Community Forums

John Locke · 01-05-2019, 10:50 PM

Hi everyone!

I just joined the forum as I recently bought my 4th motorhome in 38yrs. I have a lot of RV miles under my belt, but I'm a novice with my new Winnebago Vista 32YE, learning more about it each weekend.

We plan to retire in a year and hit the road to be half timers. I'm currently pimping my RV to suit my needs, and my wife's. I just finished installing a 1KW inverter, now it's on to install the TPMS. I hope to learn a lot here, looks like a great forum. I will share what I learn of course, in case it might help others.

2019 looks to be a good year, looking forward to it.

Scooter · 01-05-2019, 11:18 PM

Thanks for joining. Not to be a downer, but....why only a 1000 watt inverter. And is it also a charger ?

D Gardiner · 01-05-2019, 11:23 PM

Welcome to the irv2.com group.
You chose a nice size rig that will fit many national parks.
I married a so-cal girl, so you are just fine here.

momdoc · 01-06-2019, 03:47 AM

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new coach.

You are joining a good group of folks here with good info to share.

Continue to enjoy the adventure.

ppilotmike · 01-06-2019, 04:34 AM

Nothing wrong with California, heck I lived in Palm Springs for 40 years. Lots of good info to be found here, enjoy. I like your "half timer" term I think I am going to use that. Mike

MSHappyCampers · 01-06-2019, 10:27 AM

Hi !

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Congrats on the new rig! Have fun and keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

ByeTheWay · 01-06-2019, 10:34 AM

Welcome!! Extra knowledge is always handy.

Old-Biscuit · 01-06-2019, 10:38 AM

Lived in So Cal for 30 yrs after NAVY .....Westminster, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Cerritos, Covina, Lake Elsinore, Apple Valley, Baldy Mesa.....going to college, raising family, working for SCE until retirement in 2003.
Then hit the road FT in 2007.....now back in S&B in Central AZ

So WELCOME!

Good group with some pretty good incite to RVng

Stop in often!

John Locke · 01-07-2019, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooter

Thanks for joining. Not to be a downer, but....why only a 1000 watt inverter. And is it also a charger ?

That's a good question.

One circuit is all we needed to light up to give us some power at the kitchen countertop, at the front passenger seat, the TV, and the two sockets at bedside. One circuit can only handle 1500W max, so going to the next level of 2000W wasn't very helpful. In addition, for what we need to power, 1000W is adequate. The toaster at 900W is the most we would need, and it's not that often that we'd be using the toaster on the inverter anyway. The other consideration is the batteries I have are limiting. Currently it's the stock setup from Winnebago, 2 X 12V batteries in parallel. When those go bad I'll switch to 2 X 6V T105 batteries in series. It is possible for my battery tray to hold 4 X T105 batteries, but I would have to move the starter battery up front near the oil filler to make enough room in the existing battery tray for 4 batteries. I might do that depending on how the 2 X T105 work for my 1000W inverter. I have a hunch I'll be fine with 2 of the T105, once I switch to that (likely in 2-3yrs). So basically I didn't need 2000W or higher, and it would have been too much for the current batteries, not to mention I didn't want to overload a 14GA circuit that's good for only 1500W. This 1000W will handle short surges up to 2000W, which is OK for 14GA wire. It shuts down if someone plugs too much into the circuit, but I haven't experienced that yet.

No, this isn't a battery charger also. My rig already has a 60A battery charger, so I didn't need another one. The Xantrex FreedomX inverter I bought has an option for an integrated charger, called Freedom XC, in case you are thinking of installing an inverter.

It's important to know this Xantrex inverter has bypass support. Many of the cheap inverters don't have this. The AC bypass support is essential for shore power AC to feed the circuit instead of the inverter doing it all the time, via battery. When the inverter senses a shore power connection, it shuts down the inverter and feeds the shore power to the circuit instead.