Upgrade converter to inverter/charger
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15606
Printed Date: 16 May 2024 at 5:51am
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Topic: Upgrade converter to inverter/charger
Posted By: FreeRangePod
Subject: Upgrade converter to inverter/charger
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2023 at 8:27am
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My WFCO WF-8955 converter in my 2016 RPod 178 is no longer working. I boondock a lot and not strong enough to wrangle a generator. I never use the TV and rarely the microwave. But I want to use the toaster and pod coffee pot every morning. What Inverter/ Charger can I replace my converter with to power the wall outlets? My coffee maker needs peak of 1460 watts. ------------- FreeRangePod 2016 RPod 178 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Replies:
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2023 at 1:18pm
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That would be a bodacious inverter to supply ~~ 1500 watts of power. The amperage would be in the neighborhood of 125 amps, which would require at least 1 AWG wire on the DC side (larger even, depending on the type of wire). ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2023 at 5:13pm
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Not unheard of, though. Ours has a 1500watt inverter and I have seen 2000 and 3000watt inverters in some trailers the same size as the Rpod. Anything is doable given plenty of time and money. ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Triumph T120 |
Posted By: FreeRangePod
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2023 at 8:40am
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Do you have pictures and/or instructions on how your 1500w inverter is installed? That would be awesome Thank you ------------- FreeRangePod 2016 RPod 178 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2023 at 12:02pm
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Hi FreeRangePod. Installing the inverter is quite easy. The Renogy 1000watt inverter I had in my Rpod 179 came with good instructions and there are a pile of YouTube videos out there that will also help. The 1500 GoPower inverter in our new RV was installed at the factory and is similarly installed. The hard part of installing an inverter is to first understand your power needs and then to determine if you have enough battery to meet those needs. For instance, we wanted to be able to charge our electronic devices (laptops and phones) and make a couple of pots of coffee (4cup 500watt). We were limited to two, group 24 lead acid (90ah of useable power), deep cycle batteries. What limited us was space and our charger/converter which was not lithium compatible. So our 1000w Renogy worked for those needs given the battery power available. Our new trailer has a 1500w inverter, lithium compatible charger/converter and 400ah of lithium power. We can run anything we want aside from the AC because of the battery capacity. So, in summary, installing the inverter is easy but you first have to understand how much battery you have available and if that is enough to supply your needs. ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Triumph T120 |
Posted By: FreeRangePod
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2023 at 7:44am
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So Gpokluda you left your converter/ charger and added an inverter? Since my converter is no longer working, I want to not use a converter at all. I watched a video where they rewired the charger breaker for inverter and ran wires from it to a inverter/charger behind the panel, installed under a bed. The back of my panel is the bathroom in a RPod 178. So I’m trying to figure out where to install the inverter charger. ------------- FreeRangePod 2016 RPod 178 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2023 at 8:00am
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Hello FreeRangePod, I did a quick search on Amazon and found this: https://www.amazon.com/Sigineer-Power-Inverter-Frequency-PSW71512NC/dp/B09SGKLQLT - https://www.amazon.com/Sigineer-Power-Inverter-Frequency-PSW71512NC/dp/B09SGKLQLT There were others as well, but one like this might do what you want. I just use a smaller inverter for the few times I need one. Coffee can be made on the gas stove and in a pinch, so can toast with a stove-top toaster. Making toast in a frying pan or on a griddle also works well. Changing from a converter to an inverter/charger would also necessitate other changes. With any significant size inverter, you would likely need more battery power which means upgrading from the single lead-acid battery to either two GC-2 batteries wired in series or going with a LiFePO4 battery. Make sure you understand your power needs before making the leap.l ------------- 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: FreeRangePod
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2023 at 8:29am
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My converter/charger was 55 amps. So I would need the inverter/ charger that replaced it to be 55 amp also? Any thoughts on where to locate the inverter/ charger in a RPod 178? I wish there was one that could fit the same place as the converter, but it looks like too small a place. I currently have 2 lead acid batteries, but they are 2018 so ready to replace/upgrade.
