Simple inverter install

Jacksonrc · 02-28-2019, 08:12 AM

Hi all,

I just bought a sine wave inverter and a couple extra batteries. I’m going to keep it simple for now and just run an extension cord to run from the inverter to power simple electronics.

My question is regarding hooking the inverted up to the batteries.....do I need to worry about the inverter drawing power as the converter is trying to push power to charge the batteries?

Canonman · 02-28-2019, 08:48 AM

The inverter will draw some power any time it's "on" and more when it's under load.
I installed our inverter in the entertainment center and simply plugged the tv into it there. It's accessible for charging our cell phones and laptop (usb ports are part of the inverter) and provides a digital battery voltage read out as well. Finally, easy access to the on/off switch

Note; you must use a heavy gauge #10 wire from the battery distribution block to the inverter.

cookinwitdiesel · 02-28-2019, 09:16 AM

As stated above, be sure to turn the inverter off (or even put an inline disconnect/switch on the battery supply to completely kill power) when not in use so it wont leach the batteries dry.

roadglide · 02-28-2019, 09:19 AM

I would use nothing less then no 2 wire from the battery to the back of the inverter lugs also inverter fuse .

Jacksonrc · 02-28-2019, 12:17 PM

But there will be no issue with the converter trying to charge the batteries while the inverter is drawing power

cookinwitdiesel · 02-28-2019, 01:27 PM

The inverter wont care if they are charging or not, it sees 12v DC, it is happy. It may overdraw your converter though on current if you try to use the inverter while charging. To be safe, I would not use the inverter while the converter is charging. Should never need to, you clearly have AC power.

Canonman · 02-28-2019, 02:16 PM

I turn our inverter off when using shore power and when not operating the TV or charging our gadgets. While it does not hurt the converter to leave the inverter on, my theory is why run something that isn't needed. We only use the inverter when in dry camp mode.

Jacksonrc · 02-28-2019, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookinwitdiesel

The inverter wont care if they are charging or not, it sees 12v DC, it is happy. It may overdraw your converter though on current if you try to use the inverter while charging. To be safe, I would not use the inverter while the converter is charging. Should never need to, you clearly have AC power.

So here is my issues......where I am parked is about 200+ feet from the main house. It’s a temporary setup until the ground thaws, but I have 200+ feet of 10 gauge extension cord running to my trailer. It’s a 30Amp breaker in the house. I am experiencing significant voltage drop. I’ve sat there with a multimeter and watched it drop as low as 89V for a brief period.

I fried a modem last week.

The inverter is going to be just for my sensitive electronics right now, i’m Going to switch it off when I leave for the day, but it will be on when I’m home. My concern was overloading or doing damage to the converter.....but I really don’t want to turn that off.

I do have longer term plans for the inverter. She’s a big one. 3000W with solar charge capability.

But for right now, just an extension cord through a wall.

cookinwitdiesel · 02-28-2019, 07:51 PM

Larger gauge extension cord will have lower voltage drop (if any) but of course be more costly and heavier. The thicker the cable, the less resistance and therefore less voltage drop.

Steveo57 · 02-28-2019, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacksonrc

So here is my issues......where I am parked is about 200+ feet from the main house. It’s a temporary setup until the ground thaws, but I have 200+ feet of 10 gauge extension cord running to my trailer. It’s a 30Amp breaker in the house. I am experiencing significant voltage drop. I’ve sat there with a multimeter and watched it drop as low as 89V for a brief period.

I fried a modem last week.

The inverter is going to be just for my sensitive electronics right now, i’m Going to switch it off when I leave for the day, but it will be on when I’m home. My concern was overloading or doing damage to the converter.....but I really don’t want to turn that off.

I do have longer term plans for the inverter. She’s a big one. 3000W with solar charge capability.

But for right now, just an extension cord through a wall.

