Truck Camper adding inverter

[computermonkey]

Would like to hear from people on there recent experience on adding an inverter.

My goal. To power a 1350 watt microwave for 10 minutes at max power.
I have two group 27 batteries and a 120 watt solar panel. Wanting to add at least a 3000 watt pure sine inverter.

Would like to know if someone has tried this kind of set up before?
What inverter did you use?
How long could this set up run a microwave?

Appreciate your time and help.

[pianotuna]

Which inverter do you have?

NRALIFR wrote:

I’ve run the microwave from the inverter long enough to cook a frozen dinner just to see if it could do it. Most of the time though, if I need to use the inverter for the microwave my Yamaha 1000 is already running and will supply about half the current. The camper battery supplies the other half. I’ve run it like that for nearly an hour before the camper battery was down to 50%. The Yamaha can’t run the microwave by itself, which is why I installed the inverter.

:):)

[2oldman]

A 120w solar panel isn't going to help much - if that's the idea.

On a really good day you may see 9a from the panel, while the MW will be drawing in the neighborhood of 100a. It will take the panel 2-3 hours in full sun to replace that energy.

You've chosen an inverter with a good price, but not sure it's real good quality. If you're going to be doing a lot of this I'd suggest moving up to the comparable GoPower. AIMS doesn't have a great reputation.

[computermonkey]

Thanks everyone.

I'm going off the label on the microwave for power draw.

I'm not sure what the length is from the batteries to the where I'm thinking of mounting the inventer. I will need to take the camper off the truck to get to it.

This is the inventer that I'm looking at: https://www.amazon.com/AIMS-3000-Watt-Power-Inverter/dp/B01E3V673A

I understand there is a lot of variables, condition/age of batteries, amount of charge, and how much wattage the solar panel is putting out.

I have a 150 watt solar panel. Some reason I was thinking 120.

Thanks for the welcome. We first had a Jayco Talon ZX toy hauler that we pulled with a 98 GMC suburban that I had done a Cummins engine swap about eight years ago. We sold the toy hauler about five years ago and have been deciding what to do. We take trips to Colorado a few times and have stopped by a Lance and last year a Arctic fox dealer. This winter my wife was browsing the internet and came across a 2013 Ram crew cab one ton long bed (10600 miles) with a Eagle Cap camper. Both had been kept inside. Anyways fast forward to now.

[NRALIFR]

How close to the batteries will you be able to place the inverter?

I’m doing what you are wanting to do, though with a lower power microwave (950 Watts), a single group 31 battery, and a 1500 PSW inverter. Straight line distance between the battery and the inverter is less than 4 feet, but due to the route the cables had to take, a disconnect switch, and a CB in the circuit, the actual wire length is closer to 6 feet. I had to use “0” AWG welding cable to hook it up.

I’ve run the microwave from the inverter long enough to cook a frozen dinner just to see if it could do it. Most of the time though, if I need to use the inverter for the microwave my Yamaha 1000 is already running and will supply about half the current. The camper battery supplies the other half. I’ve run it like that for nearly an hour before the camper battery was down to 50%. The Yamaha can’t run the microwave by itself, which is why I installed the inverter.

:):)

[deltabravo]

computermonkey wrote:
Would like to hear from people on there recent experience on adding an inverter.

My goal. To power a 1350 watt microwave for 10 minutes at max power.
I have two group 27 batteries and a 120 watt solar panel. Wanting to add at least a 3000 watt pure sine inverter.

Would like to know if someone has tried this kind of set up before?
What inverter did you use?
How long could this set up run a microwave?

Appreciate your time and help.

3000 watt is a bit overkill for your needs. 2000 would suffice.

How long could it run the microwave depends on the state of charge of the batteries.

Wiring details for Inverter and Battery monitor

Xantrex Prosine 2.0 inverter

[pianotuna]

computermonkey,

Welcome to the forums.

Have you measured the microwave draw with a kill-a-watt meter?

It may be 1500 watts.

Inverters are sold in VA just like generators. VA is not the same as watts.

I'm partial to hybrid inverter/chargers because then I can prevent overloading shore power and it allows me to run the water heater and the microwave at the same time on a 15 amp shore power supply.

The smallest hybrid I've seen is 3000 VA (watts on the label).

[SidecarFlip]

I run my microwave with an AIMS Power 2000 watt PSW Inverter, no issue. 2 Group 31's.

[time2roll]

2000 watt sine wave inverter will be fine but OK to have the extra capacity.
Probably need to double your battery and go 2x to 3x on solar.

I recommend GoPower inverters.

[Kayteg1]

3000W is big overkill.
In the past, I had 1200W inverter on my boat (less issue with heat build-up) and it power not only 1000W microwave but also 1500W oven.
The oven would overheat the inverter after about 7 minutes, but most of the time it was all I needed. All power was coming from single battery + 30 amp alternator on boat engine.
Now in my Fleetwood I installed 2000W inverter. Placement in my case was easy, as Fleetwood has huge counter-top and lot of space left between WH and shelves.
I mount the inverter just inches under countertop and all it took was like 4 ft of cables to reach batteries box.
Remote switch on wall and dedicated outlet on top of countertop.
Now for oven, the original cable was going in this area with lot of slag, so I cut the cable and installed plug/receptacle on it.
Now when I am on shore power, the plug stays in original cable receptacle, when I am on battery power, the plug goes into inverter.
Inverters draw some power when not in use, so I have switchable breaker on inverter cable inside battery box.

[2oldman]

You'll need 4 more batteries to handle that kind of load for 10 minutes - which is quite a bit of time in a mw. Things are going to start heating up (connectors, cables, batteries) if running a 12v inverter.

I'm thinking 2 batteries, fully charged and in great shape, would start pooping out at about 4 minutes.

[fpoole]

Sub'd...
Looking to do the same thing...
thanks