We are going dry camping next week and were interested in using an inverter. Sure, we've used a small inverter inside the camper using the 12V outlets to power things like a TV, a laptop, a CPAP, etc..... We'd like to take it to the next step so that we can get electric at all of our outlets.I don't know the rating, but my brother has an inverter that will hook up directly with alligator clips to a separate large battery he is bringing. Is it as simple as clamping the inverter onto the separate (not the TT's) battery and then plugging the camper power cord into the inverter? If not, what else is required?

Before we can provide you some real answers we need a little more information. You are already successfully using an inverter to power the stuff most people use them for. What are you looking to power by changing this method?

That is all there is to it. Just don't expect to run the air conditioner. Also the inverter will burn a lot of power running the fridge on 120v (300w), the electric water heater (1440w), and the converter charging your existing battery. Best to put the items on propane or turn them off.

We used this method last year in our small hybrid and it worked well because all the devices we wanted to use reached the inverter location without a problem. Now that we have a larger camper, it's not so easy to run things because then we'd need to run some extension cords.We'd like to power the TV in the living room. We also need to power a cpap in the bedroom at night but there's no way to do that since there are no 12V outlets in the bedroom. Sure, we can use the inverter being used by the TV in the living room but then we're running extension cords down the hall. Lastly, charging a phone and ipad is much easier since we don't have the 12V adapters for those devices.

smkettner wrote:That is all there is to it. Just don't expect to run the air conditioner. Also the inverter will burn a lot of power running the fridge on 120v (300w), the electric water heater (1440w), and the converter charging your existing battery. Best to put the items on propane or turn them off.Nope, no intentions of running the fridge, air or water heater using the inverter. We'd really just be using the devices I posted above and also possibly a small fan if we get stuck inside on a rainy day.

When plugging the shore power cord into an inverter, it will provide 120VAC to your entire rig. You will want to turn off breakers to your converter, AC, and even microwave oven as these will require an extra large battery bank and a sizable inverter. Additionally, fridge and water heater should be set to propane mode to keep from running your battery bank down quickly. I have both a large whole rig inverter and a smaller 350 watt inverter for our entertainment center and can say that it is rare that we use the whole rig inverter with all the precautions that need to be taken. When drycamping or boondocking, We use our genny for high current items mentioned above and the smaller entertainment center inverter for HD sat dish and receiver, HDTV, DVD, Laptops, and video game systems.

Powering Your Camper With An Inverter? | Good Sam Community

pappy437
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Put in a seprate breaker for your converter.That's what I done anyway.
longislandcampe
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
Thanks for the help everyone.

I finally got a chance to test it yesterday. I crimped the wires and then attached them to the battery. I then used the ground wire in an old piece of romex and ran from the inverter ground to the bolts holding my safety chains. I then went in the camper to shut off all the breakers and then plugged the camper plug into the inverter.

I then went in the camper to turn the breakers on but still nothing. Turns out I had to reset the GFI on the inverter and then after that I had power at all the outlets in the camper. Pretty sweet.

Now, it's my understanding that the converter should be turned off when using the inverter. I turned that breaker off but then I lost electric in the camper. My label on my panel says converter/utility and that's the one I switched off.

Any ideas?
beemerphile1
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
Harbor Freight sells an inverter wiring kit. Or you could get some 4 gauge wire and do it yourself.
longislandcampe
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
So the inverter I got, the 300w model, only came with about a 2' cord to attach to the battery. I'd like to put the inverter in my front storage. Can I just use a longer wire? How far is too far away between battery and inverter?
longislandcampe
Explorer
Aug 01, 2013
Thanks guys. I purchased the 300W True Sine inverter posted in this thread. I haven't tried it yet. The first trip that it's needed will be in a few weeks and I can't wait to see how it works.
camperpaul
Explorer
Jul 21, 2013
qtla9111 wrote:

Also, once all outlets are live, do small appliances detect the type of inverter that is being used (true sine, etc.)?

The ones that do will let you know by either refusing to function properly or by sending up smoke signals. :)
qtla9111
Nomad
Jul 21, 2013
timjcarter9 wrote:
Sandia Man wrote:
When plugging the shore power cord into an inverter, it will provide 120VAC to your entire rig. You will want to turn off breakers to your converter, AC, and even microwave oven as these will require an extra large battery bank and a sizable inverter. Additionally, fridge and water heater should be set to propane mode to keep from running your battery bank down quickly.

Exactly right and what I do. First turn off the breakers, put the fridge and hot water on gas, then plug in shore power to inverter. Works like a charm.

I have even done this with my 300 watt tailgating rig. 300 watts is plenty when used this way.

timjcarter9, Do you have your inverter inside your rig or outside by your batteries to be able to connect your rig to the inverter?

Also, once all outlets are live, do small appliances detect the type of inverter that is being used (true sine, etc.)?

Thanks.
time2roll
Nomad
Jul 21, 2013
Yes if you put the inverter where there is no electric you will need to pull 12v or 120v wire or both. This why I like placing close to the distribution panel... just make connections no wire to pull. The main battery feed should power a 300w with no trouble.

Big inverter needs to be close to the battery.
longislandcampe
Explorer
Jul 21, 2013
Thanks guys.

As I mentioned before, I'm only looking to have power at the outlets for things like cell phones, fans, cpap, the television, etc.... Nothing too power hungry.

So I'd like to purchase an inverter to hook to my dual batteries. If I want to keep the inverter in the front storage area then how do I connect it to my batteries? The only way I can see doing it is to run the wires through the partially open door of the front storage area and then connecting them to the battery.

I'm also assuming something like a 400W inverter should suffice.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jul 20, 2013
There are two answers... First: Yes, it is that simple, and I have done that for light loads many times. (Television and VCR, Computer, that kind of light loads).

However on your trailer... Not always that easy.. First, you have some variable load devices in there like the converter, you want to disable that, You do not want to be powering a battery charger with the inverter.

Also the fridge, keep it on gas
And the water heaterr (likewise)
Disable any air conditioners
The microwave is also something you do not want to use.

This should get you power to the televisions and radios and such.

Do not use electric kitchen appliances.

Exception.... You said a big battery... I once borrowed a battery for my radio club to use on field day.. This battery was strapped to a pallet, loaded on my trailer with a fork lift and there it remained till I got it back to the battery rebuilder who unloaded it with a fork lift.

What powered the fork lift.... Identical battery..

But that puppy was easily 2,000 pounds.