Community Forums

ladagobago · 03-04-2014, 04:38 PM

We have a good set of house batteries and have a small inverter used for the TV and Stereo. The TV is an LED and only uses about 15 watts. The Stereo isn't on all the time. When it is time to cook and use the microwave we start the generator. we also start it in the morning so my DW can use the hair drier.

other that that we use the alternator to charge the house batteries during our travel period of about 6-8 hours daily. We also plug all our rechargable devices in at night time to the 12 v chassis aux power outlet.

scenic route · 03-04-2014, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Generally, you're good with the inverter for small items like TV's, laptops, etc.

A little suggestion.....never run your microwave on the inverter unless you have a Pure Sine Wave inverter. Even then I would limit it's use. They groan because they really don't work well on Modified Sine Wave. The Sharp microwave, which is very popular in a lot of coaches, has had an issue over the years where the timer goes to 59 seconds and stops. I believe running them on MSW inverters is what ruins them.

Start the generator for microwave use.

We seldom use our Sharp R-1870 series micro/conv oven with the generator and never on the inverter/converter/charger. However,
I just replaced our Sharp with an updated R-1875 because of the 59sec. syndrome. The problem is associated with the internal damper door motor or it's micro switch. If movement of the damper door is not sensed, the operation is stopped at 59 seconds. Our oven was 9 years so we opted not to repair the unit.

dbt803 · 03-04-2014, 04:48 PM

If you want yo use a portable heater while traveling will the inverter power that or generator?
Debbie

gruelens · 03-04-2014, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbt803

If you want yo use a portable heater while traveling will the inverter power that or generator?
Debbie

Need more info Debbie to answer your question.

What is the draw of your heater?

What is the supply of your inverter?

What is your alternator rated at for continuous duty?

Note...... some alternators running near max output for long periods can get warm and have high load on bearings which diminishes life of unit

scenic route · 03-04-2014, 05:17 PM

Some portable heaters are high demand units, I'd go with the generator.

dbt803 · 03-04-2014, 07:39 PM

Gruelens I do not really know. I have a 2011 forest river berkshire bunkhouse. It is 340 hp and 8.0 generator. I have a magnum inverter. I have an appointment 3/17 at the factory in Elkhart for service and will be driving in cold temps from NY. Last march I drove the rv for 2 hours in the cold and the heat from the dash is not enough. I hang curtains behind the chairs to keep the warmth up front. I never thought to run a space heater while driving.
Debbie

Davdeb1 · 03-04-2014, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbt803

Gruelens I do not really know. I have a 2011 forest river berkshire bunkhouse. It is 340 hp and 8.0 generator. I have a magnum inverter. I have an appointment 3/17 at the factory in Elkhart for service and will be driving in cold temps from NY. Last march I drove the rv for 2 hours in the cold and the heat from the dash is not enough. I hang curtains behind the chairs to keep the warmth up front. I never thought to run a space heater while driving.
Debbie

If you get cold, just run the furnace. It works great!

ohhwell · 03-05-2014, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbt803

Gruelens I do not really know. I have a 2011 forest river berkshire bunkhouse. It is 340 hp and 8.0 generator. I have a magnum inverter. I have an appointment 3/17 at the factory in Elkhart for service and will be driving in cold temps from NY. Last march I drove the rv for 2 hours in the cold and the heat from the dash is not enough. I hang curtains behind the chairs to keep the warmth up front. I never thought to run a space heater while driving.
Debbie

If you don't know and cannot find out, do not run it. Run the propane furnace as someone else suggested or the generator.

dbt803 · 03-05-2014, 08:00 AM

My floor vents are covered when the slides are in so I will run the generator during the day and the furnace at night. I will ask for further instructions about the inverter when I get there. Thanks
Debbie

bruceisla · 03-05-2014, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Generally, you're good with the inverter for small items like TV's, laptops, etc.

A little suggestion.....never run your microwave on the inverter unless you have a Pure Sine Wave inverter. Even then I would limit it's use. They groan because they really don't work well on Modified Sine Wave. The Sharp microwave, which is very popular in a lot of coaches, has had an issue over the years where the timer goes to 59 seconds and stops. I believe running them on MSW inverters is what ruins them.

Start the generator for microwave use.

X2 !!

Gary RVRoamer · 03-05-2014, 08:31 AM

Our inverter is always on, whether traveling or parked.

The generator runs only when we need 120v power, e.g. to run the house air conditioning while traveling. Otherwise it is off.

ARTWERKE · 03-05-2014, 08:33 AM

I have a small 400 Watt Inverter for the tv & game console when the grandkids are along. But usually run the genny if it's hot or cold out,or washing clothes. At 1/3 gph for the Diesel gen set, might as well give it some exercise. And the cost of a good 2KW inverter, will buy a fair amount of fuel for the genny.

dvmweb · 03-05-2014, 07:01 PM

Our coach came with two inverters. One, 2800 watts, for the 110v household fridge and one, 2000 watts, for the rest of the 110 in the coach. The coach invertor will not run our microwave. So, we just turn on the generator. Most ceramic heaters need up to 1500 watts. Same thing, turn on the generator. As an aside we recently took a trip to FL from Northern Michigan (-10 deg f). The furnace couldn't keep the water bay above freezing so I put a ceramic heater down below and turned on the generator, shutting it down at gas or meal stops, until we got into warm weather. Worked out fine.

So the upshot is, modest loads the invertor will do. But heavy wattage needs the generator.

docj · 03-08-2014, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvmweb

Our coach came with two inverters. One, 2800 watts, for the 110v household fridge and one, 2000 watts, for the rest of the 110 in the coach. The coach invertor will not run our microwave. So, we just turn on the generator. Most ceramic heaters need up to 1500 watts. Same thing, turn on the generator. As an aside we recently took a trip to FL from Northern Michigan (-10 deg f). The furnace couldn't keep the water bay above freezing so I put a ceramic heater down below and turned on the generator, shutting it down at gas or meal stops, until we got into warm weather. Worked out fine.

So the upshot is, modest loads the invertor will do. But heavy wattage needs the generator.

IMHO it would be nuts to use a 2800 watt inverter just for the residential fridge. We have a Magnum 2800 watt pure sine wave inverter with one 15A output circuit for the fridge and a 20A circuit for everything else. A residential fridge only draws ~100-125 watts when running and ~10-12 A max during startup.