Inverter/Converter

[Herbie]

I have a 1996 Colman Shenandoah, it has a Converter built in.  I bought a 1500W Inverter.  How would I wire this in, so that when I dry camp I can still run 120V appliances?

[flyfisherman]

I have a 1996 Colman Shenandoah, it has a Converter built in.  I bought a 1500W Inverter.  How would I wire this in, so that when I dry camp I can still run 120V appliances?

Herb ~ that might not be too good an idea. Sounds like a sure way to drain some batteries dead in short order!  Think you would do better thinking more  along gasoline powered generators.


Fly

[ScoobyDoo]

Hook the (+) post on batt to (+) input.Hook the (-) post on batt to (-) input. Plug in the microwave, watch te lites go out.

[LimeJeeeep]

on the same note .i have a 96 laredo (C/F) W/magnetek 6606 inverter where can i get info?.......thanks

[wavery]

I have a 1996 Colman Shenandoah, it has a Converter built in.  I bought a 1500W Inverter.  How would I wire this in, so that when I dry camp I can still run 120V appliances?

Hi Herbie,

I have a 2500 inverter on my trailer. It works great. I run a 110v outside florescent lamp for hours....We also run our microwave and coffee pot with it.

The thing is, it's best if you have (at least) 2- 29 series batteries. Install the inverter as close to the batteries as possible and run a battery cable from the positive side of the battery to the pos side of the inverter. Run a neg battery cable to the neg side. I used "00" size battery cable. With a 1500w, you could get away with a #2 battery cable (no longer than 6 ft).

I mounted mine under my bunk platform, just above the batteries and used a 3' long cable. See my webshots pics below, click on "Inverter Mod".

If I'm camping longer than a weekend, I have to recharge my batteries. I use my inverter during "Quiet time" and my generator during the day if I want to use 110v. I've never had a problem with running the batteries down but I use a little common sense. If you run your microwave for 30 minutes at a time, you may have a problem. If you have only 1 battery, you will have a problem for sure.

[wynot]

Herb ~ that might not be too good an idea. Sounds like a sure way to drain some batteries dead in short order! Think you would do better thinking more along gasoline powered generators.
 
 
Fly

Nah Fly - Plug a battery charger into the inverter...:p Charge it up while you drain it down...

[sentence]

You might try one of those power boxes that you charge at home and it supplies 2-4, 110 outlets, you can also trickle charge it with a solar pannel. I think that's the easiest and most economical way to go

[Herbie]

I have a 1996 Colman Shenandoah, it has a Converter built in.  I bought a 1500W Inverter.  How would I wire this in, so that when I dry camp I can still run 120V appliances?

22 Mar 2007 at 10:29 AM
Thanks all for your various inputs, but let me get more specific.

I have a brand new series 29 battery and a not so new series 27.  I don

[wavery]

22 Mar 2007 at 10:29 AM
Thanks all for your various inputs, but let me get more specific.

I have a brand new series 29 battery and a not so new series 27.  I don

[ccarr113]

I don't use an inverter at all and we don't do any "dry camping", but it seems to me that if you plug your main cord(with an adaptor if required) into the inverter it should energize your outlets and the converter so you overhead lights will work.  Just like if you plugged in at home.

[wavery]

I don't use an inverter at all and we don't do any "dry camping", but it seems to me that if you plug your main cord(with an adaptor if required) into the inverter it should energize your outlets and the converter so you overhead lights will work.  Just like if you plugged in at home.

Yes...it would energize the outlets but it would also energize the converter. Then all of you 12v would run off of the inverter as well. Besides, I get the impression that he wants to mount the inverter inside the PU (I may be wrong about that). If that's the case, running that big black cord from the outside to the inside would be worse than just plugging a power strip into the inverter (like I do) and plugging the appliance, that you want to use, into the power strip.

[ccarr113]

Personally what I would do is find a temporary mounting sight outside (under a bunk end like you do maybe).  Like "this week we need it, next week we don't" kind of thing.  It would be out of sight, protected from the elements, and get plenty of air, then just plug the shore cord in.  That way you wouldn't have to splice into your wiring or anything.

[AustinBoston]

I understand what you want to do now (I think) and you may find it difficult on your PU.

I had my boat wired so that the inverter powered all of my 110v outlets but it was a big boat and I had ample space in the engine room. The problem on the PU is ....where to put the inverter???

The inverter needs lots of air flow or it will quickly over-heat. They generate quite a bit of heat during operation. That is why I mounted mine on the outside, under the bunk (as in my pics).

I considered doing what you are doing but the inverter would take up too much space, out in the open, inside the PU and would be an eye-sore (IMO).

If you want to wire the inverter in, just run the appropriate size battery cable for the length that you want to run. If your going to have a 12' run of battery cable you may want to consider #1 cable.

To wire the 110v into your outlets, you could take an extension cord (it doesn't have to be HD) and cut the outlet end off. Plug the plug into the inverter and splice the other end of the cord into the back of any outlet.

 :yikes:  :yikes:  :yikes:

Whoa there!  It's not unusual for hundreds of people to read these threads, even though only a handful comment.  We don't know what idiot may read that...This suggestion results in a plug laying around the pop-up with exposed 120V on the prongs whenever the camper is plugged in.  If the extension cord is left plugged into the inverter when the PUP is plugged in, I have little doubt it would be a recipie for a fried inverter.

You could even put a plug on the other end of the ext cord and plug it into an outlet.

Now there's a novel idea - build a cable that has a plug on each end.  "What happens if I start to coil this up before unplugging both...ZAP!"

You will want to mount the inverter so that you can get to the switch. The inverter has an internal fan and you only want that to run while the inverter is in use.

That's a wise decision not to wire the old battery with the new one. Often times, an old battery will shorten the life of the new one when wired together. However, using an inverter with a single battery may prove challenging. It may cause excessive heat and a shortened life of the battery.

And live exposed 120V can shorten the life of campers...

Austin

[wavery]

:yikes:  :yikes:  :yikes:

Whoa there!  It's not unusual for hundreds of people to read these threads, even though only a handful comment.  We don't know what idiot may read that...This suggestion results in a plug laying around the pop-up with exposed 120V on the prongs whenever the camper is plugged in.  If the extension cord is left plugged into the inverter when the PUP is plugged in, I have little doubt it would be a recipie for a fried inverter.



Now there's a novel idea - build a cable that has a plug on each end.  "What happens if I start to coil this up before unplugging both...ZAP!"



And live exposed 120V can shorten the life of campers...

Austin

Good point.......it would be better to wire it to the back of an outlet.


---------------------------------------------------------
Quote:
If the extension cord is left plugged into the inverter when the PUP is plugged in, I have little doubt it would be a recipie for a fried inverter.
----------------------------------------------------------

I have wired several inverters in-line. The shore power being plugged in hasn't effected the ones that I have installed. You might want to check with the manufacturer of your particular inverter.

[mike4947]

That works. BUT then the converter tries to charge the battery using the inverter to power itself. You end up using a lot of power in just the losses in the converter and inverter.

Since you intend to just use low powered items a better solution is a small inverter (the larger the inverter the more idle draw amps it uses) and plug in the chargers dirctly into the inverter. You don't want the inverter on when you don't need it. Just like with phantom draws the inverter as long as it is turned on will draw amps.