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Making 115 VAC Available when mobile

Its_Hondo
Explorer
Explorer
My 2005 Fleetwood Jamboree electrical system allows 115 vac to the outlets -

- When shore power cord is plugged into an outlet
- with the generator running

but not when driving & the generator is off.

This is a factory limitation that I'd like to get around.

There is 145 amps of 12v DC electrical power available from the engine driven alternator. I'm not sure what inverter I have installed, but the previous owner told me that it was upgraded to a "very large capacity" unit a while back.

What would it take to enable the inverter to supply 115 vac when running off of the alternator?
2005 Fleetwood Jamboree 22B
28 REPLIES 28

Snowman9000
Explorer
Explorer
I am also wondering if the previous owner installed an upgraded converter, not inverter.

For TV and DVD, you can also find cig lighter plug in inverters that should handle the job. I have a $100 Samlex 150 watt one that is very nice. I had 3 cheapies before that, then I wised up. 🙂
Currently RV-less but not done yet.

Its_Hondo
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the replies guys- I'll look into what is installed & go from there.

My main motivation is to be able to use a DVD player & tv while driving (for the kids). I know that I can install a separate inverter with a direct link to the AC circuits, just wanted to know your thoughts & insights as I know the larger motorhomes have this capability built in.
2005 Fleetwood Jamboree 22B

D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Explorer
Okay Hondo, to directly answer your question, "Nothing".

That is assuming that there is an inverter as the previous owner told you there was.

So now here is the question others have asked;

What is it you want to power with 120 VAC and what is the draw in amps. If it is for several purposes, what would be the maximum combined draw?

What is the capacity of the "Very Large Capacity" inverter you have now?

What is the available ampacity of the 145 amp alternator. 145 amps less the maximum charging draw for the batteries, ignition system and other accessories like radio, frige.

Once you learn that, you can figure the net amps avail to use in the inverter. Figure that you're going to get at best 80% efficientcy from the inverter or if there are 70 amps available, you'll be able to install a single inverter rated at 840 watts or roughly 7 amps of 120 VAC power.

A good PSW inverter rated at 900 to 1000 watts will cost you between $400 and $600 dollars. I couldn't find any 850 watt inverters in my catalogs. And figure another $50 to $100 for materials to connect the inverter to your 120 VAC system. That's a lot of money to get 7 amps per hour. Your genny will probably provide 25 watts per hour for about $1.85 an hour.

If you're figuring low hours on the genny will add to the resale value, you may be mistaken. 60 or seventy hours per year isn't much when you need to exercise it 12 hours a year minimum. I don't know what the average number of days an RV is driven per day but I would guess not many.

In my opinion your not going to gain anything installing a really big inverter.
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson

David Bishop
2002 Winnebago Adventurer 32V
2009 GMC Canyon
Roadmaster 5000
BrakeBuddy Classic II

sch911
Explorer
Explorer
My money says you don`t have an Inverter at all, but (as previously stated) you have only a Converter. You`ll need to figure that out in your coach....
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Dusty_R
Explorer
Explorer
I have a feeling that there has been a misunderstanding about the inverter and it's the converter that was upgrated.
A converter changes 120 volts ac to 12 volts dc which also charges the coach batteries when 120 volts is available.
An Inverter changes 12 volts dc to 120 volts ac and unless you have a very large battery bank and a very large inverter, you can't run a very large 120 volt load from an inverter.

Dusty

GrumpyandGrandm
Explorer
Explorer
All you should need to do is turn on the inverter. Our 1800 watt works fine going down the road and even does a good job with the engine not running using the 4 batteries we have in the coach. What are you trying to run on 110? If the previous owner installed it correctly, depending on it's watt rating, it should only be connected to a couple outlets.

Your alternator should already be connected to the coach batteries to keep them charged while you drive.
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RoyB
Explorer II
Explorer II
I am not a big fan of doing things to my truck motor charging system. Too many years of doing just that with my two way radio installs over the years. Always ends up replacing truck items and of course trouble always happens at the worse possible times...

I would add an inverter system to the trailer battery system to do what you want.

The truck system is designed to get you back home or go for help not to play with....

Just my thoughts
Roy ken
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - Words in CAPS does not mean I am shouting
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2005 Flagstaff 8528RESS

Unyalli
Explorer
Explorer
The question is what 115vac stuff do you want to power from the inverter?

You might have a 145 amp alternator this does not mean it has 145 amps available. After all the 12 volt stuff in your rig get's it's share and your batteries are full you might have 100 amps.

-Jeff
2016 Cougar 26RBI
2015 Ford F150 CC 3.5L Ecoboost Max Tow

tenbear
Explorer
Explorer
No one but the previous owner can tell you how the upgraded inverter is wired into the system. You are going to have to look at the wiring to see how it is wired. It shouldn't be too difficult since the 12v wiring should be big short wires.

You might also consider why it is wired the way it is.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory

bsinmich
Explorer
Explorer
Simple math says your 145 amps of 12V would translate to 14.5 amps of 120V. That assumes no loss in the inverter and any other draw on the generator. If you put that load on your 145 amp genny all the time it would have a short life and also put a huge load on the belts and engine. Run the generator. They are made for that purpose and last longer when used regularly.
1999 Damon Challenger 310 Ford

bigcitypopo
Explorer
Explorer
I'd Figure out how many amps you need to charge your batteries... How much the inverter draws from your batts...

upgrade the alternator if needed... and run a set of cables and a bypass switch... just make sure you have a surplus of power to the batteries....

can't be that hard...
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BTPO1
Explorer
Explorer
If you have an inverter in your MH you should have AC voltage available to use. The inverter takes the 12 volt DC from your batteries and changes it to 120 volts AC.

Some new vehicles do have an AC receptacle for use on them since an alternator does generate AC, then it is run through a rectifier or diodes and changed to DC for use in a 12 volt system. JMT
Jack
2003 Rexhall Vision 27'
2019 Chevrolet Equinox
States we have been to with this MH

Its_Hondo
Explorer
Explorer
Like I said,I know that I can do that, but that runs up time on the genset, uses fuel and doesn't address what I want to do- have AC available without the generator running by utilizing the alternator if possible.

Just seems underutilized.
2005 Fleetwood Jamboree 22B

BTPO1
Explorer
Explorer
Why not just run the generator while driving, we do to run the AC. JMT
Jack
2003 Rexhall Vision 27'
2019 Chevrolet Equinox
States we have been to with this MH