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.

[work2much]

If a microwave uses 1500 watts it is using about 125AH. Or about 21 AH of battery power for 10 minutes. (not counting line and inverter losses) This isn't an issue if you have 100AH available (full battery in your case).

The issue will most likely be that despite cable sizes being correct your voltage sag will be over 1 volt with your battery bank and probably down to a point the troubles the inverter trying to make that much momentary power. When you dip down to 11v range inverters will typically shut down or not deliver adequate power. 1 minute or 10 the voltage drop will make it tough on the battery and inverter, if it will perform at all.

Burning man makes a very good point regarding solar. If you are supplementing the battery with solar that enters the equation. But...

IMO sizing inverter and battery for high load applications should be done without calculating solar input for momentary loads. For one, the solar you have mentioned is a small fraction of the microwave load, two solar is a battery charging mechanism not a constant load output.

[burningman]

If you want to run the micro for ten minutes straight, you’re gonna need at least four batteries, but if you’re going to run it for a minute or two at a time and have solar topping the batteries off, I think two will get you by. Mount the inverter next to the batteries so your cables are only maybe two feet long and use HUGE cable.
The size of cable and how short it needs to be is the most misunderstood thing about using inverters.
I’ve got 2-gauge on mine which is too small, but I have them tripled up, three positive cables and three negatives, and very short. Any less and I can’t get full power... or even close to it.

[work2much]

Yes, we have a 2800 watt magnum inverter that powers the entire camper. I believe you will see too much voltage sag with only 2 group 27 batteries.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I have to agree. But they will have LOTS to cut on the cage.

burningman wrote:
Nowadays all a guy needs is a cordless electric grinder with a cutoff disc and he can slice open virtually anything.

[burningman]

Nowadays all a guy needs is a cordless electric grinder with a cutoff disc and he can slice open virtually anything.

[pianotuna]

burningman,

The Kipor was the best bang for the buck. My ride was an E-450 diesel from 1987. As I used it year round, I needed a way to run the block heater at the storage place. It lasted about 12 years.

I'm currently having the rear bumper replaced as the new cage bouncing broke a weld. That won't be cheap. The heavy duty cage won't stop a determined thief, but it would slow them down.

I regret not buying a Champion 3400 with remote electric start.

[Freep]

burningman wrote:

Drive time to recharge off a truck depends on a few things. How much alternator capacity you have, and how big the cables running to your batteries are.

In my case I have the larger (8) gauge umbilical for the Lance. I'm not sure what kind of alternator I have on the Ram 3500. I guess I should take a look.

[burningman]

I’m not buying that solar/generator cost comparison, because those results are skewed by a series of bad decisions on your part and a theft. And you spent TWO THOUSAND dollars on a metal cage?


I spent $1800 on two Honda EU2000s over 15 years ago and they never cost anything but a small amount of fuel and a spark plug every few years.
On top of that I sold that pair for $1400 a while ago, and ordered a brand new pair for $1800 again.
The old ones still worked fine, I only did it to freshen up because I could.

I found that a pair of 100ah batteries and a 2000-watt Xantrex pure sine wave inverter works well for a microwave and coffeemaker.
Did you mean you want to run the micro for ten minutes continuously, or a minute, ten times?

Drive time to recharge off a truck depends on a few things. How much alternator capacity you have, and how big the cables running to your batteries are.

[jaycocreek]

Here is a short history of myself and generators:

$1200 purchased a Kipor 3000 watt electric start for 1200.

$300 I had it repaired 3 times at $100 per shot

$1300 purchased a boiley to replace the failing Kipor (a disaster purchase)

$2300 purchased Yamaha 3000

$600 added remote electric start

$2700 purchased Yamaha 3000 to replace stolen unit

$ 600 added remote electric start

$2000 built a metal cage for theft prevention.

That works out to $11,000.00. Obviously that doesn't include fuel or oil changes.

Should have bought a Honda,saw it right off.(laughing)

In my opinion the Honda 3K is the best and quietest generator made.I bought mine used for $1500 and have never had an issue in many years of use.I have owned in the past from Onan down including Yamaha.

For truck campers I use my 2K Honda that easily sits just inside the back door or in the kitchen behind the seat out of the way...No worry about AH or if I have enough juice for this or that is just a pull away.I have heard and read the Honda 2K is good to way over 10K hours if maintained properly..

Solar is not for everyone..I hunt/fish and camp in very dense forest with very few spots in the sun where you need to be with solar.Like generators, theirs solar on a budget and solar done right, which is costly just like generators.You get what you pay for.

So for me and how I camp in a TC it was $900 for a Honda 2K and I'm done with it and can use anything I want electrical wise any time I want and quietly compared to others...

[pianotuna]

Here is a short history of myself and generators:

$1200 purchased a Kipor 3000 watt electric start for 1200.

$300 I had it repaired 3 times at $100 per shot

$1300 purchased a boiley to replace the failing Kipor (a disaster purchase)

$2300 purchased Yamaha 3000

$600 added remote electric start

$2700 purchased Yamaha 3000 to replace stolen unit

$ 600 added remote electric start

$2000 built a metal cage for theft prevention.

That works out to $11,000.00. Obviously that doesn't include fuel or oil changes.

Solar, on the other hand cost $1700 (256 watts) to which I added a 2500 watt MSW inverter for $200.00 Installation was $400.00. I upgraded the inverter to a Magnum 3012 for $1700.00 and installation was $100.

So solar cost was $4100.00. But that includes the inverters which I would have purchased in any event.

I wish I had spent the entire $11 K on solar. In 2005 that would have given me about 1000 watts of solar (possibly enough to run the roof air). Today I'd run out of room on the roof for well under that price.

After I did go solar, I had a five year period with no generator because of a large battery bank and not being full time. The solar would recharge between trips.

I wanted a good size battery bank, so that cost is NOT included in the price as it would be the same with or without the generator.

In the last 12 months I've used the generator 120 hours--and that only because I had a visitor who required an oxygen concentrator be used.

[srschang]

computermonkey wrote:

Freep wrote:
Noise.

I would agree with this too.

I agree with this as well. Much as I'd love to camp in the middle of nowhere with nobody around, it's hard to do in the Eastern US. Even if I did live out West, and camping with no one around, the last thing I want to hear is a generator running. I much prefer the silence of the solar panels.

[computermonkey]

Freep wrote:
Noise.

I would agree with this too.

[computermonkey]

It's space for me.

[Freep]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Why hassle with big batteries, big solar and inverters when 19 lb generator does it for pennies?

Noise.

[NRALIFR]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

There is no mention of this being a hybrid unit. So how are you combining power from the generator and the inverter?

Or do you have the generator powering only the converter?

Yes, the generator is powering only the converter. I can confirm the generator+converter and inverter+camper battery are sharing the load with my Trimetric.

My assumption was that the 45 amp battery charger side of the converter was doing all the work.

:):)