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dherman201 View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Jun 2016
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Posts: 23 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: installing Inverter
    Posted: 16 Jun 2016 at 3:13pm
Hi All
I've just received my Zamp 200 watt portable solar panel and it is working great.  My next step is installing an inverter.  I found this great u-tube video on inverter installations by Love my RV. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV2xJiHSbfU

He's got quite a few really nice videos.  I even subscribed... my first U-tube subscription. Basically he shows the installation of the inverter as battery to fuse to inverter (as close as possible to the battery) and then he connects a wire with Plug to newly installed outlet in the cabin.  He uses a red cover plate to designate it is the inverter outlet.  Seems like a very clean installation.

Anyway I need to install the inverter very close to the battery, and the forward storage compartment seems like the likely placement.  I'll put the plug in the dinette base cabinet.  I just assumed I would find an entry point for the other wires from the battery there but after examining the underneath it appears the entry point is much further back in the trailer. I have the 178 model.  It is real important that the cable is as short as possible from battery to inverter.  So I need to make a hole in the floor of the trailer, which is a little concerning.  It appears the floor of the forward compartment is two pieces of plywood with some space between.

I'm looking for confirmation of that and any advice for creating this hole and waterproofing it.  Also any feedback regarding if am I on the right track for this mod.

I do have one other question.  I've not purchased the inverter yet.   My thought was to go ahead and get the 1500 or 2000 watt inverter.  I run 2 deep cycle 6 volt batteries and have the 200 watt solar panel.  I know I will almost never need 1500 watts and don't currently have a huge battery bank, but I figure at some point I may just want to plug in my espresso machine or something. I'll also have the grandkid with me this summer so little TV would be nice.   So what I'm wondering is this, is there any negative to having the larger inverter, (except cost).  Will it draw more power than a smaller inverter.  My understanding is that the inverter only uses the power required for what is plugged into it so the 1500w should not necessarily use more energy than a 300 w.  I'm I correct on this?

Thanks so much for any feedback before I start this.
Deb
R-Pod 178 (Lilly)
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jun 2016 at 3:32pm

Personally, I would go with a much smaller inverter. Running 1500-2000 watts thru an inverter will drain your batteries in minutes. Without pulling out my calculator, 1500 watts at 120 VAC will pull about 12 amps. At 12vdc, the batteries will have to supply about 10 times this (120 amps - serious drain).

There are times when a generator is the right tool for the job.

Here is my inverter (it is much larger than I need):

David's inverter

If you go to the Samlex site, there is a link to some good info about the subject.

Inverter info
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TheBum View Drop Down
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jun 2016 at 3:59pm
We're running a 400W inverter and that's even overkill for most things.

Meanwell 400W True Sine Wave Inverter

It's mounted in the dead space behind the TV and stereo in our 179. I used 8AWG wire to connect it to the fuse panel, which was really one size too big, but I managed to jam it in the fuse panel slot anyway by trimming off some outer strands. It's plenty big to provide power to the inverter without much loss.
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dherman201 View Drop Down
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Posts: 23 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2016 at 11:37am
Appreciate the feedback. Thought I might be on the wrong track and looks like I was. I guess I'm going to have to master the Aero Press for my lattes. 

So it is okay then to install an inverter from the fuse panel rather than direct from the battery. Nice!  I was concerned about all the warnings to install within 2 feet of the battery. The panel would sure be cleaner since it is right near the tv and where we would probably want to charge portable electronics. 

So that leaves  the TV DVD (we have the one that comes with the 178 still)and charging phones and laptops that are the main usage of the our inverter.  So sounds like 300-400 is plenty. And sounds like possibly moving to a 12volt DC TV might be a good idea. 

Any advice on that install. TheBum says 8AWG wire ....is that stranded or not   Direct connect from panel to inverter?  
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sailor323 View Drop Down
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Posts: 281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2016 at 12:25pm
We have a small, plug in 350 watt inverter.  It's more than adequate to run small appliances like mini processors, hand mixers, etc.
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TheBum View Drop Down
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2016 at 12:56pm
If I had to do it again based on what I know now, I would have used 10AWG wire. Stranded is easier to deal with because of its flexibility.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2016 at 6:40pm

If I were starting over, from scratch, I'd buy a 12vdc television and install one of these for device charging:

power panel

It would be more efficient/battery friendly than using an inverter.

8 or 10 ga. wire should suffice and stranded is easier to work with. DC voltage drops quickly over distance so, keep the wire runs as short as you can.
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6428 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jun 2016 at 8:00pm
I bought one of those but then swapped the meter out for a second power socket. This is mounted on side of the bed and is used to power my CPAP machine, a 12V fan, and to charge our cell phones. I mounted the meter separately next to the idiot light display with a dedicated line for accuracy. I still want to mount another 12V socket elsewhere, but I haven't quite decided where yet.
StephenH
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bjk View Drop Down
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Posts: 65 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2016 at 12:11am
I picked up one of those and was thinking of doing the same thing (mounting it by/under the bed).   

I found I kept putting my phone on the kitchen counter to charge, so I thought I might put the USB/12V combo there by the outlet close to the door as well.   My only wonder is how to run the wires (under and back up to the inverter?)
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sailor323 View Drop Down
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Posts: 281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2016 at 7:15am
Originally posted by bjk

I picked up one of those and was thinking of doing the same thing (mounting it by/under the bed).   

I found I kept putting my phone on the kitchen counter to charge, so I thought I might put the USB/12V combo there by the outlet close to the door as well.   My only wonder is how to run the wires (under and back up to the inverter?)


You can use the hole in the floor behind the distribution panel to take wires down.  The hole is filled with foam but you can easily punch through with a screw driver.  Then, you can come back up through the floor under the cabinetry.  That's what I did to put 12V plugs in the galley.
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