I hope someone can help with my situation. I have a KZ Spree 290BHS with 1 single battery mounted to the tongue. I want to purchase 4 6volt batteries and install my iFonix 3000W inverter.
Questions: 1. Where can I mount the batteries (not on the tongue)? 2. Where can I mount the Inverter (near the batteries)? 3. How can I wire this to continue using my 3-stage charger and light-up 3 110 sockets? 4. Do I need a Transfer switch? 5. Should I buy the optional Remote On/Off switch?
I believe it is MSW so I recommend a test run on the coffee maker and microwave before the full install.
You will need a transfer switch to power the existing outlets. You will probably need to disconnect 120v power from the converter to avoid a power draining loop.
Yes get the remote unless the inverter is very easy access from the interior.
Thanks to everyone for the info. To answer some of the questions:
Battery on Tongue - My trailer tongue is very narrow, only fits 1 12v battery. I can raise a battery box above the equalizer hitch mounts. Any examples of boxes for 4 6v batteries?
Putting the inverter inside the front storage might work, but my LP is in there. Behind the LP is my Storage, but without any airflow.
I will definitely look into my cables from the Charger to Batteries and increase the gauge if I can.
I really didn't think about plugging the inverter into the shore-power plug. The inverter would be located in the front of the trailer, but the shore-power is in the back.
I will plan on buying the remote On/Off switch and mounting inside the bathroom (near my panel).
Why iFonix? why 3000w? - I got a new unit for free and figured it would be fine for our needs. We plan to use the inverter for up to 3 hours for the tv/dvd, coffee machine and quick microwave use. I will run the generator (after 10am) to charge the batteries.
Thanks so much for your help any more info is appreciated,
Because they are the cheapest sold on EBay, I'm guessing. The OP probably doesn't realize the difference between modified sine wave, pure sine, or what wattage he needs. That is a draw of 250 amps or more at 12 v.. Maybe if the OP states his usage we could help him out with a recommendation for inverters. I bought two in the last few months and I'm pretty impressed with the Xantrex Prowatt pure sine.
Batteries on the tongue. There are some nice aluminum boxes designed for just this. As for powering some outlets. Do it down and dirty, run separate circuits that are only inverter powered. That way all you have to do is turn on the inverter and plug in what you want to it. Not having to worry about switching anything off or wind up back feeding something you might damage with inverter power.
Over the axle region would keep tongue/tail weight about the same IF tongue weight is a concern with your TV. 6v batteries weight 60-70 pound range each.
Increasing tongue weigh does transfer more weigh to the TV which can be a +/-.
1.) Why not on the tongue, looks like you have room for a battery box setup there. You got put them in the front storage compartment with vented boxes but that would be a huge PITA to service those batterys 2.) Assumming you put the batteries on the tongue put the inverter just inside the front storage compartment and run heavy battery cable to power it up from under the trailer 3.) You can use your current 3 stage charger just as it is, however you might want to beefup the charging and ground wire to the largest that the converter will handle to ensure you maximum charge capability to recharge that large battery bank. Power up 110 sockets by running extension cords to where you want them or you can just plug the shore power cable into the inverter (make sure you turn off the converter and frig off of 110 volt while doing this) 4.) No not if you manually plug shore cable into inverter or run extension cords to various locations 5.) Probably a good idea
Regards, Don My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
