Community Forums

Ron and Marsha · 12-07-2012, 01:09 PM

Does the modified sine output of inverters, Xantrex, work with the infrared heaters so popular today?
I have posed this question to the manufacturer but yet to receive a reply.
Have others tried using these heaters on their inverter?
Thanks in advance.

wa8yxm · 12-07-2012, 03:57 PM

All resistive heaters (INDLUCING Infra Red) work absolutly normally with MSW inverters,, Fans may be a bit slower but likely not so much as you'd notice.

That said. these pupplies burn major amp hours,, You'd need a whole lot of battery to power an inverter running one of those.. I would suggest the propane furnace is way way way more efficient at providing heat, Inverter power is clearly counter indicated for heaters.

But they will work.

Shadowcatche · 12-07-2012, 04:31 PM

I will second wa8yxm a small IR heater will pull in excess of 120A

Dutch Star Don · 12-07-2012, 08:36 PM

Ron....not sure what you're asking. Are you asking if you can use your inverter to power your heater or are you asking if it's okay to run heaters through your inverter when connected to shore power?

Running your heater(s) from your inverter (batteries) , would wipe out your batteries in less than an hour or so.

There is a discussion going on here somewhere about running heaters in your coach on outlets that go through the inverter. The majority of your outlets are powered by your inverter. Even when connected to shore power, the power still goes through your inverter via a bypass. Excessive use of heaters that are plugged into inverted outlets (even though you're connected to shore power) is hard on the inverter relays.

If you disconnect from shore power and turn on your inverter, you can take a tester or just a lamp and plug it into all of your outlets and see which ones work. If they work, mark them with a Sharpie (a dot). The ones that don't work are only powered by shore power. These are the ones you should plug heaters into.

BigSkyBob · 12-07-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowcatche

I will second wa8yxm a small IR heater will pull in excess of 120A

Wouldn't run very long on a 20 amp breaker.

bluepill · 12-07-2012, 09:26 PM

FWIW, you might use a 1350 watt 120 volt electric heater being powered by the inverter while driving. A 175 amp alternator puts out 2450 watts at 14 volts, so it could easily run the normal 12 volt loads in addition to the inverter.

Tony Lee · 12-07-2012, 09:51 PM

If these heaters have electronic modules (remote controls and the like) then it is quite possible the electronics will not work correctly when supplied from a Modified SQUARE Wave inverter.

Ron and Marsha · 12-07-2012, 10:05 PM

Thanks for quick replies. Running the furnace does make more sense after thinking about the issue.
I did pose the same question to the tech division of the manufacturer and the reply said it is not recommended to use either generator or inverter. Interesting response that raises other issues.

SCVJeff · 12-07-2012, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigSkyBob

Wouldn't run very long on a 20 amp breaker.

Don't confuse 110V with 12V currents. That's the DC draw on the battery. And not for long.

TXiceman · 12-08-2012, 08:42 AM

1500 Watts of draw on 120 volts is a lot difference than 12 volts. It translates to a lot of amps and a lot of battery to get any life out of the batteries.

Ken