Adding a small inverter
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14184
Printed Date: 14 May 2024 at 6:52am
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Topic: Adding a small inverter
Posted By: pedwards2932
Subject: Adding a small inverter
Date Posted: 04 Nov 2020 at 7:31pm
| I would like to add a small inverter on my rp189. Is there any 12 volt external source available or where is the best place to hook up. I only want a small 300 watt to run the TV. I don't want to have to run really large wiring if I can avoid it. |
Replies:
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 04 Nov 2020 at 10:20pm
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Isn't the converter behind the fuse/breaker panel? It is in my 180. You can tap 12V there and then feed the TV breaker from the inverter. Maybe run 12" of wire? ------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 6:23am
| If you do that will there be any problem when you are running on 120 AC. It would have both inputs at the same time. Would I need a switch to turn off the inverter? |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 7:36am
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Don't mess with the breaker panel. If you want to put in a permanently installed inverter then put in a receptacle for it. Use a different colored receptacle and face plate so you don't get them mixed up. A 300 watt inverter will require about 30 amps at 12V so you would need to run a minimum of 10 awg wire to it. And be sure that there is a 30A fuse on your new 12V line to protect that wire. But why permanently install the inverter? You can install a 12V power port, aka cigarette lighter port, and plug the little inverter into that as needed. If you get a 12V port with a couple of usb ports next to it you can charge your portable electronics that way too. Also consider swapping the TV out for a dual voltage one. That's what I did, they're not expensive. Bolts right up to the same mount and will come with a 12V plug and a 120V one, so you can leave it plugged into both supplies and it will automatically switch to 120V if that's available. Much more efficient than running from an inverter. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 7:50am
| That is what I was originally thinking was installing a 12v power port. There is a usb charge port that I could pull the wire from or the slide out control? I suspect the usb port doesn't have the wiring/fuse for it. I could pull the power off the backside of the panel and use an inline fuse. I don't anticipate using this a lot just on quick lay over stops. I didn't want to change out the TV just yet but adding a 12 volt plug would give me the option. |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 8:44am
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Not sure where everything is located in the 189. I tapped the supply for the stereo for my 12V port because its within a foot of the TV. That is already on a 10-15A fuse IIRC, so the port and wire is protected but would not support full output from a 300 watt inverter, more like 100 watts max. I have a 300 watt inverter I've used a couple of times in my port but just to charge a laptop, much less than 300 watts. The TV uses much less than 300 watts as well so its wouldn't be a problem, but if you want to use more power from the inverter then you'll either need to tap a circuit with a bigger fuse or add a new circuit and fuse. Just be sure wherever you tap that there is an appropriate fuse protecting the circuit and the fuse is upstream from where you tap. You don't have to add a fuse if there is already one in the panel and you use the appropriate wire gauge. 15A for 14 gauge, 20A for 12 gauge, 30A for 10 gauge. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 4:14pm
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I found this: http://www.amazon.com/Magnadyne-Black-Mount-Charging-Outlet/dp/B0814BT629/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=rv+wall+mount+12v+supply&sr=8-4 - https://www.amazon.com/Magnadyne-Black-Mount-Charging-Outlet/dp/B0814BT629/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=rv+wall+mount+12v+supply&sr=8-4 I have a usb outlet I could wire this in the same spot. Only issue I see is the rate the 12v at lower wattage....I suspect because of the wire size they send. It could handle 150 watts which is enough to power the TV. I could use larger wire and probably get more wattage.
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 5:05pm
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I saw a comment that it is rated for 120W which would be 10A. That should be fine for the TV. If it is 120W rated then put it on a 10A fuse and call it good, don't try to feed it more current than its rated for. The only drawback I see is the LED parasitic loss. Unfortunately you seem to rarely find one of these without the LED anymore, mine has one too. Its a tiny load but you would still want to disconnect the battery or leave it on charge while in storage. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 5:50pm
| I have a battery switch for complete disconnect of the 12 volt. I installed it to avoid discharge. |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 6:57pm
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If you are digging around in the cabinet with the converter, you can tap into the 10ga line that feeds the 12vdc heating element of the fridge. On mine this wire bypasses the converter, is orange, and is fed thru a self-resetting circuit breaker mounted to the floor inside the cabinet. You will not likely be using the 12v power for the fridge at the same time you are powering your television and inverter...it will need to be one or the other.
