Running trailer from tow vehicle inverter

“Is it possible to run the trailer converter by plugging into a tow vehicle inverter?L

So if I understand what you want to do is...have the tow vehicle’s inverter make 120 volt power from the tow vehicle’s 12 volt battery to send to the trailer’s converter for use as 120 volt power and to have the trailer converter supply 12 volt power the 12 volt trailer items?

Tomt53 wrote:
Is it possible to run the trailer converter by plugging into a tow vehicle inverter?

A LOT more details are needed for a good answer.
BUT.....
You have a battery in one vehicle. You use it to power an inverter to produce 120 Volts AC......which you then use to power a charger/converter for 12 V power in a second vehicle.

Seems like a LOT of unnecessary screwing around.
Why can't you just connect the 12 V systems together ??

carringb wrote:
Yes, but you have to disconnect the converter, otherwise you effectively create a short circuit.

There's no need to "disconnect" the converter but simply turn it off and no, leaving it on while using an inverter to power the trailer "whole house" doesn't create a short circuit but merely a closed loop. There's no reason this can't be done but one wants to also make sure the fridge is forced to gas, any water heater electric heating element is turned off, along with anything else drawing 120 vac that you don't want running when using the inverter.

Yes, but you have to disconnect the converter if you're hooked up to the 7-way, otherwise you effectively create a short circuit.

I do it when I'm dry camped and can't park the van close enough to plug in the 7-way, but don't want to run the genny.

Beware some converts might not like modified sine wave inverters. Mine buzzes but so far hasn't let ay smoke out.

PS - Mine inverter was a 2400 watt. A regular factory inverter won't push enough current except to maybe keep a couple lights on.

Tow vehicle inverter is connected to a deep cycle battery?

Sure, if the inverter is big enough. A 400W inverter can theoretically deliver a max of 3.3 Amps of current at 120 Volts. That's not much considering a typical trailer has a 30 Amp connector. You would need a 3,600 watt inverter or more to deliver the max 30 Amps at 120 Volts.

Welcome to the scrum! It is possible but why if you have a battery on the trailer? It would need to be plugged in to the tv to work and you would need an extra circuit in your trailer harness.