Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box)
| looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198059] |
Sun, 10 February 2013 19:39  |
bronevaya
Messages: 63
Registered: May 2011
Location: birmingham al
Karma: 0
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How should I go about installing an inverter? I found one at harbour freight for a reasonable price but dont know how to hook it up. Can it be hooked up to power all the outlets in the coach? I have progressive dynamics box installed already and I need a new house battery. From the research Ive done on these forums I should get a marine or golf cart battery?
1977 Palm beach
Bham AL
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| Re: looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198063 is a reply to message #198059] |
Sun, 10 February 2013 20:26  |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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On the HF inverter, the answer depends upon which one did you buy, and what do you hope to power with it? If the larger inverters, they can be hard wired directly to the house battery pack. The small one, generally with cigarette lighter plug, are of little value, once you subtract the actual output vs the advertised output.
On batteries, it is 2 golf cart batteries to get the needed 12v. Is this new battery pack to be the house or engine battery? If house battery, 2 golf cart batteries thrump a marine battery. Deep cycle batteries (golf battery) are not the smart choice for engine batteries. A marine battery may be better than using a engine starting battery, for a house, but deep cycle is better.
JMO
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198064 is a reply to message #198059] |
Sun, 10 February 2013 20:36 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
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I used a smaller HF inverter in the electrical compartment to run a TV, and it should be good for other small loads. Was cheap and small enough that it wasn't a big deal to mount it and then run a 120 volt line to the TV. You want to keep the 12 volt side as short and as large a gauge as you can to hook it up properly.
I think a small one that uses a cigarette lighter socket could only be used for very light duty service. To run the entire 120 volt service would take quite a large inverter mounted in the battery compartment (I believe).
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198066 is a reply to message #198059] |
Sun, 10 February 2013 20:47 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Michael,
I doubt that you want to connect the inverter to all the coach's outlets,
even if it's a big one. You need to consider whether all the loads are
suitable for inverter power. Definitely not the air conditioner(s).
Probably not the electric water heater. Likely not a 120 vac
refrigerator. Dependent on the size of the inverter, perhaps not a
microwave.
And if you do connect to any of the original 120 vac outlets, you'll
probably still want to be able to supply them from shore power. That then
requires manual or automatic switching, adding further complications. If
you choose automatic, you'll either need a commercial automatic transfer
switch, or build your own:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/automatic-120-vac-power-source-selection/p8542.html
or
http://goo.gl/3cW3d
The tone of your questions makes me think you'll be better off using the
outlets on the inverter or perhaps added dedicated outlets for your
inverter.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com
On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 8:39 PM, michael wrote:
>
>
> How should I go about installing an inverter? I found one at harbour
> freight for a reasonable price but dont know how to hook it up. Can it be
> hooked up to power all the outlets in the coach? I have progressive
> dynamics box installed already and I need a new house battery. From the
> research Ive done on these forums I should get a marine or golf cart
> battery?
> --
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198074 is a reply to message #198071] |
Sun, 10 February 2013 22:49 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Do you realize that to run a 1500 watt inverter you will need a 12 volt power source (generator or batteries) generator capable of supplying 120 to 140 amps DC. If you intend to run it very long your on batteries, you will need to buy a whole lot more batteries than the 2 for the house system. You will also have to figure out how you are going to recharge those batteries.
I suggest that you figure out what you intend to power with that inverter, look up it's power consumption, and decide how long you want to run it. Once you have hose numbers work backwards from there in deciding how big of an inverter you want and how many extra batteries you need to tote around.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198076 is a reply to message #198059] |
Sun, 10 February 2013 23:08 |
bronevaya
Messages: 63
Registered: May 2011
Location: birmingham al
Karma: 0
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ok, well for the sake of simplicity I will start over.
we are moving to seattle and on the way I would like to charge my laptop and cellphone. maybe watch some tv, but mostly just charge things. the laptop I have is a gaming laptop so it takes a little more juice then your average laptop.
what would you guys recommend?
1977 Palm beach
Bham AL
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| Re: looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198078 is a reply to message #198076] |
Sun, 10 February 2013 23:34 |
zhagrieb
Messages: 676
Registered: August 2009
Location: Portland Oregon
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Sounds like a small unit that plugs into the cigarette lighter would take care of charging duties, might be OK for the TV depending on its draw. All those things should work fine on one of the modified sine wave units available from Harbor Freight, Walmart, Lowes, etc. Some laptop and cell phones can be charged through a USB connection and cigarette lighter adaptors are available to do this as well.
Glenn
Glenn Giere, Portland OR, K7GAG
'73 "Moby the Motorhome" 26'
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| Re: looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198082 is a reply to message #198059] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 00:20 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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I agree that if you're just charging a few things and maybe running a TV occasionally, that you'll not want to get too carried away, and can probably just install an "inverter only" outlet or two, and run the appropriate size supply wire.
