Question: Truck Battery Bank for Shore Power
Based on some back-and-forth with my original post, I've redefined my problem. 1. Situation: I'm trying to use the battery bank on my truck for shore power for my travel trailer. I want to be able ...
Forum Discussion
Answering valhalla360's questions.
But before I do, this update.
The inverter I'm asking about is a Whistler Pro-2000, it outputs 115 volts (modified sine wave). When I connect the shore power cable to it, the RV gets power for a second, then the inverter goes into alarm mode (audible alarm, light blinking red-green-red-green, and power from inverter cuts off).
Last night, I was asked whether my inverter outputs 120 volts. I looked and the labeling on the inverter clearly states it outputs 115V (the Whistler Pro-2000). I also have an 800W inverter in the house that outputs 120V. When I tried using this inverter for shore power, I was successful in using truck's battery bank to provide power to the RV.
On to valhalla360's questions...
Question 1: Are they really deep cycle...or are they the combo batteries (which are really just starting batteries with a different label). 12v deep cycle batteries are hard to find and expensive. Most people parallel 6v golf cart batteries which are legitimate deep cycle batteries.
Answer 1: Batteries are combo batteries.
Question 2: What size cables and how long are they connecting the batteries to the inverter? 2000w is about 170amps, that takes a pretty thick battery cable and will kill a moderate battery bank pretty quick.
Answer 2: The cables that connect the inverter to the batteries are 2AWG and about 30 inches long.
Question 3: How are you replacing the power draw? The standard truck alternator will only put out the rated output for a short time and then it drops back significantly.
Answer 4:
I use a Schumacher battery charger to recharge the batteries. The battery bank is not tied into the truck's alternator. House current --> battery charger -->batteries.
Question 5: Does the inverter have a fuse/breaker? That would be a simple answer.
Answer 5: Inverter has an internal fuse, no breaker.
But before I do, this update.
The inverter I'm asking about is a Whistler Pro-2000, it outputs 115 volts (modified sine wave). When I connect the shore power cable to it, the RV gets power for a second, then the inverter goes into alarm mode (audible alarm, light blinking red-green-red-green, and power from inverter cuts off).
Last night, I was asked whether my inverter outputs 120 volts. I looked and the labeling on the inverter clearly states it outputs 115V (the Whistler Pro-2000). I also have an 800W inverter in the house that outputs 120V. When I tried using this inverter for shore power, I was successful in using truck's battery bank to provide power to the RV.
On to valhalla360's questions...
Question 1: Are they really deep cycle...or are they the combo batteries (which are really just starting batteries with a different label). 12v deep cycle batteries are hard to find and expensive. Most people parallel 6v golf cart batteries which are legitimate deep cycle batteries.
Answer 1: Batteries are combo batteries.
Question 2: What size cables and how long are they connecting the batteries to the inverter? 2000w is about 170amps, that takes a pretty thick battery cable and will kill a moderate battery bank pretty quick.
Answer 2: The cables that connect the inverter to the batteries are 2AWG and about 30 inches long.
Question 3: How are you replacing the power draw? The standard truck alternator will only put out the rated output for a short time and then it drops back significantly.
Answer 4:
I use a Schumacher battery charger to recharge the batteries. The battery bank is not tied into the truck's alternator. House current --> battery charger -->batteries.
Question 5: Does the inverter have a fuse/breaker? That would be a simple answer.
Answer 5: Inverter has an internal fuse, no breaker.
