Generator hooked up efficiency ?
I have a 2020 hideout (full timers) I'm trying to prep for no power situations. If I was to plug up a 4500 watt generator inverter to the rv's main power hook up with the right adapters, would it bog ...
Forum Discussion
I think you are getting confused on terminology.
An inverter takes Direct Current (DC) power and converts it to Alternating Current (AC).
DC is usually (not always) battery power.
AC is your typical household power that cycles at 60 hertz.
- You can install an inverter connected to your batteries which takes the battery DC power and converts it to AC power. This is very limited as batteries can't store that much power, unless you have a massive battery bank. Other than possibly trigging the battery charger (converter in RV speak), there would be no load on the generator but unless you are drawing off the inverter, there will be minimal battery charging.
- Old style generators produce AC power directly. They would match the engine RPM to the generator head to generate the correct hertz. This would cause it to run fast even if little or no power is being drawn. Also, when you apply a heavy load, the engine will bog down for a second while it gives it more gas to get the rpm back up...this sends poor quality power out. A toaster might not care but electronics don't like it.
- Newer Inverter-Generators produce DC power and using a built in inverter immediately convert it to AC. The advantage is under light loads, they can throttle way back cutting both fuel consumption and noise. A side benefit is the power supplied is much higher quality and while you will hear the engine surge when you add a heavy load, it will tend to keep the power quality up thru the surge.
So no vampire loads.
An inverter takes Direct Current (DC) power and converts it to Alternating Current (AC).
DC is usually (not always) battery power.
AC is your typical household power that cycles at 60 hertz.
- You can install an inverter connected to your batteries which takes the battery DC power and converts it to AC power. This is very limited as batteries can't store that much power, unless you have a massive battery bank. Other than possibly trigging the battery charger (converter in RV speak), there would be no load on the generator but unless you are drawing off the inverter, there will be minimal battery charging.
- Old style generators produce AC power directly. They would match the engine RPM to the generator head to generate the correct hertz. This would cause it to run fast even if little or no power is being drawn. Also, when you apply a heavy load, the engine will bog down for a second while it gives it more gas to get the rpm back up...this sends poor quality power out. A toaster might not care but electronics don't like it.
- Newer Inverter-Generators produce DC power and using a built in inverter immediately convert it to AC. The advantage is under light loads, they can throttle way back cutting both fuel consumption and noise. A side benefit is the power supplied is much higher quality and while you will hear the engine surge when you add a heavy load, it will tend to keep the power quality up thru the surge.
So no vampire loads.
