Finally put an inverter in.

gadgetman · September 17, 2012, 08:01 PM

Well I broke down and just went to Northern Tool and bought a 1550w inverter with a remote switch. I just got tired of all the choices and decided a 1500w was the most I could run due to the split battery banks and for the length of the cables for where the inverter had to be mounted. It is a 9 ft run full loop so 4.5 ft one way.

Seems to work ok. I just installed a inverter 110 plug in my cord box so I could plug the whole coach into the inverter. I will just manage the loads. Seems to run the coffee pot and the vaccum clearer just fine. The microwave works too but is noisier than shore power. The inverter says its using 1150 watts, but its a 1100 watt MW and it says it uses 1650w. Doubt I will use the MW a lot anyway.

Now I just have to find a place for the remote switch panel.

ClydesdaleKevin · September 18, 2012, 07:03 AM

Coincidently, that was one of my projects yesterday as well! I already have a Coleman 3000 watt inverter (1500 watt continuous, modified sine wave) that we've been using successfully for a couple of years now when boondocking.

We had been running extension cords from it to anything we wanted to use, but since I was working on the solar project anyway, I decided to wire it to an RV plug in our rear power/water compartment, right next to the genny plug. Works great!

I ran the cable from our power center under the dinette bench, down through the battery compartment under it, and then zip tied the cable to the drain line I installed for the washer/dryer, so getting the cable run neatly was a snap. I already had the RV plug and box from a former project, the cable was left over from the solar panel wire run, and the inverter came with the RV, so the project for once didn't cost a thing...lol!

We've been using this modified sine wave inverter for 2 years now, and haven't had any issues with equipment damage at all. Big Samsung flat screen LCD TV hanging on the bedroom wall doesn't seem to mind it, and we haven't gone through any more cheap DVD players than before, and it doesn't seem to have any problem with charging the phones and computers. Not sure what the fuss with true sine wave is all about...modified seems just fine with everything we use.

Not gonna bother with a remote switch since all I have to do to turn on the inverter is reach under the dinette bench and turn the inverter on directly.

Kev

LJ-TJ · September 18, 2012, 07:57 AM

Pictures where's the pictures? Hm?

ClydesdaleKevin · September 18, 2012, 08:55 AM

LOL! Pictures coming soon...too busy doing the projects to post the pics!

Kev

LJ-TJ · September 18, 2012, 09:46 AM

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But then you've never been short on words. :)rotflmao

gadgetman · September 18, 2012, 11:34 AM

Quote from: LJ-TJ on September 18, 2012, 07:57 AM
Pictures where's the pictures? Hm?

[smg id=4753]

[smg id=4754]

This is the control switch. The heat vents are not used anymore. The light behind it lets me see my water level and works as a night light.

My water gauge quit years ago so I cut that slot and put plexiglass behind it.

[smg id=4755]

ClydesdaleKevin · September 19, 2012, 06:31 AM

Looks good! Nice and neat wiring!

Kev

gadgetman · September 19, 2012, 10:59 AM

I ran some test today. The inverter seems to run everything just fine.

Hair dryer was the largest draw at 1350 watts on high. Coffee pot was 980 watts, Microwave was 1150 watts and noisy but works. It did take 2 min to heat large coffee mug of water to the point I couldnt drink it. Vacuum cleaner 600 watts

The large watts are a killer on the battery banks but most of those loads are pretty short term. Even a 1000 watts is 100 ah draw at the least. So thats 10 ah used up every 6 min.

I have a 340 ah battery bank so 10% of that is 34 ah. I can go down to 70% SOC 34 x 3 = 102ah. So 102ah is the most I should consume and need to be able to replace each day with the solar. Actually its more when you start counting the day usage which takes away from what the solar can replenish.

Now as long as this inverter lasts awhile I will be happy. It does have a 2 yr warranty.

ibdilbert01 · September 19, 2012, 04:34 PM

Great install!!! I always like reading both yours and Kevins post to see "what you guys do next!"

The only issues I've ever had running MSW Inverters is with microwaves. With my experience, they seem louder and they seem to take a bit longer to cook than if on a true sign wave. I've also had to buy a microwave for the RV every other year, not sure if its related or not, as I usually buy the cheapest microwave I can find.

I've also read that they are not as efficient with some devices causing them to pull more wattage than normal and they can cause appliances with motors to run a bit hot. I've also read where some small battery chargers burn up and stop working when on a MSW.

But that being said, I have not noticed any of the above. I've been running a continuous 3k cheapo vector for years, good luck so far.

gadgetman · September 19, 2012, 05:55 PM

Yes MSW and microwaves dont really like each other. I am sure it will shorten the MW life but not sure how much. Also some really cheap MSW do more and faster damage.

ClydesdaleKevin · September 20, 2012, 07:15 AM

Hmmmm...hope we don't fry our microwave on the inverter. Its the original from 1989 and still works great. Cheap enough if it does go though...pretty standard size Panasonic, not an expensive convection oven/microwave.

We only use the microwave to reheat stuff for a minute or two...we cook on the stove or on the grill most of the time.

Kev

gadgetman · September 20, 2012, 10:27 AM

Same here on the little use of the Microwave. What I like the most so far is being able to turn on a real 110v fan that isn't noisy.

ClydesdaleKevin · September 21, 2012, 07:33 AM

Yep...although our Fantastic vent fan is very quiet and moves a lot of air.

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · September 29, 2012, 06:40 AM

So we tested the hardwired inverter system last night...and it works great! Runs the TV and DVD player, the microwave, and even the Splendide washer/dryer...on wash only (didn't even want to try it on dryer mode...lol).

We ran the inverter nonstop from around 6pm last night until now...its still on...and the batteries are still reading 12.4 volts, which is around 80% of charge...SWEET! We purposefully left it on and weren't all that careful with lights to see how the 6 batteries would hold up to the inverter...and they are performing perfectly!

Granted, the converter is unplugged and the fridge is set to propane. But not bad at all!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · October 02, 2012, 05:28 AM

Oh yeah...about running the washer with the inverter. Since our inverter takes about 3 full seconds to power up completely, it confuses the heck out of the computer in the Splendide washer/dryer, even when its turned off. It powers on with no lights and you have to unplug it and plug it back in to reset it. Then its fine. We decided however to just unplug it before turning the inverter on, then plug it back in. Works just fine that way without confusing or damaging the computer.

Kev