Inverter use.

Some of the energy star electronics now require sine wave power. The modified sine wave inverters, especially the cheap ones, will not work and my fry the electronics. This is also true of some of the UPS's. Sine wave inverters will cost more, especially if you buy good quality ones.

ivbinconned wrote:
Well as you were writing I figured that all out. Thank you for your input. Yes the converter breaker also runs a circuit. The one with the tv center. So I guess I will go with the power bar idea and turn the converter off when I want to use the inverter.
Really appreciate your help.

A friend has a Citation 5er with a 7300 where the converter and TV receptacle are on one breaker, but the other receptacles have their own breaker.

He plugs the shore cord into the big inverter (3000w) to run the rig, and snaps off the converter/TV breaker. He then runs the TV and DVD from his 400w inverter that has a 12v plug into the Winegard panel

Well as you were writing I figured that all out. Thank you for your input. Yes the converter breaker also runs a circuit. The one with the tv center. So I guess I will go with the power bar idea and turn the converter off when I want to use the inverter.
Really appreciate your help.

ivbinconned wrote:
13. Does the converter have a switch on it? It’s not easy to get to.
That was my concern. I would be drawing on the batteries and the converter would be trying to charge them at the same time.

It varies. Some are hardwired like the Parallax 7300, which is often also on the same circuit breaker as the receptacles you want live, so using the circuit breaker as a switch doesn't work. In that case, you have to get into the AC panel and find the black wire coming up from the converter to the bottom of the breaker where it joins the black wire coming from the receptacles' circuit.

You snip the converter's black wire and insert a switch (I used a normal household light switch). Now you can switch the converter off and the circuit breaker stays on so the receptacles work.

OR, the converter might have its own breaker to use as a switch. Or, the converter is not hard-wired, but is plugged into a receptacle nearby, so you just unplug it. OR the converter plugs into a receptacle that is hard to get at, so you plug a power bar (with its own switch) into that, and plug the converter into the power bar where you can get at it.

If you want a low cost PSW inverter to run the sewing machine, this is a decent one. ( I have the 2000w version which runs the microwave etc,)

https://powermaxconverters.com/product/pmx-1000w-psw/

13. Does the converter have a switch on it? It’s not easy to get to.
That was my concern. I would be drawing on the batteries and the converter would be trying to charge them at the same time.

NO on the suicide cord.

But really easy to just wire the inverter into the power distribution panel with a $50 transfer switch and use your existing outlets.

I plug the RV cord into the inverter, leaving the main breaker on and shutting off everything else except the circuit I want to use.

"DON'T DO IT" <<-- Clicky

Yes, plug the shore cord into the inverter via adapter, and be sure to turn off the converter. Fridge and water heater on gas.

Sewing machine might be too much for the 400w (300w running) plus some sewing machines require PSW and won't run on MSW.

ivbinconned wrote:
Last winter boondocking and having only a 400 watt inverter that attaches to battery posts with clamps. A couple times wanting to watch tv and not run yamaha gen, I just ran an extension cord from inverter in through a window and plugged the tv in.
That worked fine.
Would it work to make up an extension cord with male ends at both ends and just plug the one end into an outside plug thus powering up the trailer.
Would this impact the trailers converter in any way?

Da wife wanting to run her sewing machine I also plugged it into this 400 watt inverter. It would work but it buzzed or whined.

instead of making a cord to kill yourself with, why not just plug the trailer cord into the inverter directly and shut off loads, that would overload the inverter?