How much power are you drawing from the inverter and how big is your converter. From there you can figure out if the converter can handle it. If your drawing that much load off the inverter then if you don't have something charging those batteries they won't last long.

cookinwitdiesel · 02-28-2019, 08:06 PM

I was wondering about battery life too. I stated this in another thread, growing up we had a 42' Class A that had a whole cabin inverter. Powering that inverter was a dedicated bank of big deep cycle 8-9 batteries. I do not think the inverter use-case really makes sense on a trailer where weight is at a premium due to the weight of the needed batteries to make it practical at scale.

roadglide · 02-28-2019, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookinwitdiesel

I was wondering about battery life too. I stated this in another thread, growing up we had a 42' Class A that had a whole cabin inverter. Powering that inverter was a dedicated bank of big deep cycle 8-9 batteries. I do not think the inverter use-case really makes sense on a trailer where weight is at a premium due to the weight of the needed batteries to make it practical at scale.

Your not running air conditioner. Maybe hot water heater . I run toaster all the plugs and frig not all at once. With 500 WATT panels, three 115 amp hour agm battery into 60A MPPT charger 3 k inverter with that I could expand to a microwave. My battery haven't got below 12..5 and 14.6 during the day . On a good sunny day my Mppt controller is puting 10 amps to the 3 batterys . That's the it works because I have been book docking for 2 months and haven't ran the generator other then to exercise the motor .

cookinwitdiesel · 02-28-2019, 09:08 PM

How much does that whole setup weigh?

Jacksonrc · 02-28-2019, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steveo57

How much power are you drawing from the inverter and how big is your converter. From there you can figure out if the converter can handle it. If your drawing that much load off the inverter then if you don't have something charging those batteries they won't last long.

Right now, it’s just going to be an LED tv, modem, and satellite cable box. About 6Amps....660or so Watts. Inverted manual says to add 10% for efficiency loss. So about 666wats? Lol. That’s about 55DC amps.

I would absolutely not draw the 3000w capacity of the inverter without having more battery storage and some solar options...future plans.

roadglide · 03-01-2019, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookinwitdiesel

How much does that whole setup weigh?

May be 300 lbs I'm using 2 250 watt panels that helped with space and wiring . I'm still with in my GVWR on the truck .

Steveo57 · 03-01-2019, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacksonrc

Right now, it’s just going to be an LED tv, modem, and satellite cable box. About 6Amps....660or so Watts. Inverted manual says to add 10% for efficiency loss. So about 666wats? Lol. That’s about 55DC amps.

I would absolutely not draw the 3000w capacity of the inverter without having more battery storage and some solar options...future plans.

Well that's not a very big ac load. You shouldn't have much of voltage drop if in fact it's all 10 gauge wire and the load is what you say it is. Can you find out what your converter I'd rated at.? To run that on a battery bank for a day is going to require a big bank of batteries, 800 ah plus!

roadglide · 03-01-2019, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacksonrc

Right now, it’s just going to be an LED tv, modem, and satellite cable box. About 6Amps....660or so Watts. Inverted manual says to add 10% for efficiency loss. So about 666wats? Lol. That’s about 55DC amps.

I would absolutely not draw the 3000w capacity of the inverter without having more battery storage and some solar options...future plans.

The converter should have nothing to do with the inverter unless runs his generator to charge batterys . The OP is after A.c.. I know there are some engineers looking at this thread and just shaking the head . I'm no expert and maybe one of those electrical minds would speak up .

Jacksonrc · 03-01-2019, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steveo57

Well that's not a very big ac load. You shouldn't have much of voltage drop if in fact it's all 10 gauge wire and the load is what you say it is. Can you find out what your converter I'd rated at.? To run that on a battery bank for a day is going to require a big bank of batteries, 800 ah plus!

I know that’s not a very big load. The 660 or so watts is ONLY what I’m planning on plugging into the inverter right now to protect the sensitive electronics. Without the inverted and everything plugged into the wall outlets I was getting a very large drop over that length of run.

The rest of the trailer and my other appliances is going to run on shore power until I figure out the power hookup issues with my landlord or figure out longer term solar solutions.

Right now I have 4x6V 230 Ah batteries. Sets of two in series, each set in prallel.

I willl look up the specs for my inverter after work today.

cookinwitdiesel · 03-01-2019, 10:20 AM

So that is essentially 460 Ah @ 12Vdc (and the failure of any one battery will wreck the other 3). Question, would a UPS with a good voltage control circuit maybe be simpler and solve the same problem of only getting clean voltage to the components? You can get a 1500VA rated for 900w load for like $250 for a NICE one.

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