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08-02-2015, 06:35 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,121
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Inverter..... On or Off?
We are still working, a couple more years to go.
Our coach sits here in the yard for sometimes 2-3 weeks without use. We have nothing on while in this state, frig off, no water, lights off etc.. However it is plugged into our 50amp rv circuit.
Thoughts about shutting off the inverter. Seems silly to leave it on. I can control it from the power management system, pretty easy to shutdown and startup.
L.
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RVing since 1974!
Lots of Motorcycles
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08-02-2015, 06:38 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,789
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I don't have it on unless I need it. The charger still works with it off
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Don
2002 Country Coach Intrigue
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08-02-2015, 07:00 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Montgomery, AL
Posts: 1,199
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I am the opposite. I never turn mine off unless we are getting service that requires it. The inverter keeps the house batteries charged and even with everything turned off there are things that use the batteries. CO detector, microwave clock, panel lights by the door, etc. I don't want to have to monitor the house batteries while parked so I just leave it on.
__________________
Mel (Melanie) and Harry
2009 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
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08-02-2015, 07:03 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fulltime, USA
Posts: 16,706
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Off. My inverter/converter charges the batteries with the inverter off.
I test that the inverter works once in a while, but we don't boondock, so....
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08-02-2015, 07:10 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 507
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Unless we r in deep storage mode, the inverter is on...
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08-02-2015, 07:35 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner Georgie Boy Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Utah
Posts: 658
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am I confused??
I have always thought that the converter changes 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC and that the converter charges the battery not the Inverter, which changes 12 volt DC to 120 volts AC. The inverter does not charge the batteries. I leave my motor home hooked to shore power 24 / 7, but I have a converter with a 4 stage battery charger. So that the batteries don't boil and get ruined. If you don't have a 3 or 4 stage charger and your converter / charger is on charging the batteries all of the time, then you can ruin them.
Mel
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08-02-2015, 07:43 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,121
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Mhbell,,,, that is my understanding as well. I guess I need to test to see how my coach works, but the converter does the 12v work, the inverter provides the 120v power if needed.
I think this would be a easy test, my management system tells me if the batteries are charging, I think I will shutoff the inverter today, turn on some 12v stuff (with house power unplugged) and come back in a hour and plug back in the house power..... I hope I would see batteries charging. with the inverter off.
Today is a good day for that test, I plane to check the water level in all the batteries today anyway.
I will report back my findings,,, but they may only be applicable to my coach.
L.
__________________
RVing since 1974!
Lots of Motorcycles
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08-02-2015, 07:46 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 8,638
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If your plugged in why would it be on? I leave the inverter off unless needed.
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2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
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08-02-2015, 07:55 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,402
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhbell
I have always thought that the converter changes 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC and that the converter charges the battery not the Inverter, which changes 12 volt DC to 120 volts AC. The inverter does not charge the batteries. I leave my motor home hooked to shore power 24 / 7, but I have a converter with a 4 stage battery charger. So that the batteries don't boil and get ruined. If you don't have a 3 or 4 stage charger and your converter / charger is on charging the batteries all of the time, then you can ruin them.
Mel
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You are correct in many cases, but there is also many Inverter/Charger combination units out there.
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08-02-2015, 01:13 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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Several thoughts
Coach sitting empty, NO power to coach, Shut it off
Coach sitting empty but WITH shore power to coach Leave it on, charger enabled, inverter disabled
Coach occupied. ON
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Home is where I park it!
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08-02-2015, 01:20 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Always on, even when in storage since I store it beside the house. Also have it on when in a campground.
I built the pad and put electricity in about 25 years or more ago. Have ALWAYS left my rigs plugged in and inverter turned on. Batteries have always lasted many years too.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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08-02-2015, 01:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fulltime, USA
Posts: 16,706
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wa8yxm
Coach occupied. ON
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Why? Every electronic device has and estimated MTBF. Why run it if on camp power?
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08-02-2015, 01:57 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Melmoses
I am the opposite. I never turn mine off unless we are getting service that requires it. The inverter keeps the house batteries charged and even with everything turned off there are things that use the batteries. CO detector, microwave clock, panel lights by the door, etc. I don't want to have to monitor the house batteries while parked so I just leave it on.
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Melmoses
An INVERTER does NOT charge the batteries, (or keep the batteries charged).
Whenever the coach has shore or generator 120VAC power the CONVERTER/CHARGER " PORTION" of a combination INVERTER/CHARGER is what keeps the batteries up, (whether the inverter is ON or OFF).
At least that's how my Heart Freedom 20 inverter/charger works.
BTW, I only turn my inverter ON when I need 120VAC power and don't have shore, (or generator), power.
Mel
'96 Safari , 141k miles
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08-02-2015, 03:09 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 27
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It's your choice but why have it on if you are hooked up to power? We only turn ours on when not on generator or shore power. Another way of looking at it is, if the inverter folks did not want it shut-off they would not have put an easy access on-off switch on it.
__________________
Jeff & Evelyn
2010 45' Country Coach Crane Prairie
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