What inverter to buy

[rodro123]

I would like to add an inverter to my 2018 330RSTS but want it to be connected to everything except air. My battery bank will be 5 (AGM)-odyssey 75-86-PC1230DT. Recharge is done by Generator/ solar. I would like to know what inverter to buy? Where to install it at?

I’m very good with running electric I wired most of my stick home and the three before that.

[Seann45]

I am happy with my Magnum Energy (2000 watt-4000 watt surge) inverter. I just wish I had bought a full sinewave instead of a modified. In an RV use strand wire not solid..

[Mustang65]

Rod,

The inverter needs to be mounted as close to the batteries as possible (less than 4-5 feet away), the closer the better. The size of the inverter (1K-2K watts) you decide on, will dictate the size of cables and fuse needed to connect to the batteries. A 2K inverter if EVER used to its max (I hope not) will be a 167 Amp load on the batteries.

The inverter you select is determined by your needs and the amount of battery power you have available. Your batteries will give you 270Ah, of which you can only use HALF or 135Ah, using the 50% rule (batteries hit the 12.0VDC level), which is pretty much a basic setup for any dry-camping.

Example: A microwave is about 700 watts (@120VAC) or 58 amps from your batteries.

You need to plan this out in detail.

May I ask a question? Why did you select this battery (*5)?
The combined Ah's for the 5 batteries is only 275Ah, total. These batteries are a hybrid battery, used for both starting and a form of deep cycle applications. This is rather expensive and uses a lot of room. (2) 6 volt (IE Trojan T145) for a lot less and have 260Ah and TRUE DEEP CYCLE batteries that are designed for deep discharging like RV type useage.

Just curious...

Take a look at our RVing with SOLAR social group (Link below). There is a lot of information on BATTERIES and SOLAR. How are you going to wire in these 5 batteries? I know parallel, but what parallel design for all these batteries. 5 is an uneven number. Do you really need AGM batteries?

Don

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[Bassdogs]

Just wondering why setting up for so much "capacity" defined by everything except AC?? As pointed out, your 1st misstep was in battery selection. In any regard, setting up for so much power demand when typically you don't need most of it most of the time.

A better solution would be 2 6v cart batteries, a 1000W PSW inverter mounted close to the battery bank, and a 2000 w inverter generator. The battery power would be enough for running most of your stuff most of the time and the generator would only be needed for a couple hours in the morning or evening to recharge and if you need to use the microwave or toaster. Total cost would be about the same or less than your approach and a whole lot more cost effective going forward.

[bdreinv]

Originally Posted by Seann45

I am happy with my Magnum Energy (2000 watt-4000 watt surge) inverter. I just wish I had bought a full sinewave instead of a modified. In an RV use strand wire not solid..

Just ordered a pure sine wave inverter from Renolgy.I have quite a bit of 8 gauge wire.Why use strand wire, and what is it.Electric has never been something I really understood much about! Thanks

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by bdreinv

Just ordered a pure sine wave inverter from Renolgy.I have quite a bit of 8 gauge wire.Why use strand wire, and what is it.Electric has never been something I really understood much about! Thanks

What size/model inverter did you purchase?

Don

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[bdreinv]

500 watt open box pure sine wave, guess it was a returned item.Liked price 129 just need to run TV.

[LI-Camper]

BDreinv: I think stranded wire will hold up better to vibrations. Also, I used O gauge stranded wire to connect my inverter to my batteries and it was quite flexible. Just my opinion.

[bdreinv]

Thanks learn something everyday!

The only easy day, was yesterday.
US NAVY SEALS

[Mustang65]

bdreinv,
The 500 watt should use a 4AWG cable or larger. I believe Renogy supplies a short length of this size cable with the inverter (if memory is correct). If the Tv draws about 150Watts, that is a little over 10Amps being drawn from your battery.

What size battery do you have? Mfr/Model/Ah rating.

With a standard 85Ah battery, of which you can only use about 40ish Ah (12.0VDC battery level), that would give you about 4 hours of Tv watching (with no other loads) before the battery needed to be fully charged again. It would also mean no heat over night should it be needed.

Don

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RVing with SOLAR

[bdreinv]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

bdreinv,
The 500 watt should use a 4AWG cable or larger. I believe Renogy supplies a short length of this size cable with the inverter (if memory is correct). If the Tv draws about 150Watts, that is a little over 10Amps being drawn from your battery.

What size battery do you have? Mfr/Model/Ah rating.

With a standard 85Ah battery, of which you can only use about 40ish Ah (12.0VDC battery level), that would give you about 4 hours of Tv watching (with no other loads) before the battery needed to be fully charged again. It would also mean no heat over night should it be needed.

Don

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RVing with SOLAR

We have the two 12v deep cells that came with the camper, there in boxes or I would go look.A year ago we added a 275 watt 60 cell panel.And a 30 amp mppt controller.Did call Furion on TV they said 75 watts who knows if that's right!. Of course the entertainment center is 12 volt.There is power draining from every where.It will be nice not to run generator just to watch TV. After a lot of years still hard to figure how much power you use!Always seems like to much LOLThanks

[Mustang65]

With the SOLAR you should be all set. No need to worry about recharging the batteries. 2 batteries should give you a LOT of Tv time.

Don

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