Inverter

It varies from system to system. Our Magnum inverter charger has multiple modes too. But it can be left on charge only. We only use the inverter mode if 120v is needed while underway and we are not already running the generator.

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.

Rollnhome wrote:
Great answers thanks. Is leaving the inverter on harder on battery life?

If "harder" is defined as an effect on battery longevity, yes. A battery has a finite number of charge-discharge cycles. Leaving the inverter on increases that number and subtracts from the total.

To further assess how much the effect is on your battery, one would need to know the draw of the inverter and how large your battery capacity is. IOW, a small inverter (< 300W) supplying power to a phone charger and PC will draw very few watts from a larger (>200 AH) battery bank. Along with the other 12V items being powered, it is not that much. If the inverter is larger and it is used to power large draw devices continually, it can greatly effect battery longevity.

Great answers thanks. Is leaving the inverter on harder on battery life?

my TV , PC , electronics are always on inverter power
there is less chance of power surge transient voltage to harm them

but those are minor loads totally less than 300w total

big items are on generator or shore power, unless absolutely necessary to switch to inverter

Unless there's some reason otherwise, it probably makes more sense to turn it off. There are several reasons otherwise that might come up.

One (alluded to by BFL13) is double conversion, allowing you to use more power sporadically than is available from your shore supply—though, of course, the long term average needs to be within its limits.

Another is to power devices that you don't want to have power interrupted to for whatever reasons. Typically this might be TVs or DVD players or similar electronics where restarting them is annoying or cumbersome or time-consuming.

My inverter stays off unless needed. Why do you need it while plugged in? If you find a reason then by all means turn it on.

Depends. :) Sometimes if you have only 15a shorepower and you want to run the microwave etc that would pop the pedestal breaker, it is better to use the inverter for your 120 needs, and just use the shore power to run the converter to keep the batteries up.