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EMEdmond · 10-14-2017, 11:18 PM

We are going to be living in our RV once we finally do get one. We are currently looking at ordering the Allegro 34PA. The Pure Sine Wave inverter that is on that RV is a 2000 Watt inverter.

This RV has the residential refrigerator with ice maker, and several TVs (not that we would watch more than one at a time). I will be working my full-time job as we travel using one or more computers, recharging cell phones, my wife has her computer, her hair dryer and the like. Plus we will, of course, run the lights, perhaps the fireplace, a space heater when it's cold and so on.

My question is whether 2000 watts is enough or will I be needing more power shortly after we get settled in? I have no experience in this area and would appreciate any advice more experienced RVers might offer.

Thanks
Eddie

Mr_D · 10-14-2017, 11:48 PM

Well, you won't be running the electric heat very long, at least not on battery power. A small heater will take 1500 watts, your fireplace on heat will take the same or more.
You need to figure out how much power everything you want to run takes and compare that to the 2000 watts your inverter puts out.
Now, if you're on shore power you will have 30 amps (3,600 watts) or 50 amp (12,000 watts). And the same rule applies figure out what you want to run and compare that to what power yuo have available.
We also need to know what your battery bank consists of since that will determine how long you can be without shore power since the inverter is only needed when not on shore power and running 120 volt items.

vsheetz · 10-15-2017, 12:18 AM

Inverter only applies when dry camping without shore power and generator is off. You don't operate high current devices from batteries/inverter. Air conditioning, laundry, etc. will not be connected to the inverter. Don't operate space heaters and other long term high draw items from outlets. Lighting, televisions, computers, and RR are ok on inverter. And 2000w is ok for these items.

ThomB · 10-15-2017, 06:53 AM

I work from the RV. I'd say with what you are describing that you'll want to look for at least electric hookups most of time or you'll be running the generator a lot.

hypoxia · 10-15-2017, 07:02 AM

You are getting good info from the posters above.

The real key as was mentioned is battery capacity. It doesn't matter how big the inverter is if you don't have enough battery to support it.

Wundertaker · 10-15-2017, 07:10 AM

IMHO I don't see much off grid boondocking in your future. Sounds like you might need your own nuclear power plant!

rk911 · 10-15-2017, 08:10 AM

i'll echo the other comments. your inverter and batteries only come into play when you are not hooked up to electric.

winniman · 10-15-2017, 08:40 AM

A 2000 watt inverter is good enough for most things like tv and cell phones. You will not be running heaters and hair dryer off the inverter as your batteries will be dead in no time. I think you are not clear on the purpose of the inverter. Having a residential fridge means you will be drawing off the batteries as soon as you unplug or shut off the generator. Hopefully you are planning on staying at places with electricity more than boondocking. Do you have a generator?

Busskipper · 10-15-2017, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emerkel

We are going to be living in our RV once we finally do get one.
We are currently looking at ordering the Allegro 34PA.
The Pure Sine Wave inverter that is on that RV is a 2000 Watt inverter.

This RV has the residential refrigerator with ice maker, and several TVs (not that we would watch more than one at a time).
I will be working my full-time job as we travel using one or more computers, recharging cell phones, my wife has her computer, her hair dryer and the like.
Plus we will, of course, run the lights, perhaps the fireplace, a space heater when it's cold and so on.

My question is whether 2000 watts is enough or will I be needing more power shortly after we get settled in?

I have no experience in this area and would appreciate any advice more experienced RVers might offer.

Thanks
Eddie

Think - most have tried to explain that the inverter is only needed/used when not hooked up to Power or not running the generator.

While Driving or Stops during the day or Boondocking is when your inverter comes into play, anytime the batteries start to get low you will need to Run the Generator to recharge and supply power.

Your 2000 watt inverter should supply you with the power needed to run the normal items - but not heavy users - Like electric Heat -
Hair dryer etc.

