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shroomer View Drop Down
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    Posted: 01 Jul 2016 at 10:10pm
There's a 12v circuit that powers the lights and antenna amplifier. I used that circuit. It seems adequate, although our CPAP doesn't use a heater.  I don't understand the question about the ground however.
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JoDa View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2016 at 6:31pm
Originally posted by shroomer

Let's go back to the CPAP machine since that's your primary need. Look at the AC adapter it has and see what the output of it is. On ours it was 12v DC. It only required a straight plug into a DC outlet which I installed in our "entertainment center" over the bed. Many of these medical devices run natively on some form of DC so they can have battery backup. Before you convert DC to AC and back to DC, check the power requirements.

For your DC plug, did you draw the 12 V power from the entertainment power? Did you also use the asme ground as well?
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shroomer View Drop Down
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Posts: 236 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2016 at 2:20pm
Let's go back to the CPAP machine since that's your primary need. Look at the AC adapter it has and see what the output of it is. On ours it was 12v DC. It only required a straight plug into a DC outlet which I installed in our "entertainment center" over the bed. Many of these medical devices run natively on some form of DC so they can have battery backup. Before you convert DC to AC and back to DC, check the power requirements.
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2016 at 10:13am
Originally posted by JoDa

Thanks.

On the back of the inverter it states;

Input: 13.2V DC, 45.5 A max
Output: 115 V AC, 60 Hz
USB Output 5V, 2.1 A
600W/4.2A continuous
Neutral Floating

It does state on a warning label on the 12V male end, not to use with electrical Appliance that draws more than 100 W, as the current could blow the internal fuse in the inverter.

Odd that it is rated for 600 W with this statement however. Other than cell phones, iPads and the CPap unit I don't plan on using it for any other appliances.

Saying that I wonder how much the Jensen TV draws power wise? I have a 2015 RPod 177

All that makes sense. The unit is limited to 100W by the 12V cigarette plug. There should be some other terminals to be used for higher power. BTW, even though the label says 45.5A at 13.2, the current will increase as the input voltage drops. A 12V battery, not being charged, will read 12.0-12.7 volts and the 600W input current will go above 50A. There should be a label on the Jensen, but it should be 100W or less. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2016 at 5:42am
Originally posted by JoDa

It does state on a warning label on the 12V male end, not to use with electrical Appliance that draws more than 100 W, as the current could blow the internal fuse in the inverter.
Odd that it is rated for 600 W with this statement however. Other than cell phones, iPads and the CPap unit I don't plan on using it for any other appliances.
Saying that I wonder how much the Jensen TV draws power wise? I have a 2015 RPod 177


If the "male end" is a cigarette lighter type plug, that is why. I have not encountered many of this type that I would want to pull a lot of amperage through. 100 watts at 120vac would be about 1 amp. This would require (roughly) 10 amps at 12vdc into the inverter.

I can't speak regarding your Jensen TV. I have an older Emerson 19" LCD TV and it uses 55 watts.
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jul 2016 at 12:18am
Thanks.

On the back of the inverter it states;

Input: 13.2V DC, 45.5 A max
Output: 115 V AC, 60 Hz
USB Output 5V, 2.1 A
600W/4.2A continuous
Neutral Floating

It does state on a warning label on the 12V male end, not to use with electrical Appliance that draws more than 100 W, as the current could blow the internal fuse in the inverter.

Odd that it is rated for 600 W with this statement however. Other than cell phones, iPads and the CPap unit I don't plan on using it for any other appliances.

Saying that I wonder how much the Jensen TV draws power wise? I have a 2015 RPod 177
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WillThrill View Drop Down
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Posts: 298 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2016 at 11:38pm
Most coffee makers draw 1,000-1,500 watts, so you would need a large inverter to power it (the generator doesn't have a chance), and even then three pots of coffee would drain a single marine battery.
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2016 at 11:38pm
Originally posted by JoDa

Maybe I am missing something here, the inverter plugs into the 12v socket (yet to be installed)...but like all power, won't it supply just the power required, by the accessory plugged into it?

The Inverter I have is the type that plugs into a 12v socket.

The question that I still have is where do I draw the 12V power from and what would be a good area to do this with a decent ground?


You are correct that the inverter will draw what power it is required to deliver plus some efficiency loss and some overhead for control circuitry. Therefore a 90W load will cause it to draw about 100W or 8.33A at 12V. That kind of draw  can be accommodated by 12V cigarette lighter type socket. It should be wired with #12AWG or larger wire and connected to an unused fuse position on the power panel. The ground is available on a ground bus strip behind the power panel. The correct bus has bare wires on it and has no white wires. I still question the 600W inverter that plugs in to a 12V socket. Those sockets are typically rated no higher than 15A.
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2016 at 11:17pm
Maybe I am missing something here, the inverter plugs into the 12v socket (yet to be installed)...but like all power, won't it supply just the power required, by the accessory plugged into it?

The real reason I am installing it is because the Wife uses a CPap unit at night, and without it, the campsite might think there is a bear roaming around...lol. The AC adapter on the CPap unit states 90W, so I am thinking that by installing the 12V plug, then plugging the 600W inverter to this, this should be fine with minimal draw on my two 6V batteries and between my small generator and the built in solar charger this should be fine for topping up the batteries in the morning?
K
The Inverter I have is the type that plugs into a 12v socket.

The question that I still have is where do I draw the 12V power from and what would be a good area to do this with a decent ground?
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2016 at 9:12pm
A 600 watt inverter sounds fine. Install directly to the incoming 12 VDC power cables using a fuse or breaker. It won't use 50 amps unless you use all 600 watts. It will have a slightly higher standby power draw because of it's size. 

 I turn my inverter on to charge my phone (evening), kindle (rarely), and run the 22W max LED TV (almost never). I installed a small shelf next to the power converter panel under the dinette bench, saw cut a square hole so the inverter face could just stick out. I just reach in and turn the power switch on when I want to use it.
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