RE: Keeping the inverter dry

[garym053]

 
Hi! Spring is 3 weeks away! (According to the calendar!) I am working on my Battery and Inverter to run my CPAP machine while dry camping, which is the way we camp 90% o the time. The inverter is going to be mounted to a board that I am debating whether to place INSIDE the camper or OUTSIDE under the bunk end.
 What s your opinion? Will an inverter stay dry enough outside under a bunk end? Or am I better off having it inside and running a wire out to the battery? By the way, by choice, this is going to be separate from the PU 12V system! don t want to lose air to my mask when the furnace kicks on! As always, thanks for your help!

[Tim5055]

 garym053
Gary,
 
 This may be a little late in the game to suggest this, but I will anyway.  
 
 Thinking that most electronic devices are really based on 12v DC, not 110v AC I thought maybe it might be better to convert your machine to 12v rather than using an inverter.
 
 Electrically, every time you convert/invert you there is electrical loss (no conversion/inversion is 100%).
 
 So, I did a little web surfing and found this web page.
 
 [link=http://www.btinternet.com/~kemp.paul/12vcpap.html]Conversion of a DeVilbiss Horizon LT 7357 CPAP to 12 Volt operation[/link]
 
 While you may have a different model, it is possible yours could be converted also.
 
 Just a thought.  Good luck either way.
 
 Oh, and if you stick with plan A, I vote to keep the inverter inside and run a wire outside.

[tlhdoc]

 garym053
I would keep the inverter inside.  They are not made to be used outside.

[garym053]

 garym053
Thanks for the info and advice!
 RE: converting CPAP to 12V; I may do that if I get a spare CPAP or buy one with the 12V circuit in place, as there are dual voltage CPAP s 12v & 110v available.
 
 I think my worries about the inverter being INSIDE are unfounded, (worried about noise) as it makes no more noise than the CPAP does! I think if I put some foam between it and the board I m mounting it on, it will quiet it even more!
 
 Thanks again!

[mike4947]

 garym053
One note, like any transformer an inverter generate a certain amount of heat. You might want to run it for a while to see if you need to keep things clear of the unit.

[topcat7736]

 garym053
I cast my vote for keeping it outside. Inverters are noisy & foam doesn t help. You can keep it, and the battery, on the tongue of the trailer & (if necessary) make or purchase a skirt for the bunkend to keep everything dry. Use a heavier than needed extension cord & run it through the tenting to access the power. We do this all the time when dry camping.

[garym053]

 garym053
I m not sure the inverter makes any more noise than the CPAP does!!! Since the use of this machine (or lack of use!) can be life threatening, I have decided it makes sense to try to make it work inside! Under other circumstances I would probably agree and try it outside to cut down on the noise in the camper.
 Thanks for the reply!