------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 9:14pm
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I connected our 750 watt inverter directly to the battery(with an appropriate fuse in between) with large diameter wiring. There is an inline switch that turns it off completely so there is no parasitic drain. the inverter has 2 standard 120v output outlets. I connected each one to double outlet capable of 120v. The inverter switch and inverter outlet plates are brown while all other standard plates are white. That way, there is no confusion as to which outlets are connected to the inverter. We use it primarily to recharge phones, computers, batteries,etc. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2020 at 9:43pm
| I want the inverter right where the TV is and I already have a USB charge port so it will be easy to change over to add the 12 volt recepticle. If I put it at the battery it is all the way at the front of rpod. |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2020 at 8:27am
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In our 179, I installed the inverter under the bed and next to the water heater. From there, I used 12/2 electrical wire to a newly installed outlet that is next to the tv. the other newly installed outlet is under the couch , readily available for recharging devices. The outlets are not located where the inverter is located. Here is a picture-note that the brown outlet is the inverter outlet https://postimg.cc/G85nkJhk">  here is the inverter located under the bed platform https://postimg.cc/n9KQvjH1">  here is the switch for the inverter and the second inverter outlet-again, note that both are brown https://postimg.cc/zVqVtqJ3">  hope this helps Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
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Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2020 at 4:17pm
| I got my inverter and plug unit in. It looks like it has 16 gauge wiring. The factory wiring for the USB plugs looks more like 18 guage. I think I will try to run new wiring so it is 16 gauge the whole way. How hard is it to fish a line down to the converter? |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2020 at 5:58pm
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16 awg is only good for 13 amps. So that's 150 watts dc, about 120 watts ac taking inverter efficiency into account. 18 is only good for 10A so 120w dc, around 100 w ac. That's a little borderline but should be enough for the TV. I'd suggest running heavier gauge wire like maybe 12 gauge as long if you're pulling wire anyway, then you'd have better capacity if you ever needed it. You could try using the existing 18 awg to pull the new wire back with.
------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2020 at 6:36pm
Well I got it done today. When I pulled the wires for the old USB plug I found they were attached to some 12 guage wires. I wired up the new usb/12volt plug unit. I had to cut the panel a bit for it to fit...used oscillating saw made quick work of it. Tested with the inverter and TV works fine. I think it came out pretty nice.    |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2020 at 6:53pm
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Looks good. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: JA-Pod
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2020 at 11:18am
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Hi Vann, like your setup with the TV lowered, for the mounting bracket is there solid wood behind the wall in this area or did you have to go through the closet and add additional support? Also your shelf and the support across the side wall how did you mount this, into the AL support behind the wall? thanks john ------------- John & Allison R-Pod 179 (2017) Nissan Frontier SL V6 4.0 (2019) |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2020 at 8:56am
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John- I got your private email befor I looked at the Forum. I answered your questions in the private email Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
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Posted By: SailorDude
Date Posted: 31 Dec 2020 at 10:51pm
| I'm looking to do the same thing but I'm looking for a 12 volt plug that has 2 usb ports as well as a voltage display for the battery. Any recommendations on what plug I should use to upgrade the normal 2 usb port plug in an RPOD to have a 12 volt, 2 usb and a battery voltage display. I have a RPOD 176. |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2021 at 7:22am
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They have several voltmeters that will plug into the 12 volt plug.....that is what I am getting for my set up. https://www.amazon.com/Jebsens-Charger-Battery-Monitor-Voltage/dp/B01N00I4TM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&hvadid=78065458992181&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=12+volt+plug+in+voltage+meter&qid=1609507309&sr=8-1-spons&tag=mh0b-20&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExTU9VSFpOSDVPREpRJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzExNjA1SUJCWVBGRUpJN1dTJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTEwNDM0NzY0UThIR0FJNlNTV1omd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl - Amazon.com: Jebsens 4.8A 24W Dual USB Car Charger Volt Meter Car Battery Monitor with LED Voltage & Amps Display, for iPhone 7 / 6s / Plus, iPad Pro/Air 2 / Mini, Galaxy S7 / S6 / Edge/Plus, Note 5/4
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2021 at 7:23am
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Multiple options on Amazon. Here’s one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08GY7TMQH/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A37ME1V6AVKFWE Getting one with a switch is probably a good idea to keep parasitic losses down. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2021 at 11:27am
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I found this article it has some interesting info on inverter draw and using inverter to power a TV.....it was helpful to me since I was a bit concerned how much draw I was going to get running my TV on an inverter. Sorry had to pull link as it was giving a suspicious warning
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2021 at 9:07pm
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2021 at 10:14pm
| Wow....sorry about that it didn't have anything but some test information on running an inverter and TVs. I was able to edit my post to remove the link.....you may want to remove the link from your post. Weird the information was pretty useful.....site seemed harmless. |