Power inverters

[craig333]

If I remember correctly, I used 2ga wire on a very short run. Wiring to the 12v outlets is not going to be enough for anything that can run a microwave.

 

[Wallowa]

If I remember correctly, I used 2ga wire on a very short run. Wiring to the 12v outlets is not going to be enough for anything that can run a microwave.

Hey Craig,

Thanks...what about Don C's question.. I am "electronics challenge" [dumb as a post].. what size inverter will the OEM FWC 12v outlets support? They are ones I use for my small inverter and every time I grind coffee beans I hold my breath...

Thanks...Phil

 

[rando]

On my camper the FWC 12V outlets are fused at 10A, so you could run up to ~100W of inverter load. Remember it is not the size of the inverter that matters, it is the size of the load. A 300W inverter will work fine as long as you don't load it over 100W, if you do you will pop the fuse.

 

[Old Crow]

On my camper the FWC 12V outlets are fused at 10A, so you could run up to ~100W of inverter load. Remember it is not the size of the inverter that matters, it is the size of the load. A 300W inverter will work fine as long as you don't load it over 100W, if you do you will pop the fuse.

Hmmm. Very interesting that it's a 10-amp fuse. Mine is a 15-amp fuse but that's probably because my Hawk shell was wired (or re-fused) by a previous owner.

Anyway, I just found this online calculator: Calculator | DC to AC amperage conversion run through an Inverter . If we put 120 in the AC volts and check the 12V button, then start plugging numbers into the AC Amps box, we see both wattage and DC Amps calculated for us. If we do that a few times trying to get close to a DC 10A result, that shows 108 watts. That's close to rando's 100W number for a circuit fused with a 10A fuse. And if we do it a few more times looking for a DC 15A result (for my circuit fused at 15 amps), that's about 162 watts.

 

[rando]

Hmmm. Very interesting that it's a 10-amp fuse. Mine is a 15-amp fuse but that's probably because my Hawk shell was wired (or re-fused) by a previous owner.

Anyway, I just found this online calculator: Calculator | DC to AC amperage conversion run through an Inverter . If we put 120 in the AC volts and check the 12V button, then start plugging numbers into the AC Amps box, we see both wattage and DC Amps calculated for us. If we do that a few times trying to get close to a DC 10A result, that shows 108 watts. That's close to rando's 100W number for a circuit fused with a 10A fuse. And if we do it a few more times looking for a DC 15A result (for my circuit fused at 15 amps), that's about 162 watts.

Mine could be 15A and I just read off the wrong slot in the fuse box. Either way, you are still in the 100W range. Inverters are not 100% efficient, and it was also be wise to stay well below your fuse rating. The fuses are designed to protect the wires running the sockets, routinely running them until they blow would probably not be wise.

 

[MattC]

I did a search on inverters, and ended up here.


I would like to get an inverter for my 2017 fleet so I can run a coffee maker (and occasionally a toaster oven) without needing shore power (or my Honda 2000).

I figured I should probably be in the 2000 watt area, because my coffee maker says it's 1500 watt.

my questions for you electrical guys is, what brands/models are best, middle of the pack, and what brand should I stay away from?

Thanks for the help.

 

[craig333]

Don't. Thats way too large a drain for too long a period. Coleman makes a nice drip coffeemaker that runs on propane. My microwave takes my voltage down to 11.8 just over a three minute period (bout how long I run it at most). It rebounds quickly but I'd hate to see what a coffee maker would do.

 

[BobM]

IMO the best coffee maker for the camper is an Aeropress Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_pcqtAbK19VN2C

It makes a great coffee and take very little space. If you want a perfect latte you can also get a good steamer Stove-Top Cappuccino Steamer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003GCYGGS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xfqtAb4RRM46E

Better than Starbucks

 

[Roaming_Eagle]

I run a small 150watt that plugs into the cigarette lighter. I use it mainly for charging electronics and running my razor.

 

[hoyden]

IMO the best coffee maker for the camper is an Aeropress Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_pcqtAbK19VN2C

Most anything is better than Starbucks!
and I vote for French Press over the Aeropress because of fewer things to clean!
That said, the Aeropress does make impressively good cup 'o coffee.

Thanks for this thread - even tho it's making my head spin. I have a little inverter that plugs into the outlet that I tried to use for my MacBook but it made weird noise, so I stopped using it. In retrospect, it was probably a fan inside of it, but it freaked me out and I'm "better safe than sorry" when it comes to the possibility of electrical fires inside my camper. But I like the idea of tying in a good inverter to the system!

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

I've been running a Xantrex ProWatt2000 inverter (around $450ish) in my truck for over 2 years now. Absolutely love it and more than enough for anything you might need.

One day a friend and I were bored and went through my whole garage and tried every single power tool I had and a microwave, and it performed perfectly.

I have 200 watt solar directly to a group 31 odyssey and the inverter directly to the odyssey, with 200 amp fuses in between.

Once I take delivery of my hawk, I will be moving the inverter over to it and setting up a charging station for all my photography gear. Which is really all I use it for anyway.

My .02

 

[Vic Harder]

I'll wade into this... If you are running anything with a fan/motor, you want a pure sine wave inverter. That means nice curvy waveforms, vs the alternative, which is basically square waves that motors don't like. For that matter, sensitive electronics don't like square waves, nor does radio gear.

Sine wave inverters cost a lot more, and you have to decide what you want to do. Just charge batteries on your electronics/camera/phone? A small 300W square wave will do, and these normally plug into your cigaretter lighter. I chopped the plug off of mine and wired it into the battery comparment and an ac outlet - done.

If you want to run something bigger like a big'ish screen or CPAP machine or - toaster oven - you will need that 2000W unit, and the batteries to run it.

