INVERTER opinions PROS CONS

I've seen a couple combination charger/inverters too and decided on separates so if one dies, I only have to mess with it. I kind of also decided 800-1000 watts inverter or 3000 watts inverter are the sweet spots. I don't use AC or microwave dry camping, just the two 12 volt fantastic vents which move a lot of air and make hot days comfortable. All we need are computers, cameras, small devices so 800-1000 will fulfill our needs. If you want to run the AC or micro, hair dryer, coffee maker, etc... then get the 3000 watt inverter. A 2000 watt in my opinion falls into the too much, too little gap. Get a 1500 watt model if you're going to run power tools. I use battery powered tools so the 800-1000 watt model again will easily charge the batteries. A 3000 watt inverter means you will need about 4 group 31 or Trojan 125 or 105 batteries to support the current demand. I would also get a pure sine wave model.
That's my answer and I sticking to it.

Jeff, good answer!

I have a 2000 watt inverter installed, but no easy way to use it other than walk outside and switch my house power cord to it. Even then, I have to remember to make sure my fridge isn't on Auto and my battery charger is unplugged. It works.

Recently, I started using a small inverter for just the tv/dvd/computer as needed. I already had it. The net of that is that I only have to plug into the 12 volt plug. It's much simpler as you might expect and powers only what I need for AC.

I've also bought two fast 12v chargers for the phones/tablets. My wife is all Apple, and I'm all Android. These really fast chargers mean I don't use AC for charging either. With the LED lights, I practically have power left over at the end of the weekend. :) I'm sure that will change when I have to run the furnace more, but an inverter won't help with that either.

My advice is try a small inverter first.

Two things seldom mentioned but worth considering:

1) Idle power. If you leave it on all evening it will draw a certain amount of current just sitting there doing nothing. Some people only turn it on to run a specific thing, I like it more like at home. Sine wave inverters typically have more idle power than square wave, some of them as much as 4 amps. Look at the specification for idle power.

2) Noise. I would not have thought this would be a problem, but the Prosine 2.0 that I had turned on its fan, at odd times too. Middle of the night when nothing was drawing power for example. Loud enough to hear for sure. The Magnum Energy square wave I have now in the camper makes a whining sound all the time. More when you are drawing more power. "Yep, that's what they do" says Magnum tech support. I cannot sleep with it on (like to charge the computer overnight), too loud. Nobody seems to spec noise.

In both of those respects the Mastervolt I have on the boat is the best: very quiet and very low idle power in a true sine wave converter. They are costly though.

HI,

I would recommend a small inverter. Something in the 150 - 300 watt range will be really energy efficient. I rarely use my 1500 watt inverter, and when I used it for cooking in the microwave, the microwave never cooked as quickly again, so I had to replace it.

WHen watching TV with my 1500 watt inverter, the draw from the battery might be 6-8 amps, while plugging in the 150 watt inverter and shut off the big one, the amps will drop about 2 amps.

I have 4 golf cart batteries, 67 pounds each, or around 300 pounds including the larger wires. WIth a camper, I would only recommend a pair of batteries. I had one under the hood of my gas F-350 and did not have one inside the camper. This helps bring more weight over the front axle, but there is not room with a diesel engine (that has dual batteries to start the engine). You might have space for a max of 2 batteries? That limits you to storing about 1,500 watts, and if you want the battery to last more than 3 years, do not discharge them below about 50%, so about 750 watts before recharging.

I have a 400 watt solar system, and it can make up 120 amp hours daily. I would recommend at least a 140 watt panel, you will not need nearly as much battery capacity if the solar is making up for the power consumed during the day. Your propane leak detector, CO meter and refrigerator will use about 1.2 amps all day and night, or around 35 AH daily. This is your 'base' load, before any other lights, pump, furnace ect, are added to that load. One 140 watt panel can make around 35 -45 AH daily, in full sun. It will also shade part of your roof, so it will be slightly cooler inside. Also I run my fantastic fans (3) so it is usually cool in my RV!

SunElec.com sells a 140 watt 12 volt nominal panel for around $229. Add a PWM controller, and some #10 UV rated grey romex from HOme Depot, you have a system. Mount it to the roof with 6" long brackets - 2" angle aluminum with 3 holes 3/16" for #10 screws into the roof, and 5/16" hole for the 1/4" bolt into the panel frame. (do not buy home style frameless panels). This will mount the panel about 1" above the roof, for cooling air under it, and will increase output when cooler.

Good luck,

Fred.

Inverters do draw current even when not under heavy load. When I bought a ranch in WY several years ago I bought a generator so I could use power tools since there was no electric to the property. Many times I had problems getting the generator started. I bought a 2000 watt inverter. Best money I ever invested. I had enough power anyplace on the ranch to run power tools. Just pop my PU hood and connect the inverter. I use a small 150 watt true sine wave inverter in my MH for my computer etc. when off the grid. Having a solar panel helps to keep the batteries charged. If I camped off the grid for longer periods I would install large solar on my MH roof.

Same thing here I would buy separates so if one have problem, I only have to mess with it.In my truck camper for the charger I have the progressive dynamics intelli power pd9245 witch is trouble free and dont cook your batt. Power from 400w of solar panel and 460a/h agm batt.
I have a 2500W sunforce pure sine wave inverter
-not expensive $329
-Remote control on/off (a must for me because of it's location and idle power
Draw
-2 years warranty with Costco (1 year from sunforce)
-performance: perfect
The only negative point is the size 16"x12" but I was able to make it 14"x12" by replacing the 2 side finishers by plexyglass.

View from the front of my camper





It's connected to a transfer switch and to the main fuse panel in cargo bay




The tv's are on 12 volts

Inverter is only one step, and not the first one. Need, power, then inverter.
Need= what and for how long are you going to operate it.
Power= sufficient batteries to supply your need.
Inverter= sufficient size to run the "needs" listed above.
Of course there is one item still missing, replenishing the power consumed?

Unless there is a very large bank of high capacity batteries there will never be a useful inverter for hi load appliances. A generator will handle that problem most effectively. We have used a marine quality 300 watt for satellite, computer etc. for many years with good result.

donn0128 wrote:
Inverter is only one step, and not the first one. Need, power, then inverter. Need= what and for how long are you going to operate it.
Power= sufficient batteries to supply your need.
Inverter= sufficient size to run the "needs" listed above.
Of course there is one item still missing, replenishing the power consumed?

Precisely.