12 volt to 110 through an inverter

[dirt33]

I don't have a great comprehension of electricity. But, I do know that this forum is great for knowledge and ideas.

In my TT, above the TV in the entertainment center, there is the standard Winegard wall plate that has both a 12 volt outlet as well as the antenna booster. The 12 volt socket on that plate reads "8 amp max".

I use a Stanley 130 max watt inverter to plug into that 12 volt outlet, and I then plug the Vizio TV into that inverter to watch it when not hooked up to shore power. It works fine. However, there is a problem it seems when using other 12 volt power. The switch for the water pump is on the outer wall of the entertainment center, basically "just on the other side" of the entertainment center wall from the 12 volt outlet. When watching TV, anytime any faucet in the trailer is opened enough to kick on the water pump, the TV immediately loses power and shuts off. Once the water pump shuts off, the TV turns back on just fine when using the remote to power it back up.

I do have a different 12 volt outlet that I installed last year, it is located under the dinette and wired directly to the power distribution panel. This past weekend, when the "water pump causes the TV to shut off" problem happened, I unplugged the inverter from the factory 12 volt outlet in the entertainment center, and plugged it into the 12 volt outlet that I had installed. I powered on the TV, and then ran the water pump, and the TV stayed on.

So... is my problem simply that the original 12 volt outlet in the entertainment center is not able to provide "enough" power, due to sharing the wall plate with the antenna booster? Or, is there some other problem, perhaps with wiring? Is my 130 watt inverter too small? (it doesn't seem like it to me, given that it did work fine in the "other" 12 volt outlet...?)

Thank you.

[SteveC7010]

It may be the outlet, it may not. Most folks will use a larger inverter so it doesn't work so hard, and they'll hardwire it to it's own circuit on the fuse box. Then there's no question about how well it will work.

[Canonman]

Likely the factory 12v outlet (I'm guessing a cigarette lighter type) is wired with small gauge wire probably 18ga or smaller. Not enough current carrying capacity. The outlet you installed was probably wired with #12ga. since you seem to be reasonably savvy about these types of mods.
Your inverter should work fine with #12 wiring to the battery distribution block preferably or to the distribution panel as a second choice. Let us know how it goes with your final resolution, Several of us are working this same set up.

[Steve/]

I am guessing but I would think that the water pump (it 12v and a big current draw) is causing a voltage drop to your inverter causing it to tip/drop out. The pump and inverter are most likely using some of the same wiring. I do not think changing the inverter will help. As someone else said add bigger wire.

[dirt33]

Thank you for the help/ideas. I do agree that the original 12 volt outlet and the water pump likely do share wiring, and not a heavy gauge wire at that.... Doesn't seem to make the most sense for the factory to have wired the lone 12 volt outlet in the trailer in that fashion, but, oh well. I will use the other 12 volt outlet that I installed for now (it was run using 14 gauge wire from the panel). Ideally I would run new wire to the 12 volt outlet in the entertainment center, as it is much handier for plugging the inverter into to use the TV. But, truthfully I don't see myself getting that ambitious, given that the trailer is not used all that often in a setting where shore power is not available.

[Canonman]

Thanks for the update.
Just finished installing my inverter yesterday. I wanted to be able to turn the inverter off when not in use so I ran #12 wiring from the 12v distribution block to the entertainment center. Our main purpose for the inverter is to charge our electronic devices and watch the occasional movie in the evening. This location provides enough shelf room for the devices and easy access to the TV.
When not in use, quick disconnects allow us to store the inverter in the cabinet below the TV.

[dirt33]

Sounds like a good set up you have made, canonman. Enjoy your travels!