Inverter and battery charging

[roadrat57]

Can I use the inverter while in motion and will the engine charge and keep the battery from draining? (I need to have an operational TV on the move for passengers in the rear). My TV is not a 12 volt set-up.

Thanks

[tenbear]

I tried what you are thinking when I owned a travel trailer. The battery died after a few hours. I did it mainly to conserve propane.

A motorhome is a different thing. The engine should do a much better job of keeping the battery charged because the wiring from the engine to the battery is much better. I never did bother trying it in the MH. Much easier to fill the propane tank.

[Gene_M]

Thanks Sam, I may rethink things, not sure right now because I was looking for experiences of folks that may have tried what I'm looking to do and what I'm finding out is there aren't many, if any at all.

I appreciate your input.

Also, Thanks YosemiteBobr

[Sam_Spade]

Gene_M wrote:
That's fine, but do you have any thoughts on my initial question here:

Yes. My model doesn't seem to work as good on electric.

And you are going to get involved in a fairly expensive and complicated "fix" for something that doesn't need to BE fixed.

[Yosemitebobr]

If your refregerator draws .5 amps and you have 100ah battery your good to about 20 hours, not counting draws from the inverter itself, and whatever else you have plugged to it. I don't know what your TV draws or anything else you will be using it for. 1000w is not a lot, as a matter of fact 70ah is pretty small.

[Gene_M]

That's fine, but do you have any thoughts on my initial question here:

Gene_M wrote:
I'm interested in installing an inverter to power my refrigerator while driving.
I have 1 deep cycle battery installed, so I know I don't have large capacity, about 70ah expected from the battery.

With a 130a alternator would there be enough juice to keep the house battery charged while running the inverter?
Thinking about a 1000 watt pure sine wave inverter to power other small things as well when at the campsite or for an overnight with no hookup.

Thanks in advance

[Sam_Spade]

Gene_M wrote:
We're just not sure about it.

Well being careful is one thing; being paranoid is another.

In places like tunnels where propane is PROHIBITED, that means NOT ALLOWED AT ALL. You are no less illegal if your full tank is turned off.

The amount of gas actually used is very small.
If there is a significant leak that develops, would you rather have it happen in a 60 MPH wind to carry it away.......or while everyone is asleep inside ???

I will continue to operate mine while going down the road without the tiniest little qualm.

[Gene_M]

I understand what you say, up to now we have traveled with it on but recently questioned it.

Then we read a few articles that exacerbated our feelings so I guess now we're a bit apprehensive about traveling on interstates and through tunnels with the propane on. We're just not sure about it.

And a few professional reasons:
As an engineer I understand that all systems, no matter the design,
can fail, and as Murphy's law dictates - at the most inopportune time.
As an EE I feel more comfortable with electricity than fire.
And a backup system is not a bad idea anyway.

[Sam_Spade]

Gene_M wrote:
It does have propane fridge, I would like to travel with the propane off.

I think there is no good reason to do that.

Tens of thousands....maybe millions.....of RVs are running around every day with their propane fridges running all the time and I haven't heard of a problem. (Which, of course, doesn't mean that there aren't any.)

What's your reasoning ??

[Gene_M]

It does have propane fridge, I would like to travel with the propane off.

[Sam_Spade]

Gene_M wrote:
but have a Class C.
I'm interested in installing an inverter to power my refrigerator while driving.

Does it NOT have a propane fridge ??

[Sam_Spade]

wolfe10 wrote:

What are the exceptions???

Probably none......IF previous owners haven't messed with the wiring OR if something like a battery solenoid hasn't failed.

[Gene_M]

Greetings,

I just found this thread, I was over on the Class A side but have a Class C.
I'm interested in installing an inverter to power my refrigerator while driving.
I have 1 deep cycle battery installed, so I know I don't have large capacity, about 70ah expected from the battery.

With a 130a alternator would there be enough juice to keep the house battery charged while running the inverter?
Thinking about a 1000 watt pure sine wave inverter to power other small things as well when at the campsite or for an overnight with no hookup.

Thanks in advance

[wolfe10]

Sam Spade wrote:
YOu need to test the voltage at the battery while the engine is running to see if it is charging or not. Some do and some don't. If you gave your make and model someone probably knows if it should or not.

Would question that ANY motorhome built in the last two decades did not charge both house and chassis battery banks from the alternator with engine running.

What are the exceptions???

[Mich_F]

You could also just run the generator. They are made to be run. Not being run/exercised often enough, causes problems.