Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-10-2011, 06:33 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
Inverters are not very efficient at changing DC Battery power to AC power. My 500W inverter can draw 40 amps of DC power when providing the rated 500W output. It needs to be close to the 12V battery source so you do not get a lot of voltage drop.

I too wanted to power my TV and DVD player with my inverter, but hooking it up and putting away was a pain with battery cables and extension cords and also then having to deal with them strewn all over.

I knew the inverter had to be close to the batteries, so I mounted it in the front storage area and used short heavy 8 gauge cables to run to the 12V to the tongue area.

I did not know where or how to interface to the individual AC outlet by the TV, so I decided to power the entire circuit at the Fuse/CB Box/Converter. The 15A CB that powers the AC outlet by the TV also powers the one under the Dinette table, the two by the bed and the second TV outlet in the bedroom. That's good, but the issue is it ALSO powers the converter. The hard part was isolating the circuit from the converter which it tied in right at the Circuit Breaker. I removed the length of 14/2 romex from the back of the converter and ran a short length of 14/2 in its place into a switch box that I mounted under the sink.

The 3-way switch allows the current in normal mode (up) to be routed from the Shore Power (or Generator) to the utility circuit and when switched down it routes the power from the inverter to power the utility circuit.
The AC output is routed down through the floor and frame cross-members with rubber grommets and cable clamps. It then goes back up through the floor into the trailer by the Fuse/CB Box/Converter under the stove and into the switch box.

When dry camping, I can access the inverter to turn it on and off by lifting the bed or by reaching into the storage area outside. Then of course I flip the switch to the Inverter position.











22FB2010Tim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2011, 11:24 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
jamoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Phoenix AZ
Posts: 278
Nice mod, thanks for sharing.

Will the 30A fuse at the batteries need to be changed?
__________________
2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Big Horn 4x4
2011 Jayco Eagle Super Lite 30.5RLS
jamoke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2011, 11:36 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 414
Nice mod. You do great work!!!!

Thanks for sharing...
Spike99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2011, 07:53 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Merrimack NH
Posts: 917
Nice job Tim-- Does the inverter create any measurable heat ? Larry
__________________
Larry & Rachel Demers 2013 F150 Eco Boost Super Cab 6.5 bed 6 sp. 3.31 4x4 White Hawk 28DSBH
29BHS ECO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2011, 08:08 AM   #5
Moderator Emeritus
 
Rustic Eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
22FB2010Tim,

Nice write-up and clean installation. Sure did eliminate the need for dragging out the extension cords and such. You've peaked my curiosity......,

I'm looking at doing a similar mod, except installing a new 3-stage converter/charger (in lieu of the OEM 2-stage) in my pass through storage for the same reason, closer to my battery bank. The existing Jayco converter/charger is at the very rear of my TT, and being a 2-stage (not compatible with the IQ4) not very efficient in charging my deep cycle battery bank.

Couple questions:

Does the inverter emit any heat when in use? I've seen some guys but a little protective guard around electrical devices (solar chargers, inverters, etc.) in storage areas so they don't come in contact with stowed cargo. I'm thinking about a simple plastic coated wire frame guard around my new converter.

....and...,

Like yourself, I boondock often and always looking for ways to maintain myself off the grid. How often would you use your inverter during a typical camping trip (no shore power), and what do you use to re-charge your battery bank?

Thanks in advance,

Bob
__________________

2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
Rustic Eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2011, 12:34 PM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamoke View Post
Nice mod, thanks for sharing.

Will the 30A fuse at the batteries need to be changed?
The original 30A fuse needs to stay in the circuit to protect the factory installed harness which is 10 ga wire. In my case, I am only using a small percentage of the 500W inverter (about 100W) so i tapped into the existing feed after the fuse. If I were to go up to the max rating, I would run my 8 ga wires directly to the batteries and protect it with a separate 40A fuse.
22FB2010Tim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2011, 12:38 PM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by 19H F250 View Post
Nice job Tim-- Does the inverter create any measurable heat ? Larry
It has a cooling fan that automatically comes on when needed. Just running my TV and DVD player did not turn on the fan. If I started to load up the circuit with other 110V accesories, I'm sure it would kick on and put out some amount of heat.
22FB2010Tim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2011, 12:53 PM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle View Post
22FB2010Tim,

Nice write-up and clean installation. Sure did eliminate the need for dragging out the extension cords and such. You've peaked my curiosity......,

I'm looking at doing a similar mod, except installing a new 3-stage converter/charger (in lieu of the OEM 2-stage) in my pass through storage for the same reason, closer to my battery bank. The existing Jayco converter/charger is at the very rear of my TT, and being a 2-stage (not compatible with the IQ4) not very efficient in charging my deep cycle battery bank.

Couple questions:

Does the inverter emit any heat when in use? I've seen some guys but a little protective guard around electrical devices (solar chargers, inverters, etc.) in storage areas so they don't come in contact with stowed cargo. I'm thinking about a simple plastic coated wire frame guard around my new converter.

....and...,

Like yourself, I boondock often and always looking for ways to maintain myself off the grid. How often would you use your inverter during a typical camping trip (no shore power), and what do you use to re-charge your battery bank?

Thanks in advance,

Bob
As for heat, see above. The plastic coated wire cage sounds like a good idea. I would install one in my case to protect it from damage, but more important (on a higher output inverter), to ensure something doesn't accidentally get left touching it and chancing a fire.

Not sure about your mod moving your converter. On mine, it is integral with the CB/fusebox. That would be a lot of cable re-routing.

I use the TV in the evening to watch a movie. 1-3 hours max. I have two Honda 2000i Generators to power/recharge during whatever hours the Campsite I'm on allows. Usually it only takes a couple hours. I only run one generator unless I am running the AC or Microwave.
22FB2010Tim is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:49 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.