Looking for inverter recommendations

[umbrellajive]

Hello everyone,
I am currently full-timing in the TC for a few months while moving from NH to WA via a southern route and making a fine roadtrip of it!

All has been going well but I would like to install an inverter and solar along the way. Looking for inverter recommendations - brand, wattage. What's working for you?

Thank you.

[Jfet]

A microwave uses about 1000 watts and you can heat up a typical meal in about 4 or 5 minutes. That is only about 85 watt hours. So with a full 6 hours of sun on 500 watts of solar panels, you could heat up 35 dinners without worrying about the generator. If on battery only, a typical AGM might be rated at 100AH at 12V, but you may only want to draw it down around half, so 600 watt hours. Assuming a 90% inverter efficiency, you should get at least 6 dinners heated off of one battery charge.

How much do you guys eat per day???

[Mello_Mike]

umbrellajive wrote:
Truck camper folks: where do you have your inverters mounted?

Mine is in the generator compartment (no generator there).

[Unyalli]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbrwhq4ooWs

[umbrellajive]

No microwave in the TC.
Currently making coffee with a French press and that's going fine, just wanted a possible coffeemaker option.
Forgot to add: blender.

Truck camper folks: where do you have your inverters mounted?

I'm thinking of boondocking for long periods of time so really want to set the rig up well for this. Thanks again for all of your input.

[dadwolf2]

Mello Mike wrote:
I have a Morningstar Suresine 300 watt pure-sine wave inverter. VERY happy with the quality of the unit. I wired a dedicated 110v outlet to it which I can reach anywhere in the camper. Works for me. Here's a link to this install:

Morningstar Suresine-300 Installation

This makes more sense to me than getting the BIG inverters and the complexities that go with them. Use a small generator for the microwave or any other big wattage item. Most of the time they only run for a short time anyway but use up too much juice to warrant the expense of a 2000 watt inverter and 4 batteries. Just my opinion.

[Mello_Mike]

I have a Morningstar Suresine 300 watt pure-sine wave inverter. VERY happy with the quality of the unit. I wired a dedicated 110v outlet to it which I can reach anywhere in the camper. Works for me. Here's a link to this install:

Morningstar Suresine-300 Installation

[Unyalli]

One more thing, more watts = more amps = heaver wire.

Your common cigarette lighter outlet is 15 amps.

150 watts / 12 volts = 12.5 amps = 12-10 awg wire
300 watts / 12 volts = 25.0 amps = 10-08 awg wire
1000 watts / 12 volts = 125 amps = 04-02 awg wire
and so on.

They also want these wire lengths short as in under 5 feet.

I don't know about the others but Magnum, Exeltech, and Samlex have very good reading in their manuals on everything inverter.

Jeff

[SugarHillCTD]

As you probably know, anything that heats by electrical resistance (coffeemaker, toaster oven, etc) is going to suck lots of power from batteries.

Boil water on the stove and use a Melitta type pour through coffee filter. Somewhere around $12-15. Or a coffee press.

That way you can use a smaller inverter.

[kbaum]

2oldman wrote:

umbrellajive wrote:
- coffeemaker, maybe

That's a big one. 2kw inverter and at least 4 big GC batteries, fully charged.

I agree, that's my experience with my Keurig . You may want got run your microwave for a short time also.

[2oldman]

umbrellajive wrote:
- coffeemaker, maybe

That's a big one. 2kw inverter and at least 4 big GC batteries, fully charged.

[time2roll]

Coffeemaker can require significant power in the 800 to 1200+ watt range.
For the other small stuff I have and recommend GoPower 300w.

[umbrellajive]

Thank you everyone, this is just for the basics in my truck camper.
- charge phone and laptop
- coffeemaker, maybe
- stereo use

[2oldman]

Need op input.

[kevden]

I have a 1750 watt motomaster eliminator, which I believe is made by xantrex. Has worked great running fridge and keurig. I have it connected through a xantrex prowatt sw auto transfer switch. Makes it very convenient to use.
Got the inverter (refurbished) on eBay for $70. First unit did not work out of the box, the seller replaced it, no problems with replacement unit so far.