Install Inverter in 2020 Cougar - Solar Ready

[Twisties]

Originally Posted by Nate805

How many watts is your CPAP?

I'm not really sure, but the cigarette lighter to cpap transformer linked above is rated 90W, so I suppose that is an upper limit.

Well, the big news, we bought one today and take delivery Tuesday. It's a 2020 30RLS. It has the solar prep and the usb chargers prewired.... So we found in the literature that the usb chargers are 12V, so depending on their amp rating it may be possible to get a usb to cig lighter adapter.

So, as I understand it, we really just need to add the inverter in the pass-through compartment. They say the wiring is present to add it and then it powers three outlets in the unit. I think it's going to pretty close to plug and play once I identify the wiring.

We were not able to find any cigarette lighter outlets in it.

So, I think this solar prep in the 2020's may be different. It's z-amp and is wired to the roof. It needs panels and a charge controller. The z-amp panels are very expensive, so I will see if we can mate up some other panels once I get it in hand.

We did negotiate 2 6V batteries in the deal, so it will come with that. I should have specified amp hours, but the ones they had on the shelf were all Interstate 225 ah.

[Nate805]

Congrats on the new rig. I recommend an inverter for dry camping. It’s a few hundred for parts and labor is minor. Enjoy!

[chuckster57]

Congrats. I’d be very curious to see how they do the inverter thing and which 3 outlets are powered. Are the outlets also “live” on shore power?

[Logan X]

Originally Posted by Nate805

Technically, I can run more as power goes to appliances, TV, etc.. but with only 2x 6 volt batteries, they burn out fast if I do all that. You’d really need 4 - 6 batteries plus solar to run large electronics for any significant duration.

I have 2 6v batteries and I have had the opposite experience. I run the TV (for a long time, like 8-10 hours) Apple TV, lights, fridge, a little bit of furnace, charge devices, and it only brings the batteries down to about 85% state of charge after a day of use. I feel like my 6v batteries last a long time.

Do you use a battery monitor with a shunt? Maybe your batteries could do more than you think they can?

[Twisties]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Congrats. I’d be very curious to see how they do the inverter thing and which 3 outlets are powered. Are the outlets also “live” on shore power?

I was wondering about that. We will see. It's not a deal breaker as there is another set of outlets on the other side of the bed. I'll try to post a pictorial when I do the install.

[Nate805]

Originally Posted by Logan X

I have 2 6v batteries and I have had the opposite experience. I run the TV (for a long time, like 8-10 hours) Apple TV, lights, fridge, a little bit of furnace, charge devices, and it only brings the batteries down to about 85% state of charge after a day of use. I feel like my 6v batteries last a long time.

Do you use a battery monitor with a shunt? Maybe your batteries could do more than you think they can?

Here’s my setup. Inverter will stop pulling power when it drops down to low 11-11.5v or about 80-85%. I haven’t paid attention to how long it lasts. I’ve noticed it’s only a few hours if lots of things are running: TV, fridge, water heater, etc.. If I leave the fridge and water heater on gas, then the TV and outlets run much longer. Typically, can charge several items all night long, run lights, etc. no problem. Sounds like you’re getting a lot more out of your setup. What inverter and batteries do you have?

[Logan X]

Nate,

I run the fridge and water heater on propane so that is probably the big difference in the results we are seeing.

My batteries are US batteries, 232 amp hours, and my inverter is small. It’s only 300 watts and I only use it for the TV and the Apple TV. I turn it off when not in use.

Take care!

[Rick]

So we found in the literature that the usb chargers are 12V, so depending on their amp rating it may be possible to get a usb to cig lighter adapter.

USB is only 5V output and can handle up to a 5A draw.

[Twisties]

Originally Posted by Rick

So we found in the literature that the usb chargers are 12V, so depending on their amp rating it may be possible to get a usb to cig lighter adapter.

USB is only 5V output and can handle up to a 5A draw.

I was under the impression that 5V is standard for USB. I don't think that will power a CPAP even if the voltage were stepped up.

[MarkEHansen]

Your CPAP power cable will indicate what the input voltage range is - and it's not likely to be 5v I will be installing a 12V outlet powered either from a 15amp circuit from my DC power panel, or directly from the battery (the battery cut-off switch, in my case).

