need help from you Motorhome (with inverters) know-it-alls

[computerABUSER]

Hello,
I need some help please from you guys/gals who know about RV's and installing inverters the 12-VDC to 120-AC kind.

I have a 28' 5th wheel and I am tryin to be able to run a 20" TV and a DVD player just to watch some movies when I go camping, I don't watch regular TV when camping, never!

So, Here is what I have been experiencing, I have bought some 12-VDC to 120-AC inverters
to use in my 5th wheel , the type that you just plug into the small 12-VDC outlet, well, anyway
I don't remember the Power level of it but it seemed to be pretty strong, at least to run a couple of things.

So after many and I do mean many blown fuses and failed attemps to run my TV and DVD player with the inverters that I have purchased I have decided to get one of these. So please tell me which one I should get. BTW, I will be dumping my two Marine 12-VDC batteries and getting two 6-VDC Golf-cart batteries. The type that are great for RV users.

Heres the link! I am thinkng about the 2500-WATT unit will that one be OK for my needs?

HERE

Thanks for helping me,

CA

 

[imported_weadjust]

2500 watts is overkill for a tv and dvd you only need about 400 watts for the tv and dvd. Click you own link and look under selecting the correct inverter to determine what you need.

Cheap power inverters at www. harborfreight.com

 

[The Stigenator]

here is teh deal:

Your cigarette lighter socket can only give you about 150w of power at 120V. You want more you need to hook it up to an engine or battery and run it straight.

Keep teh marine batteries, it will power it fine. 2500 watt is over kill. But it can come in handy if you want to run a microwave. If your 5th wheel has a motor to keep power generation, then you wont need all this..

Anyway I suggest a 700W minimum connected to the battery, to get your tv and dvd to work. I have a 400W (350 continuous) that can run a 27" tv but not both.

 

[computerABUSER]

Thanks guys!

 

[iamwiz82]

A buddy of mine has a 2000w in the back of his Jeep and it is enough to run a portable welder, refridgerator, etc. It's very useful to have.

 

[computerABUSER]

Hi guys,
Thanks for all of the info. I now have another Q. I just went out and bought two new INTERSTATE 6-VDC batteries for my 5th wheel. I plan on keeping the two 12-VDC batteries that are in the 5th wheel as well.

So here's my Q. would it be safe to keep my existing 12-VDC batteries which are feeding my 12-VDC power to my 5th wheel and install the two new INTERSTATE 6-VDC batteries (as long as I tie them in series to make them a 12-VDC power source) and use all four batteries to power up my 5th wheel?

Or is it a bad thing to use the 6volt batteries along with the 12 volt batteries?

Thanks

 

[computerABUSER]

Oh! and I bought a 1200W inverter at Pep-Boys today. So dry-camping is gonna be a breeze 🙂

 

[AaronB]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
A buddy of mine has a 2000w in the back of his Jeep and it is enough to run a portable welder, refridgerator, etc. It's very useful to have.

Exactly what kind of welder does he run off an inverter?

 

[The Stigenator]

i wouldnt suggest mixing 12 and 6volt for those 'just in case' situations.

why did you get 6volt? any specifc reason? Put the 6volt else where, you got to charge that seperately. If you put teh 6 volt in series and then expect the thing to charge, you will blow the battery.

Either return the 6v if there is no use for it onboard and get some 12v batteries, or put it on a seperate line.

 

[computerABUSER]

why did you get 6volt? any specifc reason?

ANWSER: the reason people get the 6-VDC batteries (Golf-Cart batteries) is because they hold a charge a lot longer then a standard 12-VDC marine RV battery.

So what one does is buy two 6-VDC batteries (Golf-Cart batteries) and then connect them in series to make them a 12-VDC power source. This set up is especially good for the campers that dry-camp more then camp where there is an electrical source provided.

CA