Inverter selection

[MVA]

Forum,

I am considering adding an inverter to my E19. My electrical needs are mostly a microwave (900W). Are there particular brands that you recommend, or conversely, do not recommend?

thanks in advance

[oldwave]

I’m using a progressive dynamics 1800 watt
I’m in the middle of the install

[Kirt]

Regarding the microwave wattage. Often the wattage rating you'll see for the microwave is the output. Input can be much more, 1100-1300 watts.

The microwave we bought was rated at 660 watts. The manual rated the input as 950 watts. The nameplate on the back of the unit was 1050 watts. It actually draws 1160 watts.

So size your inverter with room to spare, say 1500 watts minimum. More is ok. Many good brands out there. We've had Renongy and Xantrex. Both worked fine.

[Perry Butler]

I've been researching inverters for the past three months, but will be purchasing in the next month, so this thread will help the decision.

The one that probably will be installed is the GoWise Power 1500W Pure Sine Wave Inverter. It's designed in the US and built overseas (China?).

Currently it's being purchased for a 700 watt toaster, but a blender for smoothies may go south with us in January. We both like toasted bread and bagels. We've tried various methods of toasting in our 5.0, but they all just seem to dry the bread. However, you never know what else we'll use.

I'll be disconnecting the 110 wire from the outside outlet to the counter, so the counter outlet will become the only inverter outlet.

We carry multiple 18650 batteries for our flashlights and two 500 watt Bosch batteries for our e-bikes that get charged in our F150 with a 400 watt inverter. That's worked well for the past five years.

Our computers, are charged by USB, and once a month we watch a movie on our laptop. There's no need for a transfer switch to power every outlet in our camper. YMMV.

It seems inverters are one of the main cause of RV fires. I'll be using 2/0 cable to the batteries and have a 250 amp AML fuse 6" from the 260 ah, lead SiO2 batteries going to one of the outlets on a two-outlet post Blue Sea battery switch.

Enjoy,

Perry

[MVA]

Perry,

Thanks for the lead on inverter company. I have a couple of general new to inverter questions.

Most inverters are not hardwired into the RV; i.e., I note that they have standard socket(s) on the side and not AC terminals for romex. How do you plan to wire inverter into you trailer outlet? Most inverters have a ground terminal on the inverter. Since the trailer doesn't have a true earth ground, do people tie this to the trailer frame (floating ground) or no not connect?

Thanks

[RangerMan]

Originally Posted by MVA

Peery,

Thanks for the lead on inverter company. I have a couple of general new to inverter questions.

Most inverters are not hardwired into the RV; i.e., I note that they have standard socket(s) on the side and not AC terminals for romex. How do you plan to wire inverter into you trailer outlet? Most inverters have a ground terminal on the inverter. Since the trailer doesn't have a true earth ground, do people tie this to the trailer frame (floating ground) or no not connect?

Thanks

My ETI installed Go Power Inverter is grounded to the frame.

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by MVA

Peery,

Thanks for the lead on inverter company. I have a couple of general new to inverter questions.

Most inverters are not hardwired into the RV; i.e., I note that they have standard socket(s) on the side and not AC terminals for romex. How do you plan to wire inverter into you trailer outlet? Most inverters have a ground terminal on the inverter. Since the trailer doesn't have a true earth ground, do people tie this to the trailer frame (floating ground) or no not connect?

Thanks

There’s a safety ground on the inverter, it will go to the back of the power center where there will be a stud that collects all the grounds, that stud then connects through the floor to the frame. The ac in and out if you buy one with a transfer switch, connects the hot neutral and ground to the breakers in the power center and sub panel if your doing multiple out lets. The safety ground is on the external case in my inverter and as described goes to the collected frame grounds, it is separate and necessary.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by MVA

Forum,

I am considering adding an inverter to my E19. My electrical needs are mostly a microwave (900W). Are there particular brands that you recommend, or conversely, do not recommend?

thanks in advance

Been happy with Xantrex Freedom XC (inverter/charger/transfer switch) so far but they also make a Freedom X (inverter/transfer switch). Really nice, user-friendly package. You may like some of the features like the programmable low voltage cut off which you don’t typically see. This was important to me because with a lithium battery a fixed 10.5V cut off was too low. You can hardwire the AC output to a sub panel with breakers or opt for an integral 20A GFCI outlet on the unit with circuit protection. Because of the built-in transfer switch and AC input line there is power pass-through when the unit is on shore power. This eliminates circuits that are live only when the inverter is on.