Inverter
Is best to run inverter when hooked to shorepower or turn it off
Forum Discussion
When you are parked and hooked up to shore power, then all the items are run from the shore power. Many inverter/chargers need to be left 'on' to keep the batteries full.
My inverter has three positions. Off, charge only and set to standby.
Charge only is that, if I leave it there, and run the generator or plug into 120 volts, it will charge the batteries if they need it.
Set to Standby will run the inverter and produce power any time there is not shore power or the generator running. It will also take over power production within 10 miliseconds, and produce 120 volt power when the generator stops or I unplug. This is quickly enough that I can stop the generator while baking bread, and the breadmaker does not know that there was power failure, and keeps making with the same program. But while in set to standby, it will draw about 2 amps from the batteries, even with no load on the inverter output. This can deplete the battery fairly quickly if you just 'leave it on' when not using it to say watch TV or charge a laptop.
So I normally shut off the inverter unless I need to run something, this reduced load on the battery. I only run it as long as I need the power, then off again.
If you must run the inverter to charge the battery, then turn it on as soon as you start the generator or plug into shore power.
Have fun camping!
Fred.
My inverter has three positions. Off, charge only and set to standby.
Charge only is that, if I leave it there, and run the generator or plug into 120 volts, it will charge the batteries if they need it.
Set to Standby will run the inverter and produce power any time there is not shore power or the generator running. It will also take over power production within 10 miliseconds, and produce 120 volt power when the generator stops or I unplug. This is quickly enough that I can stop the generator while baking bread, and the breadmaker does not know that there was power failure, and keeps making with the same program. But while in set to standby, it will draw about 2 amps from the batteries, even with no load on the inverter output. This can deplete the battery fairly quickly if you just 'leave it on' when not using it to say watch TV or charge a laptop.
So I normally shut off the inverter unless I need to run something, this reduced load on the battery. I only run it as long as I need the power, then off again.
If you must run the inverter to charge the battery, then turn it on as soon as you start the generator or plug into shore power.
Have fun camping!
Fred.
