Canadian Tire/Xantrex sells a nice 2000 watt PSW unit for under $400.00. If it fails it is a throw away.
