Inverter - On or Off?

[OldHiker]

When you are hooked up to a 50 amp source, should the inverter be turned on or off? Why?
I was told that keeping it off when hooked up, will stop the overcharging of the batteries and therefore, less water loss.

[OldHiker]

When you are hooked up to a 50 amp source, should the inverter be turned on or off? Why?
I was told that keeping it off when hooked up, will stop the overcharging of the batteries and therefore, less water loss.

[Jetsmania]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">When you are hooked up to a 50 amp source, should the inverter be turned on or off? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi! We always leave ours on in case of a power failure. The charger on the inverter will go to float after the batteries are charged. They should not overcharge at that point. Paul

[GaryKD]

Hi OldHiker,
It could depend on how your coach is wired. For my coach the inverter must remain on to power the circuits that are connected to it. Even if that were not the case, I would be the same as Paul. I would leave it on all the time. The charger will provide the appropriate amount charge to the batteries.

[Route 66]

The battery charging feature cannot be turned off with many inverters.

My inverter has for the most part been on for 2 years.

[Lug_Nut]

My charger and inverter can separately turned on or off by touch screen. This is not as good as it may sound. It is very easy to trip one off by accident while changing another setting. My inverter has been on since it left the factory.

Peter

[Rick Long]

Uhh.. Guys... Don't you mean CONVERTER... An INVERTER inverts 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC so should have nothing to do with charging a battery.. Your CONVERTER changes incoming 120 volt AC to 12 volt DC and is usually where you would find your battery charger. INVERTERS draw wattage and should be turned OFF. CONVERTERS should be left on to supply the 12 volts needed for controlling devices and charging batteries.

[Lug_Nut]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Rick Long:
Uhh.. Guys... Don't you mean CONVERTER... An INVERTER inverts 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC so should have nothing to do with charging a battery.. Your CONVERTER changes incoming 120 volt AC to 12 volt DC and is usually where you would find your battery charger. INVERTERS draw wattage and should be turned OFF. CONVERTERS should be left on to supply the 12 volts needed for controlling devices and charging batteries. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Rick, Mine, and all the "all electric" require the inverter to drive the frig. and more. Most, if not all users, leave it on 24/7. They are referred to as charger/inverters and serve to charge, act as a 12 volt power supply and invert 12 vdc to 120 vac.

Peter

[allynne]

Oldhiker,

A little different take on some of the previous posts.
The inverter function is usually seperate from the charger. Depends on size etc.
I leave my inverter off when on shore power, if the power goes off I want to know it. Could be a park power problem or it could be a coach

problem. With the inverter off I can at least attempt trouble shooting. If the inverter is on while I'm away and park power goes off, the inverter can run the batteries completly down for no good purpose.
Not every one agrees with me on this and other things.

Al Sawyer
'05 MADP

[Edmund A Skibinski]

OldHiker, I leave my inverter on 24/7, never had a problem. Ed.S

[tmitchell]

I have had my 2004 DSDP for 4-1/2 years. When the MH is not in use it is plugged in next to the house. I never turn off the inverter. Haven't had any problem with the batteries overcharging.
Tom

[RVDude]

To answer the OP. If you have a quality 3 stage charger in your inverter, then there will be NO water loss due to overcharge. A quality 3 stage system will actually shut down completely after float is achieved and await a low voltage trigger before engaging even the float mode.

So, from a KISS approach, why even bother with toggling the inverter on/off (if you have a quality 3stage charger in it)? Just leave it on (also might be required depending on how it's wired-as previously stated). UNLESS you boondock. That's a whole 'nutter discussion starting with turn it OFF (unless you have an all electric)!

Keep your setup/tear-down checklist and overall RV experience simplified. Don't over think, don't over proceduralize. JUST ENJOY!

On the other front, converter/chargers tend NOT to have quality chargers (there are exceptions).

[OldHiker]

Thanks for all the great feedback.

Based on all the responses, and the fact I have an auto-on generator set up, I will continue to leave the inverter on at all times.