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Twisties

I was under the impression that 5V is standard for USB. I don't think that will power a CPAP even if the voltage were stepped up.

USB output is 5vdc. I'm guessing what the OP referenced was literature stating the USB input is 12vdc indicating that shore power is not required to power them. That USB port would be the same as found in some newer vehicles that offer "on board" cell phone chargers.

[Twisties]

Originally Posted by flybouy

USB output is 5vdc. I'm guessing what the OP referenced was literature stating the USB input is 12vdc indicating that shore power is not required to power them. That USB port would be the same as found in some newer vehicles that offer "on board" cell phone chargers.

Probably so. That would make sense, a lot of sense.

[Twisties]

Originally Posted by MarkEHansen

Your CPAP power cable will indicate what the input voltage range is - and it's not likely to be 5v I will be installing a 12V outlet powered either from a 15amp circuit from my DC power panel, or directly from the battery (the battery cut-off switch, in my case).

Yes, my cpap takes 24V, I know. But I ordered one of those cig lighter to cpap transformers discussed earlier in the thread, so had the usb been 12V, as I thought I had read at the dealer's yesterday, then there would have been some possibility of making a go of it. However, I agree, usb is 5V and as Marshall points out, I probably read that they are supplied by the 12V system on the RV.

[GeekSquadOfUn]

The 2 x USB ports in the closet of our 315RLS are standard, at 5V. They will work without shore power, ie they work off the battery.

But their output is weak at 1A, not enough even to charge a newer phone or tablet. You need about 2A to charge those.

I installed new powerful USB ports, wired direct to battery and a 15A fuse. That works much better for charging.

Since my CPAP requires 24V, I'm using a small inverter with my CPAP AC adapter and turning off the heating element works for me.

[Twisties]

My little 300W pure sine would work, but I want to keep it for other uses (power outages, car camping,etc). We added up our watt demand, concluded A/C is prohibitive, and decided we might draw on the neighborhood of 160W max through the inverter. That's tv, laptops, and cpap...which don't all run at the same time.

Doesn't look like it would be hard to wire some new usb charge ports.

[sonofcy]

Originally Posted by Twisties

As I understand it, these units have three standard outlets pre-wired for service from an inverter, and the connection is said to be in the basement compartment.

The cpap itself doesn't take much. I have run them overnight with a 10.5 amp hour battery before. But, nowadays they have heated humidifiers and heated hoses.... you can turn off the heat if you need to, however.

I think the units come with two batteries, and at least one dealer nearby offers to convert that to 6V. I haven't talked to the dealer with the 315 about a 6V conversion.

It would seem that for two 12 V batteries you would just hook them in parallel and for two 6V batteries you would hook them in series, or am I missing something? Anyway, it seems two 12V batteries at 70 ah each would net you about 140 ah, and two 6V at 200 ah each would net you 200 ah?

Yes, 200 but of course being FLA (flooded lead acid) you should only use 50% so you actually have 100AH or 1,200 watt hours.In order to determine the 50% usage get a Trimetric TM-2030RV battery monitor or another shunt based meter that shows % at least. The built in monitor is useless just like the tank monitors.

[Kzneft]

Just get you a GoalZero Yetti power station. My friend that goes camping with us alot bought the Yetti 1000 and he can use his CPAP all night. You can then recharge it using your generator or solar panels. Plus side it it portable. We use one to power the tv's at night when we don't want to use the generator. Plus it has ports for USB, etc.

[mikec557]

I realize this thread is a bit older and that the deed is probably done. But for others who may find it...

I recently looked at new 2020 Keystone that were not only rooftop solar prepped, they already had Keystone's solar package installed. I didn't get up on the roof so no pics of the solar panel, but I have these pics.

A xantrex Inverter/power transfer was mounted to the ceiling of the pass through on a travel trailer, very near Keystone's solar charge controller pre-wire mounted on the front wall. There was a zamf solar charge controller mounted next to that. It was too crowed for me to get good pics with my cell phone. But here's the xantrex...

BTW it powers, in this model, outlets beside the bed, one by the kitchen sink, and one behind the tv.

Mike

[mikec557]

Just found these in my archive too...