Do I need an inverter

[kfrenette]

I feel a little stupid asking this question, but I want to make sure I understand. We are doing our first dry camping, and wanted to know if I need to have an inverter. I want to be able to run my laptop periodically and may need a plug here and there. Also we have a tv installed that the kids may watch once in a while (not for long). We have a Jayco x213.

Any help will be appreciated.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

A big inverter is like having a credit card with a $100,000 credit limit, with a hundred dollar a month minimum fee for use.

[mena661]

300W is PLENTY. I can run two LCD TV's, surround sound system, two basic sat boxes, charge laptop and two phones, a small receiver, and at least one Bluray player all at the same time. I have the same inverter as smk. It works well.

[wa8yxm]

Do I need an inverter:

Laptop: I have a DC/DC converter, these run around 50-150 bucks (I can not really see where the more expensive ones are better) check out MicroCenter. it lets me power the laptop direct off the battery.

Television: I have one that runs on 12 volt dc as well. (It is a small one though)

However I also have a neat little Prosine 2.0 2,000 watts of inverter it powers all the above PLUS the microwave and a few other things that do not have 12 volt options.

Do I need it...No.. I could run the genny when I wish to nuke a hot dog, but frankly.. It's nice to be able to make a bit of 120 volt without doing that.

[kfrenette]

Thanks for the opinions everyone! My local store had a 1500w so I picked it up, however I never used it. Kids had fun playing board games, and that rest of the time we weren't at the camp.

[Harvey51]

It all depends on what you use. We are happy with a 100 watt inverter for charging the laptop. iPads charge from 12 volts with small voltage lowering adapters. No TV or microwave - iroughing it just a tiny bit! A generator is pretty much required if and only if you use a microwave oven or air conditioner.

[RoyB]

One thing to consider just having a generator is that you will find you CANNOT run your Generator at alot of places when you want to. Most camp grounds have generator run time restrictions. This usually means you can run your generator from 8AM-10AM in the mornings and then again from 4:30PM to 7:30PM in the early evening. Places that allow you to run a generator after 8PM at night are far between and very few...

This is why you need to have the Inverter and a beefed up battery bank to run the inverter for a long time period which you have already. The purpose of the generator in this case is to just recharge your battery when you need to during the allowed generator run times. If you only have a few hours in a day to run the the generator then you have to have smart-mode charging technology for the trailer converter/charger unit. We can re-charge our battery banks up to thier 90% charge state is three hours of generator run time during the day when allowed to run it.

I started out using a 300WATT Pure Sine Wave inverter to run our Home Entertainment items and cell phone and computer chargers along with a few other 120VAC thing. Then you always keep finding something else you want to have on when camping off the power grid. I ended getting a 600WATT Pure Sine Wave Inverter. This covers us pretty good now. Of the 600WATTS we have available I usually only use about 300WATTS in the one day/night camping run off the batteries but have the reserve available if we need it...

What you don't want to do is drain down your batteries below their 50% charge state otherwise this will start doing damage to the high dollar batteries. This is around 12.0VDC. We watch our battery DC voltage real close when camping off the power grid.

This is the game plan we follow when camping off the grid ...
It does take a little planning to be successful. If you just show up camping off the power grid it most always ends up being dark around 10PM at night haha...

Roy Ken

[Sandia_Man]

I have a 300 watt inverter and it runs the 32" hdtv, HD satellite, and DVD player without issue. The biggest concern when camping off the grid is how to restore consumed amphours back into your 12 volt reserves. We use a genny and a multiphase charging converter (Iota IQ4) that quickly replenishes our depleted batteries.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

A 300 watt inverter would be plenty. Use jumper cables and charge the trailer battery from your truck alternator if it gets too low. Keep an eye on the battery monitor when the TV is being used.

[dodgerthedog]

Yup or like my camper I have a couple of 12vlt Cigarette plugs like in your car to run similar items... You might not even need an inverter if you have a couple of these... You can also buy an extension cord for them at campering world or pepboys... I have a 12 vlt fan that does a really nice job of moving the air around at night... I bought the 8ft cord so I can move it around... Make life nicer.....

Mike C.

[bikendan]

we dry camp almost all the time.
so, we have two 12v deep cycle batteries and take a Honda 2000.
but occasionally, we like to have a tv and dvd.
so, i hard-wired a 400w inverter on the cabinet where the tv sits and hooks up.

IMHO, a 400w inverter will easily power a LCD tv and recharge laptops.

[time2roll]

300w is a great size. You might well be fine with 150w.

I power my tv, dvd, laptop and charge small items with a Go Power 300w sine wave inverter.

I mounted the inverter behind the fuse-breaker panel. 12v connects to the main battery feed to the panel. 120v is wired into the entertainment area circuit with an automatic transfer switch. The wiring is very straight forward if you have done any home wiring before. The Go Power 300w has a provision for a remote power switch so with the touch of a button I have instant power.

GP 300w SW $172

Xantrex 15 amp switch $49

So all in maybe $250-$300 for self install.

[2oldman]

Don Rowe site Inverter FAQ
Inverters by Phred

[2edgesword]

For powering a television or laptop a small inverter 300W ~ 500W should work for you. The 400W unit I have get's plugged into a 12V car adapter in my TT to run my television/DVD and charge cellphones, tablets, etc. when I'm not hooked up to shore power or when the generator isn't running.

[JiminDenver]

You need to look at the TV and see what its power requirement are before choosing a inverter.