When you need those and you are not "PLUGGED IN" - just start the generator.

Simple - easy - OK?

..

MotorPro · 10-15-2017, 11:18 AM

The other thing to remember is that it won't matter if you have a 10000 watt inverter if you do not have enough battery to back it up.

EMEdmond · 10-15-2017, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winniman

A 2000 watt inverter is good enough for most things like tv and cell phones. You will not be running heaters and hair dryer off the inverter as your batteries will be dead in no time. I think you are not clear on the purpose of the inverter. Having a residential fridge means you will be drawing off the batteries as soon as you unplug or shut off the generator. Hopefully you are planning on staying at places with electricity more than boondocking. Do you have a generator?

Thanks. Yes there will be a 7000 watt generator. I acknowledge I have lots to learn and I appreciate everyone's input.

EMEdmond · 10-15-2017, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busskipper

Think - most have tried to explain that the inverter is only needed/used when not hooked up to Power or not running the generator.

While Driving or Stops during the day or Boondocking is when your inverter comes into play, anytime the batteries start to get low you will need to Run the Generator to recharge and supply power.

Your 2000 watt inverter should supply you with the power needed to run the normal items - but not heavy users - Like electric Heat -
Hair dryer etc.

When you need those and you are not "PLUGGED IN" - just start the generator.

Simple - easy - OK?

..

Thank you.

trx430ex · 10-15-2017, 07:36 PM

Thanks Emerkel, got a good chuckle just out of the title,, truth be said by most of us. Even with shore power we would all like more. To do more.

The above posters have covered it pretty well.

Have thought of using Tesla power walls to gain more energy, but they are not certed for mobile use yet. With that one could make there way a little further down the supply chain. And pick up the washing machine, Microwave toaster & coffee maker on at same time. Were just not there,,,,,,yet.

But heat or AC, forget about it.

I love my duel quad core XEON server, but I know I can't take it with me. 1000 watt power supply on 24/7. I am going to have to settle for twin i7's in some kind of setup.

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NeilV · 10-15-2017, 09:58 PM

Your concern would likely be about running a laptop or two with its 60 watt power brick and the charger on your mobile wifi device while driving down the road however if your driving then your less likely to be actively working or watching TV for that matter. Driving at night with a TV running that's visible from a belted safe riding position can be miserable for the driver causing a lot of reflected light on the windshield and dash.

When out of town and working I run the generator while driving to support the work groups computers (all 4 of us work remotely and I am on-call 24/7 365 days a year) and then that's all moot once we arrive at a camp ground with shore power as then inverters, generators, etc are no longer required. I would double check if the residential refrigerator is actually plugged into the inverter as that would be a big strain on the batteries. With all the remote camping I do without access to the power grid a residential refrigerator would be a deal killer since I would have to invest heavily into solar and a larger battery bank (reducing cargo capacity) or pay for the XX gallons fuel per day to run the generator to keep up with the power demands from the refrigerator. On a propane generator that would be pure misery even if you did find someone who would deliver propane or set up a large tank for you to tap into.

As long as your not running servers and only concerned with hooking up a few laptops even a 500 watt inverter would do while your driving down the road. When its cool out and we do not need the generator power for additional air conditioning a 500 watt inverter is all that we use to keep 4 laptop computers and wifi going.

If you really need to camp in remote locations without access to an RV Plugin then you need to look into how large your battery banks are and an AutoStart on the generator to automatically charge the batteries back up when they need it or at a solar panel system. If your generator is propane then you would have to look into alternative fuel supplies to keep it running too.

The 34PA being a Ford F53 based coach would probably not have a propane generator and as part of the residential refrigerator package comes with 7KW Generator, 4 house batteries and the 2,000 watt inverter implying the batteries and inverter are there to support the refrigerator when driving without running the generator so it does not start to defrost while en route to your destination. The 4 batteries though would still not be enough for extended stays in a remote location without running the generator several times a day to keep the refrigerator running.