Something to think about. A 1500W toaster oven is drawing 1500/120 = 12.5A in your house. Assuming 80% efficiency at converting the 12v DC in your batteries to 120v AC that the toaster needs, you need to deliver 156A to the inverter.

The wires had better be beefy, and short, and your batteries big if you want to cook much of anything!

 

[MattC]

I've been running a Xantrex ProWatt2000 inverter (around $450ish) in my truck for over 2 years now. Absolutely love it and more than enough for anything you might need.

One day a friend and I were bored and went through my whole garage and tried every single power tool I had and a microwave, and it performed perfectly.

I have 200 watt solar directly to a group 31 odyssey and the inverter directly to the odyssey, with 200 amp fuses in between.

Once I take delivery of my hawk, I will be moving the inverter over to it and setting up a charging station for all my photography gear. Which is really all I use it for anyway.

My .02

Thanks for the input, that's about what I have been looking at.

I have two new agm 12v batts in the camper.
and I don't mind starting the pickup to get everything back up to snuff.


this is for occasional use only, in a quick overnight, or tailgating situation.
I just don't want have to drag my generator around with me all the time

 

[MattC]

I'll wade into this... If you are running anything with a fan/motor, you want a pure sine wave inverter. That means nice curvy waveforms, vs the alternative, which is basically square waves that motors don't like. For that matter, sensitive electronics don't like square waves, nor does radio gear.

Sine wave inverters cost a lot more, and you have to decide what you want to do. Just charge batteries on your electronics/camera/phone? A small 300W square wave will do, and these normally plug into your cigaretter lighter. I chopped the plug off of mine and wired it into the battery comparment and an ac outlet - done.

If you want to run something bigger like a big'ish screen or CPAP machine or - toaster oven - you will need that 2000W unit, and the batteries to run it.

Something to think about. A 1500W toaster oven is drawing 1500/120 = 12.5A in your house. Assuming 80% efficiency at converting the 12v DC in your batteries to 120v AC that the toaster needs, you need to deliver 156A to the inverter.

The wires had better be beefy, and short, and your batteries big if you want to cook much of anything!

Thanks for the info
I will be mostly trying run my small single serve coffee maker.

 

[rando]

If an electric coffee maker is your goal - you may want to think about a 12V version:
https://www.amazon.com/12-Volt-Quick-Coffee-Maker-RoadPro/dp/B01N8OIRD0/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=B3Q561WDNY4J6MG67V98


Seems like the long way around the convert 12V to 120V AC just to convert it back to resistance heat.

 

[So Cal Adventurer]

Thanks for the input, that's about what I have been looking at.

I have two new agm 12v batts in the camper.
and I don't mind starting the pickup to get everything back up to snuff.


this is for occasional use only, in a quick overnight, or tailgating situation.
I just don't want have to drag my generator around with me all the time

Same here. My is only used occasionally usually just to charge things. But I’m digging the idea of a coffee maker now! Ha

 

[MattC]

When we moved out of the 93 Pastime, and into the FWC, we needed to make some room, so o ditched the 12 cup, and we picked up this single serve acok machine, (because they work great).
so I just want to be able to run it for 2 or 3 cups without dragging my Honda 2000 or extension cord.

 

[klahanie]

I have a go power 2000 pure sine wave, like the OP was asking about. Picked this brand because it was a local BC co and they had a good reputation. Since then I have seen go power products now installed as oem by some camper builders, fwiw.

For sizing I wanted to replicate the capacity of a std home 15amp receptacle. At first I bought their ~1750 or 1800w model (long discontinued) but immediately returned and upgraded it when I saw the hook up terminals on the 2000 - much more HD imo, plus the overall architecture (?) is shared with the higher output 3000. Plenty of contact surface for power cables, good sized fans, ventilation etc. Plus output can be hardwired to a distribution panel, which is what I did after adding a second 120v circuit to the camper. That said, the GP tech told me the original, smaller unit would have done all that I could have asked of it. And I expect all GP products meet CSA specs/approval, perform to mfr ratings etc, etc.

OK, I'm the first to admit this thing is bigger and heavier than required but I had a dream about repurposing it in an off grid cabin some day ... and I did use it once to cool both the home fridge and deep freezer during a short power outage - had to save the steelhead don't cha know.

True, house batteries will drain quickly at "high" wattage. I wired so that I could also run the inverter off of the truck alternators and I ran a 120v plug into the cab - just like a modern vehicle.

But the sweetest part is the mounting location, too late for the OP, but it fit perfectly behind the lower cabinet slider.

 

[BobM]

Most anything is better than Starbucks!
and I vote for French Press over the Aeropress because of fewer things to clean!
That said, the Aeropress does make impressively good cup 'o coffee.

Thanks for this thread - even tho it's making my head spin. I have a little inverter that plugs into the outlet that I tried to use for my MacBook but it made weird noise, so I stopped using it. In retrospect, it was probably a fan inside of it, but it freaked me out and I'm "better safe than sorry" when it comes to the possibility of electrical fires inside my camper. But I like the idea of tying in a good inverter to the system!

It's funny that you said a French press was easier to clean. I used to use a French press and it was a lot harder to clean because you had to unscrew the filter and wash each item including the rod and pot. On the Aero press, all the spent coffee pops out as a puck and a quick rinse. Takes me longer to wipe the milk off my steamer than to clean the aeropress

 

[hoyden]

Oh, I rarely take apart the press part part. Just rinse it off

My mom has an Aeropress (I don't) and it's got a bunch of little parts to clean.
Tho it's been a while since I messed with it, so perhaps there's an easier way.

That all said, I tend to more often use my single cup drip with a biodegradable paper filter. That's easiest! Tho I dislike making trash.
I'd rather have a reusable drip cone. That might be in my future.

I have also thought about getting a stovetop coffee maker