OTOH, having 120VAC available by just flipping a switch, and having it everywhere in the coach is a big plus. I use my 1000 watt Harbor Freight inverter to run a vacuum cleaner, my microwave, and even my fridge (which has a 12VDC mode, but it doesn't really keep everything as cold as 120VAC mode).
I wired mine into the "whole coach", which required auto-switching. I didn't need the more complicated switch referenced earlier in the thread because my shore power connector plugs into my generator output via a female connector, so there's no switching required (other than moving the plug back and forth between the shore power outlet and the generator outlet). That means I got away with a simple 3-pole, double throw relay - I found an aircraft unit that was rated for 60 amps per circuit, which is more than enough (and it didn't hurt that I scored it from Ebay for $18 delivered). I drew out the circuit I used if anyone's interested...
http://www.habcycles.com/inverter.jpg
One other thing I did to make it a lot more useful was to remote the on/off switch and an indicator light on my generator control panel (which reminds me to turn off the inverter if I'm firing up the generator or hooking up shore power). I did have to run some serious copper wire to feed the thing though (1/0 and 2/0 cable, but largely because I mounted it in the opposite corner of the coach from the house batteries).
Probably the best $150 or so I've spent on the coach, though I'd double that amount if I paid myself $10 an hour for the installation...
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
[Updated on: Mon, 11 February 2013 00:20] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198083 is a reply to message #198076] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 01:36 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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For what you have specified a 150 watts or so inverter would do. I would go looking or something in the 200 range. Those are cheap. I use a 200W one to charge my cell phone and laptop. Even at 200 watts you are looking at a draw of 18 to 20 amps under full load. I am assuming that you will not be drawing over 1/2 load very often.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198105 is a reply to message #198103] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 08:45 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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If your intent is to charge the laptop or the cell phone, just use 12v power supplies. Install extra 12v outlets in coach and don't mess with the inverter. You can also get LED TVs that have 12v power input. I have one in my coach.
Cheap inverters produce hash that may interfere with your use of some eletronic devices.
Ken's advice on a proven method to determine exactly the size you need is where to start. My 12v converter has an internal inverter, Xantex makes them. Expensive solution, but excellent package and better sine wave for sensitive electronics.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198109 is a reply to message #198076] |
Mon, 11 February 2013 09:05 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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| bronevaya wrote on Mon, 11 February 2013 00:08 |
ok, well for the sake of simplicity I will start over.
we are moving to seattle and on the way I would like to charge my laptop and cellphone. maybe watch some tv, but mostly just charge things. the laptop I have is a gaming laptop so it takes a little more juice then your average laptop.
what would you guys recommend?
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Micheal,
For the cellphone, get the car cord and charge it while you are underway. As you will probably want to run a GPS and have not modified the coach electrics, go look in car stuff stores for a mousehole stretcher so you can plug in more things. Try it as soon as you can because I have had two of them that shorted the circuit in the OE mousehole and blew the fuse.
I hope you know that I did electrics on cruising boats for a very long time.... I have seen this all before.
Installing a fixed inverter is not really as simple a task as you might like to think. It has to be wired directly to the house bank and installed where it can easily switched off and also protected from an over current disaster. (HF inverters tend to let smoke out more frequently than I like - true of all Chicom inverters.) It will have to be installed with the DC cables for at least TEN TIMES the AC current you want to have available.
Think of what you will want to run, read the power consumption and make a list. You can stay with lighter plug (I hate that connector, but it is ubiquitous) connection up to about 15~20 amps. That is very connection dependent. That amounts to about 2 amps at 120V or close to 200 watts (a lot of rounding going on here). This should supply the laptop (~120watts) and a anything small. but it might be tight trying to run the laptop while it is charging its battery and even a small TV.
See, it is very do-able, but you will have to think to prevent problems.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] looking to install an inverter (already have a progressive dynamics box) [message #198189 is a reply to message #198159] |
Tue, 12 February 2013 06:52 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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| k2gkk wrote on Mon, 11 February 2013 21:08 |
I bought two big 6V golf cart batteries at Sam's Wholesale Club; about $85 each, IIRC. Installed the slide-out battery tray from Jim K and bought the #4 or maybe #6 cables at a local auto store.
Makes for a very neat installation that you can slide out to inspect the individual cells. With a smart charger (don't know why they are called "converters" by RV people), those who have done this say they only inspect once or twice a year. I expect they should last five years or more with proper are/maintenance.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
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Mac,
They are called converters because they do not exceed 15V ever. They were built to supply power to 12V things from shore power. Most notably, the old converters also converted good batteries to junk on a regular basis. This is a result of the fact that they supplied 14+VDc continuously. They could be used as chargers - only if you cared to baby sit them. Top quality builds of cruising boats that expected to be alongside (instead of out on a mooring) often had a converter (Consta-Volt was one) and a separate battery charger and switches to make the isolation.
The newer smarter kind are properly referred to as Converter/Chargers as they do both functions effectively. A fact that I can personally attest to.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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