Community Forums

bsmoking · 04-30-2015, 05:44 AM

I am new to this way of running refrigerator. Do I leave inverter on while driving ? And when plugged in to 50 amp can or should I turn off inverter? .I have had 5th wheel and this is my first MH. Tiffin 36la. Thank you..brian

TheArnolds · 04-30-2015, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmoking

I am new to this way of running refrigerator. Do I leave inverter on while driving ? And when plugged in to 50 amp can or should I turn off inverter? .I have had 5th wheel and this is my first MH. Tiffin 36la. Thank you..brian

Inverter should be on while driving and the to keep your 110V stuff (residential frig, etc.) working. When you arrive just plug into the 30/50 amp power and let the transfer switch handle everything. I do not touch my inverter on/off button but I do make sure it is on when I unplug from shore power.

Congrats on your new rig!

**JohnRR** · 04-30-2015, 01:19 PM

Good luck with your decision.

garykk · 04-30-2015, 03:00 PM

If your RR is on, the inverter should be on..

djbmsu · 04-30-2015, 06:02 PM

last 4 motor homes the inverter was never turned off

bsmoking · 05-01-2015, 05:54 AM

Thanks for the answers. Very helpful

bertdog · 07-24-2015, 07:05 AM

I have another question about the inverter and frig. Our current MH has a 2 way frig so we run it on propane when dry camping. We're thinking of buying a Phaeton with a residential frig which I assume only runs on 120 V. About how long can I run the frig via the inverter before needing to recharge the batteries? I know there are many other factors impacting battery use so I'm just looking for a rough guess. Thanks.

TheArnolds · 07-24-2015, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barefootdog

I have another question about the inverter and frig. Our current MH has a 2 way frig so we run it on propane when dry camping. We're thinking of buying a Phaeton with a residential frig which I assume only runs on 120 V. About how long can I run the frig via the inverter before needing to recharge the batteries? I know there are many other factors impacting battery use so I'm just looking for a rough guess. Thanks.

As you said there are other factors especially when you are dry camping. Many times when we are traveling from point “A” to “B” and it is longer than a day we stop along the way and dry camp. If it is not too hot or cold we run off the inverter for the frig, TV, lights, etc. and it will run everything overnight with power to spare. I have on two occasions ran off the inverter for 15-16 hours before the auto-start generator kicked in to recharge the batteries. In these two cases we did not baby the batteries and used what power we wanted knowing the auto-start would kick in. Hope my experiences help…

luvlabs · 07-24-2015, 08:06 AM

We don't normally dry camp but others that have Phaeton's do. It seems their normal practice is to run the generator while having breakfast (to run the coffee pot and microwave and charge the batteries) and then again in the afternoon to charge the batteries and fix dinner. The afternoon/evening run is usually up to generator cut off time.

And like the others, our inverter is never off.

wa8yxm · 07-24-2015, 09:31 AM

I never turn mine off less I am boondocking and need to conserve batteries.. It runs Digital Video recorders and computers and such that I either want or need (Computers provide glass Dash and Navi-comp functions).

When plugged into shore power if shore fails as it did twice in the last 7 days the inverter instantly kicks in, Computers, TV's and DVR's do not blink they do not even know power failed. Microwave would act likewise if I were using it (Fridge is Absorption type, So not on inverter).

Of course if you have a residential Fridge instead of one that can run on gas.. You MUST leave it on.