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luvztheoutdoor1's avatar
luvztheoutdoor1
Explorer
May 14, 2016

shut off inverter?

Ya' know, I almost hate to post this and proclaim my ignorance on technical issues. I have had my Jayco Class C for about 5 years now. It came with a Xantrex XM 1000 inverter. I have been leaving it on even when connected to shore power, like when I just have it sitting at home. Should I or can I keep doing this? Is it OK to turn it off when not traveling? It has a remote on/off switch. What are the drawbacks if I have it turned off or even on? I understand that is designed to operate AC outlets when not connected to an AC source. But I never thought of turning it off when connected. Am I burning it up? Thanks for listening.

9 Replies

  • AllegroD's avatar
    AllegroD
    Nomad
    May 15, 2016
    Does the XM 1000 have passthrough? Do the outlet(s) it feeds have a switch to shore vs inverter? If on shore power or driving, I leave my inverter on. In storage, away from the house, I turn it off.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    May 15, 2016
    corvettekent wrote:
    Think of leaving the inverter on like leaving your headlights on,
    it's more like leaving your dome light on.
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    May 14, 2016
    If this is "inverter-only" - which it probably is - there is no need to idle it. I would turn it off when on shore power. Especially in a hot weather, so that it wouldn't be heating your space (and itself) uselessly. Unless you have life-supporting devices like CPAP machine. Uninterrupted TV shows, while being important :), probably don't qualify.

    When in storage, I would turn it off too, you don't run AC loads in storage.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    May 14, 2016
    If the inverter/charger has automatic battery maintaining option, that is something good to have on all the time.
    Otherwise why leave on something you are not planning to use for few weeks, or months?
    Inverters, even when turned off by switch will always draw some power from batteries.
    Hard to beat main disconnect switch, or pulling battery clamp.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    May 14, 2016
    inverter ONLY
    or
    inverter/charger combo

    the combo unit is also a battery charger

    so you would want that ON when connected to shore power

    even if it is 'Invert Only" leaving it on means NO drop out, should there be a power problem

    we full time, our (2) inverters are always on, unless the RV is in the diesel shop, with NO shore power connected
  • Mandalay_Parr's avatar
    Mandalay_Parr
    Explorer
    May 14, 2016
    horizon36 wrote:
    You are not burning it up. We are full time and our Xantrex inverter is on 24/7/365 as a back up. We have had shore power go out and the inverter picks up the load. So, if we are watching TV, the show goes on. We don't have to reboot computers, satellite receivers, reset clocks etc.

    X2
  • corvettekent's avatar
    corvettekent
    Explorer
    May 14, 2016
    Think of leaving the inverter on like leaving your headlights on, it would not hurt your headlights to stay on but it will draw power from your batteries. Now if you have a transfer switch and you need back up then leave it on. I shut mine off when not in use.
  • horizon36's avatar
    horizon36
    Explorer
    May 14, 2016
    You are not burning it up. We are full time and our Xantrex inverter is on 24/7/365 as a back up. We have had shore power go out and the inverter picks up the load. So, if we are watching TV, the show goes on. We don't have to reboot computers, satellite receivers, reset clocks etc.

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