Inverter questions.

Muddydogs wrote:
Another question. I see most inverters are wired close to the battery then regurlar house wire and plugs are used to get the power into the trailer. What problems would I have if I ran about 10 feet of wire from the battery to the inverter so I could just plug stuff into the inverter? I will use the correct size wire, I think the directions called for 4 gauge wire for this length of run.

As long as you use #4 you can mount the inverter where you like. Need an 80 or 100 amp fuse close to the battery. Frame connection would be OK for the negative but wire to the battery is preferred.

We started taking our DGK's with us for much of the summer, spring break and several weekends a year about 6 or 7 years ago. Things that required recharging started off with their DS's, and the DW's cell phone.

Now there are four cell phones, cameras, iPods, a net book and whatever else 13 and 14 year olds must have with them and turned on at all times. When required the netbook is charged using a MSW inverter made in 1989. I use it for the HDMI Splitter too.

The TV's and the BluRay player are Insignia Brand from Best Buy and all had wall bricks but are plugged in directly to 12VDC outlets.

So far we have not had any problems with running things the way we do. I do carry the bricks but have never used them. I am going to install an on/off switch for the TV's to eliminate plugging in and unplugging while in storage. Just flip a switch and they're off.

I installed a branch circuit from the batteries that goes to the 12 volt outlets, we have 7, and they run through a separate fuse panel mounted behind the engine hatch doors on the front of the rig.

Hi Muddy,

The bonehead that made the outlet not work with the key off wanted to make sure the vehicle would start. A 100 load on an inverter is 10 amps at the battery. That could flatten a starter battery in short order.

I do not recommend 10 feet of DC wiring from the battery bank to the inverter. It will cause lots of voltage drop, especially under heavy loads. That may cause the inverter to go into low voltage fault mode.

Muddydogs wrote:
What problems would I have if I ran about 10 feet of wire from the battery to the inverter so I could just plug stuff into the inverter?

Should be fine.

Another question. I see most inverters are wired close to the battery then regurlar house wire and plugs are used to get the power into the trailer. What problems would I have if I ran about 10 feet of wire from the battery to the inverter so I could just plug stuff into the inverter? I will use the correct size wire, I think the directions called for 4 gauge wire for this length of run.

I suggest temporarily connecting it to your truck battery and try it. If it charges what you want to charge without issue, install it in your rig.

I use a 100W MSW to run my TV without issue.

Some report great success with MSW, others report great failure. No MSW for me. PSW works every time without trial and error or hopes and wishes.

"Pluck Your Magic Twanger, Frogee!"

BOING! "HIYA KIDS, HIYA, HIYA"

You'll need to feed a Bosch type 40-amp relay with this, but you can switch stuff on and off with a keyless remote. They work sweet!


Yeah, I know some of you are too young to remember, Andy Devine, Froggy, Midnight the Cat et al. But the above is for us old folks who do remember....

We borrowed a B&D 500w inverter for a long weekend last year, it worked fine and did everything the OP is asking. All of our smaller inverters have been MSW including the 150w unit we ran the flat screen, satellite and phone chargers with last trip. Things did get a bit warmer than usual but nothing died.

My main concern was to be able to charge cell phones, GPS units and In Reach or SPOT locator beacons. I was wanting to wire the unit into the trailer since it also has a USB charging port I would have a couple options for charging my stuff.

Right now I do my charging in the truck but the 12 volt and 120 volt plugs only work with the key on, only plug that will charge while the truck is off is one USB port. Not sure which knuckle head decided that we don't need to be able to charge stuff without the key on.