Inverter query
We have a small B+ class 23' RV (2001 Peak Kodiak), and have recently installed 2 x new 6v golf cart batteries in series after realising our old batteries had had their day (after about 3-4 weeks boondocking with little driving & about an hour of generator a day to try and top them up).
Last week we made the plunge by installing 2 x 100w renogy panels on our roof, and then to a viewstar solar charge controller (30amps I believe). At the same time we purchased a Samlex 2000W PST-12 inverter. We bought the inverter even though we do not have huge power usage (microwave for maybe a few minutes a day, but mainly to just charge our laptops, boil a kettle, odd hairdryer moment, etc. We know we can never run our air conditioner via it!) - we just wanted to mostly have access to our wall plugs without having to turn on the generator (as mentioned, we very rarely pay to stay at camp sites & hook up). We are trying to be 100% off grid.
Unfortunately our solar installer (a friend) was not confident in installing the inverter. He installed the solar easily, and even though we only had about 24 hour usage before going to an RV service place to install the inverter, we are confident it was all installed correctly (at least the charge controller tells us that when the SOC goes up when we're parked up!)
But the inverter installation has appeared to be a very different kettle of fish...
To cut a long story short, after having transfer switches installed, and then a return trip to have a relay installed, any time the inverter is on we see a HUGE power drain from our batteries, even though nothing is actually physically plugged in or on (we have switched the fridge to 'gas only' rather than 'auto' after it was felt that might be the draw). We are seeing about 5% battery drop a minute, so within 10 minutes our batteries are pretty much rendered useless. And that's without even using anything (e.g. we get about 5 seconds of the microwave before the low voltage screech goes off on the inverter).
Looking online, there may be a case where the inverter is essentially running a loop between itself and the coach power converter. But this was why we bought the relay into the equation after seeing this drop pretty much straight away (unsure whether that is wired in correctly or not. The RV guys seemed to think so, but this was when we left the garage with them thinking all was ok - and if being honest, a little weary after 3 days of trying to get the inverter in & working). We left the garage thinking it was all working correctly (& it appeared so to me), but then as soon as we stopped driving after a couple of hours with the inverter on (& no 'known' loads off it) we parked up, only to see to our horror the dreaded SOC rapid drop.
I suppose my question is, could this be the issue? Inverter pulling power out of battery, converter taking that power from the inverter and then just pushing it back into the battery. And of course the loss of amps in that process of 12VDC to 110VAC back to 12VDC and so on? And if so, what could be potentially solutions?
Apologies again, if this isn't anything you deal with or have time to help with, but having spent a significant amount on RV service bills, to people who clearly didn't know what they were doing, we just don't have the funds to go to another place, without being at least slightly armed with some potential reasons & potential solutions.
Many, many thanks
Last week we made the plunge by installing 2 x 100w renogy panels on our roof, and then to a viewstar solar charge controller (30amps I believe). At the same time we purchased a Samlex 2000W PST-12 inverter. We bought the inverter even though we do not have huge power usage (microwave for maybe a few minutes a day, but mainly to just charge our laptops, boil a kettle, odd hairdryer moment, etc. We know we can never run our air conditioner via it!) - we just wanted to mostly have access to our wall plugs without having to turn on the generator (as mentioned, we very rarely pay to stay at camp sites & hook up). We are trying to be 100% off grid.
Unfortunately our solar installer (a friend) was not confident in installing the inverter. He installed the solar easily, and even though we only had about 24 hour usage before going to an RV service place to install the inverter, we are confident it was all installed correctly (at least the charge controller tells us that when the SOC goes up when we're parked up!)
But the inverter installation has appeared to be a very different kettle of fish...
To cut a long story short, after having transfer switches installed, and then a return trip to have a relay installed, any time the inverter is on we see a HUGE power drain from our batteries, even though nothing is actually physically plugged in or on (we have switched the fridge to 'gas only' rather than 'auto' after it was felt that might be the draw). We are seeing about 5% battery drop a minute, so within 10 minutes our batteries are pretty much rendered useless. And that's without even using anything (e.g. we get about 5 seconds of the microwave before the low voltage screech goes off on the inverter).
Looking online, there may be a case where the inverter is essentially running a loop between itself and the coach power converter. But this was why we bought the relay into the equation after seeing this drop pretty much straight away (unsure whether that is wired in correctly or not. The RV guys seemed to think so, but this was when we left the garage with them thinking all was ok - and if being honest, a little weary after 3 days of trying to get the inverter in & working). We left the garage thinking it was all working correctly (& it appeared so to me), but then as soon as we stopped driving after a couple of hours with the inverter on (& no 'known' loads off it) we parked up, only to see to our horror the dreaded SOC rapid drop.
I suppose my question is, could this be the issue? Inverter pulling power out of battery, converter taking that power from the inverter and then just pushing it back into the battery. And of course the loss of amps in that process of 12VDC to 110VAC back to 12VDC and so on? And if so, what could be potentially solutions?
Apologies again, if this isn't anything you deal with or have time to help with, but having spent a significant amount on RV service bills, to people who clearly didn't know what they were doing, we just don't have the funds to go to another place, without being at least slightly armed with some potential reasons & potential solutions.
Many, many thanks
