Inverter- should I?

az350x wrote:
and only used the batteries for normal trailer life (no TV, etc.) but just maybe phone recharging at night. Would two batteries be okay for that?

Sure, for a few days. With that light usage no recharging would be necessary, provided your batteries start the outing at a full charge.

DavisK wrote:

2oldman wrote:
It does, if you install it as another ac source for the main panel.

How would you connect this? Does this require any additional equipment?.

Yes, it requires a transfer switch, aka DPDT switch. Many Inverter/Chargers (IC) have them built in.

Zikes! This is starting to sound complicated (read "expen$ive"!)

Let me revise my intentions a bit then. Let's say we percolate our coffee on the stovetop when boondocking, and only used the batteries for normal trailer life (no TV, etc.) but just maybe phone recharging at night. Would two batteries be okay for that?

I'm trying to not go overboard on cost here, but what would a capable solar setup cost? Just enough wattage to keep the batteries decent for a 2-3 day boondocking event?

Hey Mesa - We certainly use our PSW Inverter setup alot when camping off the power grid...

Powers up the home entertainment center items and the cellphone and computer chargers. Actually use ours for several low wattage items since we have it...

My fear for you would be not being able to re-charge your two 6V batteries as soon as you can when your run them down. Worse thing you can do to new 6VDC your batteries is let them get below 12.0VDC voltage (Approximate 50% charge state) for any length of time...

I have the 2KW Honda Generator and run all the 120VAC items we want run off the Inverter and all the 12VDC items direct connected to the battery bank. You might get away with a 1KW generator just running your on-board smart mode converter/charger. Our setup is all planned out so we will drop our battery bank down to around 12.0VDC by 8Am the next morning and that is when we connect our trailer shore power cable directly to the 2KW Honda generator using a RV30A-15A Adapter which will allow our on-board trailer smart mode converter/charger re-charge our 255AH battery bank back up to its 90% charge state. This will require a three hour generator run time which fits into most of the camp ground rules that have generartor run time restrictions in place. This then allows us to do all of this all over again for the next day.night camping off the power grid.

When we are running the generator re-charging our batteries we can also make our coffee for the day and pour up into a thermos.

This is what we do camping off the power grid..

Roy Ken

Only you can decide if it is too much of a hassle, but we installed both a large whole house MSW inverter and a small PSW inverter in our entertainment center. At least half of our camping is without hookups and the inverters come in very handy to run HD satellite, HDTVs, Blu-ray DVD player and Bose sound system among other small draw items. Installations were simple and straightforward, we use our generator for microwave and other high draw items as our battery bank consists a pair of 6 volt GC batteries. Happy Camping!

2oldman wrote:
It does, if you install it as another ac source for the main panel.

How would you connect this? Does this require any additional equipment? I have a 2500W inverter I bought a few years ago for my boat, but never installed it. I was considering putting it in my 5th wheel, but didn't know how to avoid adding dedicated circuits from it.

when I put in my inverter I put ran wire from it to the bedroom and the living room so I would have dedicated inverter outlets in those rooms.

This was very easy and much easier than trying to figure out how to run it to all my outlets. It would have been easy to run another wire to the kitchen.

I also have a 2500 watt inverter that's wired as a whole house inverter. Trojan and Interstate both make 12v golf car batteries and I use three of those for a total of about 450 amp hours. The combo works great and I do have a TriMetric battery monitor. You will most likely need a way to charge if you use the inverter much at all. I don't have a generator but I do have 3 215 watt solar panels for 645 watts and a 60 amp solar charger/controller. It's nice to have but it's a pricey setup.
Brian

Hi,

I have the best of both worlds. I installed in a manner where I can power the entire rv, and I have a dedicated inverter outlet in kitchen.

az350x wrote:
does it power all outlets in TT? two Costco golf cart batteries (6V).don't own an generator. We do like some coffee in the mornings,

It does, if you install it as another ac source for the main panel. Two batteries will not handle a coffee maker, you'll need 4. And you'll need a way to recharge those batteries. Without solar or a generator, that'll be a bit tough.

Don Rowe site Inverter FAQ
Inverters by Phred

It comes in handy.
When boondocking we use ours for TV & Satellite, laptop and iphone recharge plus small appliances. I do have a small (1000 watt)generator that I use to recharge the batteries connected to the inverter.