Plugging shore power into inverter
I'm about to buy an inverter for my travel trailer. It has no 12 volt outlets, so I think ac is the easiest way to go. Can I plug the shore power plug (with an adapter) directly into the inverter an...
Forum Discussion
I have what I call my workhorse INVERTER. It is a 600WATT PURE SINE WAVE AIMS model from AMAZON ($259). Have had it installed since 2009. This is used all the time (always ON) for my small wattage daily use items.
I kept it simple and just ran a couple of multi-head receptacle type extension cord from the Inverter two 120VAC ports. One goes to the Home Entertaiment Center area and the other goes to the bed nite table area... This is used mostly for the must have ON low wattage items for use all the time like the CELL PHONE chargers-WXRADIO-Computer chargers-small 120VAC Fan-etc...
I use my heavy wattage items like making coffee etc when I am re-charging my battery bank each morning for three hours starting with breakfast using my on-board smart mode charging powered by my 2K Honda Generator.
I also have a 1500WATT PSW Inverter that output is routed to a OUTSIDE weather type 120VAC receptacle right next to the SHore Power Connection where I can use a short 3A-15A SHore Power long adapter Adapter to connect the SHore Power to my 1500 WATT Inverter receptacle. This works pretty good but I have to turn OF a bunch of things. 1500WATTS is not much power... I had to install a BONDING plug on this setup to grounds the GROUND and NEUTRAL connection together for the Inverter to keep working (Had GFCI trips in the trailer also).
The 1500WATT Inverter also really rulled down on my batteries. My 255AHs battery capacity is really maxed out. The 600WATT INVERTER is much better running the 255AH battery capacity I have. Actually I found out I really very seldom use the 1500WATT Inverter setup for this reason I guess... The 600WATT Inverter is ON all the time and I control what is being turned on using it. Without anything turned on it does not draw much power from the Battery bank.
Here is floorplan of my OFF-ROAD POPUP Trailer setup - Note my battery connections are right at 5-feet away from my 255AH battery source.
How big is your battery bank going to be....
My current battery ban here consists of three ea GP24 85AH 12VDC batteries connected in parallel depending on my main DC Switch positions. I am planning on getting two new 150AH 12VDC Batteries...
Keep in mind INVERTERS are really DC POWER HUNGARY and when your batteries drop down to the 12.0VDC level (Appr 50% Charge State) you should stop using them until you re-charge back to the 90% charge state right away otherwise you will be doing harm to the batteries and replacing them soon.
Just some of my thoughts
Roy Ken
I kept it simple and just ran a couple of multi-head receptacle type extension cord from the Inverter two 120VAC ports. One goes to the Home Entertaiment Center area and the other goes to the bed nite table area... This is used mostly for the must have ON low wattage items for use all the time like the CELL PHONE chargers-WXRADIO-Computer chargers-small 120VAC Fan-etc...
I use my heavy wattage items like making coffee etc when I am re-charging my battery bank each morning for three hours starting with breakfast using my on-board smart mode charging powered by my 2K Honda Generator.
I also have a 1500WATT PSW Inverter that output is routed to a OUTSIDE weather type 120VAC receptacle right next to the SHore Power Connection where I can use a short 3A-15A SHore Power long adapter Adapter to connect the SHore Power to my 1500 WATT Inverter receptacle. This works pretty good but I have to turn OF a bunch of things. 1500WATTS is not much power... I had to install a BONDING plug on this setup to grounds the GROUND and NEUTRAL connection together for the Inverter to keep working (Had GFCI trips in the trailer also).
The 1500WATT Inverter also really rulled down on my batteries. My 255AHs battery capacity is really maxed out. The 600WATT INVERTER is much better running the 255AH battery capacity I have. Actually I found out I really very seldom use the 1500WATT Inverter setup for this reason I guess... The 600WATT Inverter is ON all the time and I control what is being turned on using it. Without anything turned on it does not draw much power from the Battery bank.
Here is floorplan of my OFF-ROAD POPUP Trailer setup - Note my battery connections are right at 5-feet away from my 255AH battery source.
How big is your battery bank going to be....
My current battery ban here consists of three ea GP24 85AH 12VDC batteries connected in parallel depending on my main DC Switch positions. I am planning on getting two new 150AH 12VDC Batteries...
Keep in mind INVERTERS are really DC POWER HUNGARY and when your batteries drop down to the 12.0VDC level (Appr 50% Charge State) you should stop using them until you re-charge back to the 90% charge state right away otherwise you will be doing harm to the batteries and replacing them soon.
Just some of my thoughts
Roy Ken