------------- FreeRangePod 2016 RPod 178 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2023 at 8:47am
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Remember that the converter is doing two things: Supplying 12V power to the RPod and charging the battery. An inverter/charger is doing much more. In addition to charging the battery, it is also monitoring the AC power input and when that is disconnected, transferring to battery/inverter power to keep your AC items running, much like an uninterruptible power supply for your computer. It much be much bigger to do these things. You would need to find a different mounting point for an inverter/charger. In my case, I think there would be adequate space behind the power panel if I were to do that. However, I haven't found a need to have an inverter running. Given, I do carry a generator for when we are traveling and don't have shore power available and I want to run the AC or the microwave. Neither would be suitable to run on an inverter anyway, not in the RPod at least. A motor home with lots of room to carry a large battery bank, perhaps, but not the RPod. ------------- 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: gpokluda
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2023 at 8:36am
Hi FRP, I wired the inverter as close as possible to my batteries, which meant locating it in the front storage area. My charger/converter, which is located on the other end of the trailer on a 179, was working fine so I left it in place. Apologies, I missed the part where your charger converter wasn't working in your situation. Best of luck ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Triumph T120 |
Posted By: FreeRangePod
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2023 at 8:46am
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Hi Gpoklida, Thank for your reply. I am leaning towards putting the whole thing in a storage compartment, using an inverter/charger and lithium batteries. My trolling boat batteries on my bass boat were 2010 and 2014%#@, so I moved my two RPod batteries ( 2018) to the boat. Took it out yesterday, worked great! Now to choose the inverter/charger and Lithium batteries to install. ------------- FreeRangePod 2016 RPod 178 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2023 at 9:31pm
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I'll suggest a better coffee maker (Bodum) and a teapot.  You might investigate a Bodum Vacuum siphon, but use a Yama filter. These are messier to clean, though. You can use it on your gas burner. Superior coffee.  I use the pour over in my R-Pod for speed and convenience. ------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: FreeRangePod
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2023 at 5:05pm
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I am well into my installation of my off grid system. DC box under the dinette with 2 100 Ah lithium batteries in parallel, from positive of battery bank to 300 amp fuse to battery shutoff to positive bus bar. From negative of battery bank to Vitron smart shunt to negative bus bar. Smart shunt connected to app and setup looks correct. Now I Need to take battery connects off tongue and connect to bus bars. Any suggestions where best to drill hole and how best to seal off? https://postimg.cc/R6z4Mcd3">
 ------------- FreeRangePod 2016 RPod 178 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2023 at 5:22pm
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I tried to do as much wire routing as I could underneath the trailer, encasing the wires in wire loom. When it was time to route into the trailer, I used the smallest spade bit that would accommodate the wires and then sealed with spray foam from top and bottom. ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Triumph T120 |
Posted By: hank*pod
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2023 at 8:30pm
Your power problem will be easier to solve if you adjust your power requirements. If necessary I can plug my Mr Coffee into my Jackery for long enough to brew a pot and not hit its 800 Wh capacity too hard.
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Posted By: FreeRangePod
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2023 at 8:09am
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Hi HankPod, The 1460 watts is only the peak requirement at start up. Wattage is similar to yours. My new system will allow me to camp off grid for 3 or 4 days. So National parks, BLM and Harvest Hosts will be free or close to it. I have saved enough by not going to hotels in the last 7 years to cover the cost of the RPod, extra gas and campsites. 💕 Love nature so much more than another expensive, boring hotel Room. ------------- FreeRangePod 2016 RPod 178 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: hank*pod
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2023 at 8:20am
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Posted By: FreeRangePod
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2023 at 10:04am
https://postimg.cc/xXbJzJ12">
I am almost finished with my off grid system. I have a question. Is the Orange Romex attached to the WFCO Electrical panel the connection to the shore power plug? I am planning to disconnect it and plug into a watchdog surge protector. The output of that surge protector is a new Ancor 10/3 AWG marine wire connected to the input (AC in) of the inverter/ charger. ------------- FreeRangePod 2016 RPod 178 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee |