Adding an Inverter--12v to 110v

[ccc]

We are migrants from boating where we used an inverter to run the computer and other "12v" devices.
The TT, of course, has a converter and I want to add an inverter.
I have a small one left over from boating it will power the computer and printer, any hints or cautions on installing?

We have a 31RLS EVERGREEN TT
Thanks,
CCC

[Hitchhiker]

Here's how one member did his; found this thread using the search feature searching on "Inverter". There are others too.

Click here.

[Paul R. Haller]

Place your inverter as close to the battery string as possible without the inverter being in the same compartment. Use high quality leads from battery to inverter and keep them as short as possible. In my current setup My 3000 watt inverter is mounted on the other side of the battery compartment with 4/0 leads not longer then about 16 inches. Remember at 15 amps of 110 AC out of your inverter = about 140 amps at 12 volts. Those inverter leads have to be robust and short. If you need to get the 110 someplace else, that's easy by using Romex but on the 12 volt side to prevent voltage loss across the leads, Marine grade leads of 4/0 with crimped on solid brass lugs are the only way to go to prevent voltage loss. In my old rig I used #2 leads about 6 feet long. 5 minutes after turning on the microwave the inverter would start beeping indicating a low voltage. I measured the voltage when the inverter was powering the microwave oven both at the batteries and at the inverter. It was almost 3/4 volt loss across those leads! I rewired my inverter and moved it to within 2 feet of the battery string and went from the #2 leads to 4/0 leads. Now, the measured voltage loss from batteries to inverter dropped to 1/10 of a volt with the inverter drawing 150 Amps. I never again heard the sound of beeping again even at near max watt draw.
-Paul R. Haller-

[wa8yxm]

Two of them.. 1: What Paul said above (Thanks Paul, saved me a bunch of typing)

2: There is a special kind of inverter for RV's (And some other cases) that acts a lot like a UPS.. In fact the major difference between this unit and a UPS is that a UPS is designed to run things long enough for an emergency generator to take over or for you to shut down safely.. NOT for days on end. The inverter,, Days, weeks, months, years.. It does not much care.

One example of this is the Xantrex Prosine 2.0

This kind of inverter has a 120vac INPUT.. Just like a UPS.. It has a 120 VAC output. likewise. Where a UPS has an internal battery (usually) the inverter has 12 volt in/out lugs.

LIke the UPS if shore power fails.. CLICK, it's running on inverter power.

Have had lights go out while I was on line.. Never even blinked the switch-over was that fast.

[450Donn]

Since you have a "small" left over inverter, locate it as close to the batteries as possible. And for a small inverter, there is no reason in the world you cannot simply go buy a 25 foot heavy duty extension cord and cut off the end so you can wire it to a standard wall socket. Plug the other end into the inverter and you are totally done.

[ccc]

Thanks guys, big help. Very good ints. This is a small 60watt unit that is used as I said only for the computer or printer and maybe the XM radio, one at a time.

CCC