Tuscany inverter?

[TCayer]

I should have asked the salesman while I was there, but how does the inverter work? Do you have to plug into it, or is it automatic? This is an impportant feature for us as my family likes to run things while we're under way!

Also- can anyone tell me what the difference is between the inverter and the converter? In the specs the Tuscany comes with both. What does the converter do?

Thanks!

[TCayer]

I should have asked the salesman while I was there, but how does the inverter work? Do you have to plug into it, or is it automatic? This is an impportant feature for us as my family likes to run things while we're under way!

Also- can anyone tell me what the difference is between the inverter and the converter? In the specs the Tuscany comes with both. What does the converter do?

Thanks!

[Chandler]

The simple answer is a converter converts 120 volts to 12 volts. On some coaches it charges the batteries too. (Not in any of the coaches you're looking at) and an inverter makes 120 volts from 12 volts.
On most diesel coaches, the inverter is large and is connected through an automatic transfer switch much the same as the genset. On most gas coaches the inverter is much smaller and either has a few dedicated outlets or outlets on the inverter itself. A lot of folks add their own (as I have) with a dedicated battery bank.
Hope this helps.

Chandler

[TCayer]

Thanks for the answer! I have an aftermarket inverter in my rig. Why would you need both?Why convert to 12 volt at all?

[Chandler]

Actually, you don't. I don't have a converter in mine. I have a house bank of 6 volt batteries to give me my 12 volts...and a stand alone charger to charge them.
Youu need 12 volts for some or most of your lights, the water pump, your heater, and the control voltage for the refrigerator. They do that so you can have normal operating systems when not plugged in to 120 volts.
There are some higher end coaches that are all 120 volts and when not plugged in run on a huge inverter and battery bank. They even have a home 'fridge.

Chandler

[The Woodieboys]

Converter = converts 120V A/C to 12V dc

Inverter = inverts 12V dc to 120V A/C


The converter converts the power from the outside or the generator to run all the 12V items.


The inverter has to be turned on but it will take battery power and invert it to 120 V A/C so you can run standard plug in items except the roof top air conditioners.

We use out inverter to run the TV's when we are moving for the kids to look at (when it is cool) so we do not have to run the generator.

You can also use it to run other items without the generator (small appliances like my CPAP machine).

[John-D]

The question "How does the inverter work" has many answers.. I had a Prosine 2.0 installed (After market but it works like a factory job).

Let me ask you a question: Do you have a UPS for your computer? (I have several I use around the house) When power goes out the UPS takes over till you can shut down the computer so you don't loose data. (This reminds me of a joke. I may consider later) Well.. The inverter in my Motor home works just like a UPS. normally it passes 120 volts to the down-line hardware. but if power should fail, be it due to me unplugging from shore power or the utility company loosing it, the Inverter kicks in and provides so there is no loss... The difference is where a UPS is designed to run for a few minutes.. My Prosine can run (Given enough batteries) a few weeks, months, years, however long it takes to kill the batteries.

Now: some after-market inverters you need to plug into.

The question why convert, and then invert also has two answers.

One. When you have 120 shore or generator power the CONVERTER (or the converter section of a dual function device like the Prosine 2.0) charges the batteries so they will be ready if needed. It also runs all the 12 volt stuff in the house (lights, furnace blower, control boards for Furnace, AC, Fridge, Water heater and the like)

The other is a special case.. I have done this once (Since my rig has dual converters) Power in from the park was not "Up to spec" (This can mean many things, in this case it means 105 volts per the Xantrex Prosine) I manually tripped the breaker for the prosine and closed the bridge switch so the PD 9180 could keep it's batteries up. Everything downline of the inverter got good clean 120 volts, everythign upline had only 105, Since I was not running AC and nothing else upline of the Prosine cares. It worked just fine.

[Hurricaner]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Actually, you don't. I don't have a converter in mine. I have a house bank of 6 volt batteries to give me my 12 volts...and a stand alone charger to charge them </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Chandler I think you probably do have a converter as the Progressive Dynamics 9100 is considered a converter, although it is really nothing more than a charger. In the old days of linear converters(Magnetek 6300) they had a separate charging section and some had no charging abilities. These totally disappeared a few years back and now all converters are switching power supplies that just parallel the battery. Some like the PD with the CW vary the charge voltage and some just have a constant 13,6- 13.8 voltage. But right or wrong these chargers are still called converters.

Sam

[Chandler]

Sam, I didn't know that. I just assumed that because it just charged the batteries it was just that. The old linear converters were just built into the breaker and fuse panel and boy could they boil the batteries. I'm so glad I have the PD!

Chandler

[The Woodieboys]

In the Tuscany the controls for both the charger and the inverter are in the control panel above the entry door.

You have to press a button to turn on the inverter, it is not automatic.