inverter question

[JBM3M]

Does the inverter power any 110v outlets? If not what good is it?

[sahively]

Depends on a lot of factors. Inverters can be installed to run all outlets or a select few. Some people just need to run their cpap. Others want coffee, TV, and a household fridge. Powering more stuff means more battery power needed (and more complexity in the wiring required to install it). In short, your simple question does not have a simple answer.

Do you have an inverter already? Why do you want one?

[bsmith0404]

If you’re talking about the factory installed inverter, they’re typically just used for the residential refrigerator. They’re sized appropriate for that. Larger inverters use a lot more battery and would either require more batteries or would provide power for a much shorter time. When I used to transport RVs, I had a 1000 watt full sign wave inverter that unused to power my CPAP and a small makeshift during.the summer or heated blankets during the winter. It would drain 4 group 27 batteries overnight.

[JBM3M]

There is a factory inverter installed.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by JBM3M

There is a factory inverter installed.

Designed and sized for the residential refrigerator. If you needed one for additional outlets, you can do some rewiring, possibly have to change to a larger inverter or wire in a second one for those outlets. Either way, plan on upgrading batteries.

[sahively]

Well that inverter was installed then to power certain things, not "any 110v outlets." I'm not sure how to answer your question. You could rewire and upgrade the inverter and your battery bank if you'd like more to be powered. To DIY it though, you need to be prepared to do some research. Alternatively, you could pay to have it done but that will cost a pretty penny. Anything's possible though.

[JBM3M]

Okay, so now I know. Main reason was could I power a coffee maker off one outlet. LOL>

[GoingPlaces]

In my trailer with the factory installed solar package, not all 120-volt devices are connected to the inverter. The inverter only supplies 120-volt power to the receptacles in the bedroom on either side of the bed, two (of three) in the kitchen, TV and exterior. I believe those receptacles are all on the same circuit. The microwave, fireplace heater, A/C, bathroom receptacle, recliner functions (heat, massage, and light), and two other receptacles in the kitchen/living area are not connected to or powered by the inverter.

Your trailer is a few years older than mine and may (or may not) have the same functionality. I don't know how your factory system was installed. You may want to take a circuit tester (or other small electric device i.e., a lamp) around to each receptacle and determine if it gets power from the inverter!

As far as the coffee pot goes, choose one that works with your inverter and battery power output capacity. Morning coffee is a very important thing in my household!!

[flybouy]

The inverter isn't a magical box with endless energy. It converts energy in the the form of stored 12 vdc to 120v ac. That's the voltage part of the equation. Using that 120 vac energy is the wattage part. The higher the demand (more watts) on the 120 vac side of the inverter the higher the wattage required requirements into the inverter on the 12 vdc side. That higher demand requires more storage capacity required to feed the inverter. The longer you want to maintain that energy drain will require even more storage.

If you increase the need for 120 vac that exceeds the inverter's capacity then a larger inverter is required. The larger the inverter the larger the wires that are needed to supply it. Then an increase in battery capacity to match. Hopefully this helps to explain why the answer to your question is not "simple".

All that said, this is still not the whole story. You must have a way of replenishing all that energy, i.e. recharge the batteries. The bottom line? Start with your wants and needs and make the calculations on what size inverter is required. Then calculate how long you intend to use the inverter before fully charging the batteries to size the battery bank. After that, you need to calculate what you will need to recharge the battery bank.

[JBM3M]

Well no outlets are powered so that solves everything

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by JBM3M

Well no outlets are powered so that solves everything

I could not tell what you determined about your inverter or if you had a res fridge. You said it came with an inverter so it would be there for the res fridge. I'm sure there's an outlet for the fridge (probably behind it) powered off the inverter. Sounds like there are no others which isn't unusual.

[bobbecky]

Get a stovetop coffee pot, and your morning coffee is taken care of. https://www.target.com/p/imusa-6-cup...91#lnk=sametab

[pasayten]

We have a 2021 Cougar 26RBS and the 2000 watt inverter powers an outlet in the bedroom for cpap, one in the kitchen for a coffee maker and whatever, and one in the bathroom for shaver, etc... Just watch the wattages... :-)

[jxnbbl]

Originally Posted by pasayten

We have a 2021 Cougar 26RBS and the 2000 watt inverter powers an outlet in the bedroom for cpap, one in the kitchen for a coffee maker and whatever, and one in the bathroom for shaver, etc... Just watch the wattages... :-)

When I looked at this initially that is exactly the outlet circuit configuration that I thought I had...must have goofed up as although we have 2 bathrooms there is no bathroom outlet on the circuit!

[JBM3M]

No residential refer

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by pasayten

We have a 2021 Cougar 26RBS and the 2000 watt inverter powers an outlet in the bedroom for cpap, one in the kitchen for a coffee maker and whatever, and one in the bathroom for shaver, etc... Just watch the wattages... :-)

Originally Posted by jxnbbl

When I looked at this initially that is exactly the outlet circuit configuration that I thought I had...must have goofed up as although we have 2 bathrooms there is no bathroom outlet on the circuit!

Originally Posted by JBM3M

No residential refer

These posts confirm that there is no continuity in design/construction or standardization in wiring. Honestly, this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's been around travel trailers for any length of time. I can't begin to count the number of trailers, same model/same year/same options, that sitting side by side, give cause to wonder if they are even from the same manufacturer.....

If you have a travel trailer, best to accept the fact that it's a "one of a kind" and may or may not resemble the trailer that preceeded or followed it down the assembly line. It would be nice if they were "built on a line by robots like cars and trucks" but the reality is that they ARE NOT built that way. Expecting that is a guaranteed way to be disappointed.

[BAPotter]

Originally Posted by bobbecky

Get a stovetop coffee pot, and your morning coffee is taken care of. https://www.target.com/p/imusa-6-cup...91#lnk=sametab

I had the same need as OP, but cost and complexity to solve my coffee problem wasn't worth it. After trying several, I found I preferred this one. https://www.amazon.com/5-8-Cup-Capac...s%2C162&sr=8-2

[madweazl]

Which inverter do you have? 1000w is typically there just for the fridge but the 2000w and 3000w are wired to outlets (they have yellow stickers from the factory).

[kehoe]

Though this may not be popular, I decided to power the entire breaker panel by having shore power run through my inverter/charger/transfer switch first. I simply have the AC breaker turned off, and flip the microwave one on as required. (Added another breaker for the converters battery charger, and never use it) Saved a lot of extra wiring. 10 yrs and no problem so far. I don’t imagine the installed from the factory inverter is built for much more than the fridge load so probably not a great idea to overburden it..

[mikec557]

Sometimes I think some people don't provide enough information to problem solve because they don't really want to have help solving their problems.

Just one guy's opinion.