Inverter on or off?

[n2zon]

We turn ours on whenever the engine is running. That powers the fridge without using propane. Other than that, we *usually* leave it off when not in use to remove the small parasitic load from the inverter being active in standby mode. The exception is when we want more power than we can get.

Our Magnum inverter supplements shore power as needed (they call this Load Support AAC ). Not all models do that. Here's what the OM says:

"Load Support AAC – In this mode, the AC loads connected are requiring more power than the incoming AC source can provide on its own. The inverter pulls the additional current—that is needed for the loads—from the inverter batteries to keep the incoming AC current from exceeding the input amps setting on the remote control."

For intermittent loads, this is a great feature. You'll pull down the batteries a bit to support the load, then charge them when the load stops. As long as KWH in > KWH out, you can do this indefinitely up to the load the combination of shore power and the inverter will support.

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

I'm another that only turns it on when it's needed, but I know a lot of members never turn theirs off.

Same here, no need for it to be on if it will not be used.

[wolfe10]

We are getting into:


"Best Practices"


VS


What is EASY/convenient.


Decide who YOU are.


No different than the decision to leave the transmission in "D" or selecting for yourself the best gear for what is in front of you.

[tropical36]

Originally Posted by Wbonsell

Have always had my inverter on as we’ve been traveling and moving around every two or three weeks. We are now settled into an RV resort in AZ where we will sit till April. Will occasionally unhook and take her out for a short drive but wondering if I should turn the inverter off considering how long we will be parked?

Depends and for example....
With our old coach, I installed an after market inverter and ran an outlet to the back of the gas/elect fridge for use going down the road and or short stints here and there, with the engine and genset off.
Thing is, rv fridges are power hogs, so really does number on the batteries if let on them too long. Sooooooo, when parked and especially if gone all day, I always turned it off the fridge. This way if the power went out, it would shift to gas, instead of the inverter.

Same thing with our present coach, but have since converted the fridge to a residential type compressor unit, so now the inverter is usually left on and even as we speak, while it's plugged in out in the driveway.