power inverter install questions

Sure it is. Whole house or whole coach typically is what it's called. You'll want a transfer switch, either internal to the inverter or external.

It's debatable on power consumption between a huge inverter and a tiny one on the same load. That's not comparing apples to apples, as the huge inverter typically has more protection circuits, monitoring features, etc, that all cost power. if you could find a tiny inverter with all those same features, I think we'd see the power usage pretty close.

Don't think you can run a huge inverter off the same battery that powers a tiny one. you want at least four batteries for anything 2000w and above, in my humble opinion.

I use to power our TV with a 150 watt MSW inverter, last year I installed a 2000 watt PSW inverter. Yes the big inverter will draw a few more watts but not enough to make a difference. I do have four 6 volt batteries to run this new inverter.

When I ran a 32 inch TV from a 400 watt inverter, I had to use the TV on low brightness (which was just fine) or the extra wattage would cause the internal fan in the inverter to come on. I never checked to see what the extra wattage might be to run the fan, likely very minimal compared to the actual load.

That's the way my inverter is wired. I use a transfer switch to switch between shore power and inverter power. If you have 50A service you will need power to both legs from your inverter at your breaker box. I also installed a relay to prevent AC, water heater, battery charger and microwave from coming on when running off inverter.

pbmazda32 wrote:
i dont want to wire it so my inverter is powering the charger that charges the batteries. that would just create a loop of wasted power (heat from the inverter)

Simple solution - turn the converter off. :R

thanks for the replies. a few more questions now. how do i turn the converter off? is the transfer switch i need to use any different than the transfer switch i installed to go between onboard genny and shore power? do you all have reccomendations on the inverter i should be getting? the only reason i would like a larger one is so i can plug my coffee pot in in the morning. other than that the biggest thing that will run is a 32inch tv and a milwaukee battery charger. also, i ditched the "deep cycle" car battery my camper came with and put in two 6 v golf cart batteries.

pbmazda32 wrote:
how do i turn the converter off?

There should be a breaker protecting the converter so just turn it off.

... and put in two 6 v golf cart batteries.

A pair of GC-2s are sufficient for powering a 1000 watt inverter but little more so there's really no advantage to one larger than that. I myself installed a 1000 watt PSW inverter and use it to power a small coffee maker, toaster, fans, even my wife's hair dryer (on LOW) ... works just fine. Pics are in my gallery.

With only two batteries they are not going to be happy making coffee in the morning, especially if they have been running the heater's fan part of the night. Buy a perk coffee pot and a 500W inverter.

is this the right product?

https://www.amazon.com/RV750ULHW-Inverter-Charger-Hardwire-Output/dp/B000FTH2R0/ref=pd_sbs_107_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VRVVZ2D0ES20A5Y5MNER

There are single serve coffee makers for desktop use that require as little as 300W or so (and they aren't too expensive). Not being a coffee drinker, I have no idea if they make good coffee or not; presumably it depends on the raw materials mainly.

The converter is connected to one of the circuit breakers, but there could be other things connected to that circuit as well. If one is particularly lucky, that might just be the AC power for the fridge, which probably you also don't want to run on inverter power, particularly with a relatively modest battery bank. If one is particularly unlucky, it's the outlet next to the kitchen counter where one wishes to put one's coffee maker and drill battery charger.