Community Forums

karaokegal · 08-05-2009, 03:32 PM

some nice people here helped me with another problem so i will ask about something that i always was confused about. my first MC did not have a inverter, so when i bought my 2006 HR imperial i didn't really know what to do with an inverter. i have learned that i can turn it on while my husband is driving and i can use the microwave. now this HR MC has had a lot of battery problems since it was purchased and now i have replaced both my house and engine batteries to glass mat batteries. i have changed my computer settings to agm batteries and so far all is good. question is; when i am in storage i am currently plugged into 50 amp power but it may be that i will be storing using only 110 electrical plug. when i have the inverter on , the light remains off until i need the extra power then it comes on. should i leave the inverter on while plugged in? also if i were storing without any electricity is the inverter on or off. i thought that i read some place that the inverter will kick on if the battery charge is getting low in order to keep the batteries from dying, is this so? thanks

DandS · 08-05-2009, 08:02 PM

An inverter converts 12 volt DC current to 110 volt AC current. If you are plugged in to 110 AC in storage, there would be no reason to have your inverter on. In fact, it might be a detriment since it could put an unwanted drain on your 12 volt batteries. The inverter's main function is to provide 110 ac power when you are not plugged in. I think you are confusing an inverter's function with that of a converter, which charges your batteries as needed converting 110 ac to 12 volt dc current.

Jim Stewart · 08-05-2009, 08:13 PM

D & S, isn't the inverter/converter/charger all the same unit. I do not understand electricity other than to know not to stick a pin in a socket, do not ask how I know that. If you turn off the inverter does't it also turn off the charger and the batteries would not get charged. Or, are they seperate and operate and are powered independently?

Help me out!

Jim

DandS · 08-05-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Stewart

D & S, isn't the inverter/converter/charger all the same unit. I do not understand electricity other than to know not to stick a pin in a socket, do not ask how I know that. If you turn off the inverter does't it also turn off the charger and the batteries would not get charged. Or, are they seperate and operate and are powered independently?

Help me out!

Jim

It could be. Some motorhomes have a separate converter and inverter. Others may have a combination unit such as the Xantrex RS2000 Inverter/Charger for example. The functions are still the same as what I already described but there is an automatic switch over between shore power and inverter power for 110 volt needs with the combination unit. The charging function is still dependant on 110 volt input.

Sixpack98 · 08-05-2009, 08:55 PM

Our inverter/converter (Magnum) allows you to turn off the inverter or converter separately. When in storage I connect to 120 v ac and turn the inverter off. It's not needed. Don't know if that is good or bad but since I don't need the inverter why leave it on?

RV Wizard · 08-06-2009, 02:27 AM

If you have an inverter with charger and can turn off the charging section, you would leave that part on. If you have a refrigerator/freezer in a compartment that is plugged into a receptacle and running with items inside you may elect to keep the inverter on. If a power grid power failure happens the inverter will kick in and supply power to the receptacle feeding the ref/freezer combo. Hopefully the power will only be off for a short time and when back on the batteries will be recharged. Some may want to minimize the charger to not pull to many amps if batteries are pretty low. A 2000 watt inverter on four 6 volt batteries can pull as much as 11 amps by itself. IF you are plugged into a 30 or 50 amp service this is not an issue. If you are plugged into a 15 or 20 amp receptacle, it could very well be an issue under the right circumstances. There is no one answer to this question as there are so many different type and sizes of inverters an/or chargers and to the power one may have available.