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Old 09-14-2013, 07:06 AM   #1
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Adding an inverter

I need some advice with installing a 1500 watt inverter to my 1990 Pace Arrow. I understand the small inverter I have above the passenger side of the coach that runs the TV. It does seem to have small wires from the battery to the inverter, then wired to the receptacles in the same compartment for the TV.

I want to install my 1500 watt inverter some where in the coach to run appliances in the kitchen, mid catch. The battery's are in the front of the coach. Do I mount the inverter in the kitchen area and use what size wire from the battery's? Or do I mouth it near the battery's and run what size wire to the kitchen receptacles.

Any and all comments are welcome
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Old 09-14-2013, 07:44 AM   #2
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The large inverter needs to be placed near the batteries connected with heavy wire. There is a very large amp draw from the batteries.

You can just power the whole house from the inverter if you want by simply plugging the shore power cord to the inverter. This is how my coach I set up. I use point of use inverters for the TV/DVD/SAT and one in the dining area and another in the bedroom. The whole house inverter is used for the microwave, coffee pot, etc.

Things that will run on gas are used that way, such a the refrigerator and water heater as there current draw on electric is large.
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Old 09-14-2013, 11:47 AM   #3
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A converter converts 120 volts into 12 volts. An inverted converts 12 volts into 120 volts. Sometimes people are confused because some of the newer devices people buy as converters also contain an inveter and are even advertised as an inverter.

Yes, a 1500 watt inverter requires around 150 amps so a large wire is required and the shorter the better. The wire to the 120 volts system will have around 12 amps so an extension size, say no 12, wire of almost any length will work. I think this answers all of you questions.

Reminds me of a recent post I made suggesting that anyone giving electrical advice should own a multimeter.
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Old 09-14-2013, 02:06 PM   #4
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I own a multi meter but not smart enough to understand how to use it.

Now I got more thoughts. Plug in shore power to the new inverter? I thought the shore power was already going to my house inverter now? Do I need to separate things?
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Old 09-14-2013, 02:34 PM   #5
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I own a multi meter but not smart enough to understand how to use it.

Now I got more thoughts. Plug in shore power to the new inverter? I thought the shore power was already going to my house inverter now? Do I need to separate things?
Ensure here you have the terms inverter and converter used properly, easy to confuse. When connected as I suggested you do need to disable any converter (battery charger) as you will have a undesirable circle of charger going. Any existing inverter should be connected to the battery bank and not affected. If you have a combination inverter/charger (converter) there should be a way to disable or turn off the charger portion.

In my case I have a converter and simply turn it off when connecting shore power to the inverter.
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Old 09-14-2013, 02:46 PM   #6
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Let me just say, the shore power DOES NOT connect to the shore power? If this is not so, then we need to stop and get it clear in your mind.
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Old 09-14-2013, 03:00 PM   #7
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Back to making it simple!

I assume I have a converter that came with the Motor Home! Plug it in to shore power and it charges the batteries and powers all receptacles in the Motor Home.

At this time the only inverter I have is for my TV! It works one receptacle in the TV area.

In order to use my 1500 Watt inverter to power a receptacle in the Kitchen. I need to use the short heavy wire that came with the inverter and keep it close to the batter bank. I can then simply attach it to the batteries? + and -. Then run a number 12 house wire to the receptacle in the kitchen? Disconnecting it from the present install and use it only as power when I am not using my generator or shore power?
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Old 09-14-2013, 05:11 PM   #8
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Quote:
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I assume I have a converter that came with the Motor Home! Plug it in to shore power and it charges the batteries and powers all receptacles in the Motor Home.

At this time the only inverter I have is for my TV! It works one receptacle in the TV area.

In order to use my 1500 Watt inverter to power a receptacle in the Kitchen. I need to use the short heavy wire that came with the inverter and keep it close to the batter bank. I can then simply attach it to the batteries? + and -. Then run a number 12 house wire to the receptacle in the kitchen? Disconnecting it from the present install and use it only as power when I am not using my generator or shore power?
Yes. If all you want to power is that one outlet you can wire it to an outlet. The inverter installation directions likely speak to the size of wire and a fuse / circuit breaker to the battery. Also be sure and follow any grounding instructions.
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Old 09-14-2013, 05:51 PM   #9
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Do you have a microwave? What else do you have in the RV that you want the inverter/converter to work with? What are the wattage's of those appliances? If any of them take more than the inverter then you will either need to not have it do that appliance or have a bigger inverter/converter.
ie a 1500 watt inverter with a 1650 watt microwave/convection oven will not work nice together for long.
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Old 09-14-2013, 06:05 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by homeless View Post
I need some advice with installing a 1500 watt inverter to my 1990 Pace Arrow. I understand the small inverter I have above the passenger side of the coach that runs the TV. It does seem to have small wires from the battery to the inverter, then wired to the receptacles in the same compartment for the TV.

I want to install my 1500 watt inverter some where in the coach to run appliances in the kitchen, mid catch. The battery's are in the front of the coach. Do I mount the inverter in the kitchen area and use what size wire from the battery's? Or do I mouth it near the battery's and run what size wire to the kitchen receptacles.

Any and all comments are welcome
homeless
Close to the battery is preferable, (the shorter the 12VDC cables the better).
The when you buy the inverter the installation manual that comes with will tell you that.
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Old 09-14-2013, 06:12 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by vsheetz View Post
If you have a combination inverter/charger (converter) there should be a way to disable or turn off the charger portion.

In my case I have a converter and simply turn it off when connecting shore power to the inverter.
vsheetz
Why in the world would you want the charger portion disabled or turned off when/if you have shore power??

Mel
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Old 09-14-2013, 07:36 PM   #12
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You do not want the inverted trying to supply power to the city. Your battery would last long. The combined units do not need any attention. And I am guessing that the modern inverters probably senses when it is connected to the line and takes care of itself. There probably are enough people who forgot to turn it off and they had to protect their product from mad customer.
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Old 09-15-2013, 01:59 AM   #13
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vsheetz
Why in the world would you want the charger portion disabled or turned off when/if you have shore power??

Mel
'96 Safari
I am referring to my scenario of the whole coach being powered by the inverter rather than shore power. In this scenario he converter must be disabled.

Else you are using the batteries to power the inverter which is powering the converter which is charging the batteries. If this were 100% efficient you would have one heck of a perpetual motion machine. (-:
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Old 09-15-2013, 07:45 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by vsheetz View Post
I am referring to my scenario of the whole coach being powered by the inverter rather than shore power. In this scenario he converter must be disabled.

Else you are using the batteries to power the inverter which is powering the converter which is charging the batteries. If this were 100% efficient you would have one heck of a perpetual motion machine. (-:
vsheetz
Both the charger portionand the converter portionof an "inverter/converter/charger" need to be disabled/turned off when the RV is using battery power only....(not ONLY the converter portion).

On my coach, both the charger, and the converter, (which are built into my Heart Freedom 20 "inverter/converter/charger"), are automatically OFF/disabled, if/when no shore or generator 120VAC power is available.

Does your "inverter/converter/charger" operate differently?

Mel
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