How do I wire in an inverter

smkettner wrote:
With two batteries a single 600 to 1000 watt inverter should be fine to run the fridge, tv and cpap.

These might be all on the same circuit and you just need a small transfer switch to power them up. Or two switches on two circuits if needed.

$50 15 amp transfer switch.

I just ordered that, cheaper than Amazon believe it or not.

3 tons wrote:

CJW8 wrote:


The problem with the whole camper being on the inverter, as some have suggested, is the converter MUST be turned off before the inverter is turned on. If not, one of two things will happen. You'll run your batteries down very quickly or the inverter will trip on fault which is what my old setup would do. I would remember to do this most times, wife would never remember to do it.

A sub panel solves this issue, move the house plugs and M/W to the sub, then no accidental battery depletion.

3 tons

I considered a sub panel but didn't really have room for it. My solution seemed easier. Thanks.

CJW8 wrote:


The problem with the whole camper being on the inverter, as some have suggested, is the converter MUST be turned off before the inverter is turned on. If not, one of two things will happen. You'll run your batteries down very quickly or the inverter will trip on fault which is what my old setup would do. I would remember to do this most times, wife would never remember to do it.

A sub panel solves this issue, move the house plugs and M/W to the sub, then no accidental battery depletion.

3 tons

Keep in mind that an inverter uses power even at idle. My PSW Xantrex 2000 uses .8 amps if not powering anything. You will need one this big to run most microwaves.

Here is how I hooked mine up--Inverter is within 3 feet of the batteries using 2-0 cable. Inverter has a duplex outlet on the front. In that outlet are plugged 2ea 9 foot extension cords that will reach my power distribution panel. Behind the distribution panel I install two automatic transfer switches. connected to the ends of the extension cord and to two different breakers. One is connected to the breaker labled "general" which is most of the regular outlets. The other is connected to the GFCI breaker which covers the bathroom and outdoor outlets. The converter has it's on breaker so it is not powered when the inverter is on (more on this later). Same for the microwave. If I must power the microwave, which is rare since I currently only have 3ea group 24 batteries, I use in extension cord to plug it in to one of the outlets powered by the inverter.

The problem with the whole camper being on the inverter, as some have suggested, is the converter MUST be turned off before the inverter is turned on. If not, one of two things will happen. You'll run your batteries down very quickly or the inverter will trip on fault which is what my old setup would do. I would remember to do this most times, wife would never remember to do it.

I also used a remote switch to turn on and off the inverter so I did not have to go outside to the storage compartment to do it.

PSW? MSW?

It's a personal choice. The whole enchilada is for the prospective purchaser to ask questions and LEARN which inveter design is best for him and his plans. This is NOT an area where a wild guess will work.

BFL13 wrote:
I had the PSW Can Tire 1000 for several years but accidentally fried it this year. I never did get any advantage from it being PSW over MSW that I could tell.

I do. Our current rig unfortunately doesn't have a vent over the main cabin so unless I cut one into the roof there's no way to run a 12 vdc FanTastic vent fan as we did in our previous Spree. As an alternative we hang this 3-speed, 2-way fan in the street side window by the bed and run it constantly when camping, other than the few occasions when it's so hot outside we have to run the A/C.



We also always run a 10" table fan to further circulate the air in the camper and for a bit of white noise while sleeping ... but these are both 120 vac fans and as is are useless when dry camping. I've tried running these fans with 300 watt and 150 watt MSW inverters but found the fans squeal like crazy because of the MSW waveform but running off the PSW inverter I installed "whole house" they operate just as they do on 120 vac shore power. :B

BFL13 wrote:

dahkota wrote:
I wouldn't bother with the microwave - it requires too many amps to run even if for a short time.

............

Where do people get this wrong info from? They are losing out if they ever want to do it, and maybe causing others to lose out by passing that along.

Last summer, my camping neighbour (newbie off -grid) was running his 3000w MSW inverter off two old 6s that came with his used 5er. He was able to run his microwave, DW hair dryer, vacuum cleaner, etc no sweat. ( I showed him how to turn off the converter and plug his shore power into the inverter with fridge and WH on propane)

The joke is, his two old 6s had SGs "in the red" on two cells in one and in one cell in the other 6. The batts lasted them fine from June to end September doing that. ( I sold him I my 130w panel, which helped :) )

This year he returned with now four new 6s (as advised), but I bet he could have got by with just two new ones, since last year he only had three cells of 6 "in the green" by SG the whole time.

Makes you wonder what is really required! :)

BTW hone thing is they go home a couple days a week so the 130w solar is able to
"catch up" and get the batts to full every so often while they are away, so they don't get behind the problem for too long and ruin their batts. Works for them!

From my own non-theoretical 'actual' two 6v with inverter (M/W oven, vacuum cleaner, hair dryer) experience, a resounding Ditto....The devil is in the details (large battery cables of short length, and capable inverter)... PM me if you like...

3 tons

A budy of mine put one of these in his FW to power a residential fridge,
has the transfer switch built in..
Aims inverter

With two batteries a single 600 to 1000 watt inverter should be fine to run the fridge, tv and cpap.

These might be all on the same circuit and you just need a small transfer switch to power them up. Or two switches on two circuits if needed.

$50 15 amp transfer switch.

I installed a 30 amp outlet in the shore power cord box. The outlet is powered by the inverter. That way I can use it while trundling down the road. Slow cooked supper is so yummy!

bigrigfixer wrote:
Do you have a notch cut into the door to accommodate the cable or just leave the door open a little bit?