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01-14-2011, 09:11 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: CIRCLE, MT
Posts: 33
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Does anyone ever run the house AC on an inverter while traveling?
Don
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2000 Newmar Montana Aire DP
___________(Mountain) 
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01-14-2011, 09:40 AM
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#2
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 5,151
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Never. I don't even think the inverter is wired to power the A/C in my coach. Just not enough juice to supply the 23 amps most of them draw. Rough math would indicate that the 23 amps at 120v would pull something like 230 amps at 12v and I just don't think that's going to happen.
Rick
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Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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01-14-2011, 10:34 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: CIRCLE, MT
Posts: 33
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The math would be volts x amps with one of my air condioners drawing 20 amps at 120 volts equals 2400 watts. I see a lot in inverters rated at 5000 watts and above. I thought an after market inverter wired to the ac breaker would be an alternative to running the gen.
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2000 Newmar Montana Aire DP
___________(Mountain)
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01-14-2011, 10:56 AM
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#4
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Community Administrator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 13,893
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I think it would be quite a load on the battery bank and the engine alternator would be hard pressed to keep them charged.
It's much easier and more cost effective to run the generator while traveling or we would see RVs set up that way.
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Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, '07 DSDP, '11 Virtual RV
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01-14-2011, 11:12 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner Damon Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 8,070
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I do know of folks who do it but consider this.. The rooftop A/C on this rig draws over 1,000 watts when running, when you calculate the draw on the 12 volt system for the inverter, due to conversion loss and several other issues, the easiest way to convert is to use 10 volt
1,100 watts is thus 110 amps.
Your engine alternator is not really designed to provide that kind of power for any period of time. And alternators are in 400 dollar range and that's re-buit in the box.... You need to pay the man to put it in. The job can easily break a kilobuck.
So use the on-board generator instead... It is designed to power that load, hours on end.
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Home is where I park it!
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01-14-2011, 11:57 AM
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#6
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Community Moderator
Nor'easters Club Newmar Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salisbury,Ma. 01952
Posts: 13,606
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Always have run Gen when using AC's would not do it other wise.
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01-14-2011, 12:52 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 179
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To run AC on the inverter would require a rewire if the unit. As far as I know the only appliances that run off the inverter are the TV and microwave. As other have said use the genny and stay out of trouble.
Al Sawyer
'05 MADP
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01-14-2011, 04:38 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 693
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Didn't Country Coach several years ago offer an option with an extra inverter and batteries that could power the front ac unit.
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John, Pam, Nicholas, Little Man and Aria
NKK 16073L
2007 Essex 4502 2004 Avalanche
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01-15-2011, 10:45 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: CIRCLE, MT
Posts: 33
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Thanks guys. I think I will run the genny when neccesary. Alternators and batteries are to expensive without the 3000 to 5000 watt inverter needed.
__________________
2000 Newmar Montana Aire DP
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01-15-2011, 11:26 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 179
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Trower,
The size of the inverter is not the limiting factor. The battery capability is the long pole in the tent.
The inverter changes DC battery current to AC current. The inverter does not create electricty from thin air.
Al Sawyer
'05 MADP
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