Guns & Outdoors Forum

Has anyone installed an inverter on their Travel Trailer.

I recently got a Coleman lantern. Got a helluva deal to make it worth while.

I just went with all 12 volt stuff when I built my camper.
What are you wanting to run off of 120 volts?

lol… most everything.

The only damn thing in the camper that runs on 12V are the fridge and water pump.

Lights and heater should also be 12v.

Outlets, microwave and air conditioner would pretty much be the only 120v. And the water heater, if it has gas and electric options. Otherwise, on propane, its 12v also.

I wish…

And, the best part… is I do not remember that being discussed when I bought it.
Getting it ready for this weekend, I was pulling my hair trying to figure out why the other stuff wasn’t working. Finally called the help line…. Yup.. only works when on 120

Interesting. It’s always seemed to me they can run most things off of 12v batteries and it’s just the big stuff that’s 120v.

https://www.harborfreight.com/collectio ... 59137.html

I use two of their 2000w generators on a parallel kit. Works like a champ. Runs my AC, no problem. And pretty darn quiet.

The AC and such using a inverter that you can run off a std battery wont last long even if you have enough to start it.
Park camping you connect to "shore" power.
If you are just going somewhere for a weekend with no plug in, the batt will run the lights, start the fridge and heat. Propane will run the stove, fridge and heat (unless you have a new fridge that may run on 12v)
Over 2 days and you need to charge the batt by plugging into the tow vehicle or run a gen.
To run AC you NEED 3600w ie a 30A 115v. It will run with less, and you will replace the AC. Buddy of mine has the same year and manufacture, he plugs his into a 15 or 20A 115. He replaced his AC last summer.

I didn’t run the math on the AC. I figured that was a summer problem.

I have a 4K gen. The issue is Big Bend does not allow for generators after 8pm.
I was wanting to work a solution that would allow some heater use in the middle of the night to raise the temp

Centermass wrote: ↑Tue Jan 09, 2024 11:51 pm

I have a 4K gen. The issue is Big Bend does not allow for generators after 8pm.
I was wanting to work a solution that would allow some heater use in the middle of the night to raise the temp

Turn it on. They run on 12vdc to fire then propane.

Looked at the man for your camper, is there no furnace? Just the "fireplace"? If thats the case, bring a good sleeping bag. A resistive load would draw a lot. You could do the math, but you are going to be in the high dollar area of inverters that require a lot of DC to run. A 450W will not run a crock pot for example.

I’m guessing I’m missing something. I don’t know everything about RVs. But I’ve lived in two, currently am living in one and have had several. Unless there’s something different about this particular trailer, if it has a propane furnace, it will run on 12v. Just gotta have good deep cycle batteries and a way to charge them. You can buy solar charging kits to charge them during the day when not plugged in. They will run on one battery, but two is much better for making it through cold nights. The lights also run on 12v. If this one isn’t, I’d check fuses. Possibly the converter is bad if the 12v stuff isn’t working or it’s not switching over. It should run everything except the AC and microwave on 12v..

Shoot me a PM if you need a hand. My buddy is a long time RV tech and works at a large dealership here in town. We can find a way to fix you up.

I added an inverter and additional battery storage to an F150. The storage battery was a 200AH lithium. The initial request was to charge it via the alternator. I opted not to charge it from the truck as the stock alternator would be insufficient and didn’t want to void the warranty.
That setup will run a 300 watt load for just under 6hrs
That will not run an A/C unit or water heater.
A 1HP A/C single phase motor requires just over 750 watts. That is about a 6A load at 120V, however the intial locked rotor currrent is much higher maybe 20A and it likely won’t start if the voltage sags under a high load.
For what you are intending get a Honda 4KW generator or a camp generator that can run on propane.

What about one of those small diesel heaters that I keep seeing on YouTube? Apparently everyone loves them and they're exhausted to the outside. 30 hours on a gallon of fuel.

Justsomedude wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:00 am What about one of those small diesel heaters that I keep seeing on YouTube? Apparently everyone loves them and they're exhausted to the outside. 30 hours on a gallon of fuel.

Can confirm. They are badass and punch above their weight.
But, his heater should run on 12 volts.

Maybe a solution...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmqxVUxzSZA

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:26 am

Justsomedude wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:00 am What about one of those small diesel heaters that I keep seeing on YouTube? Apparently everyone loves them and they're exhausted to the outside. 30 hours on a gallon of fuel.

Can confirm. They are badass and punch above their weight.
But, his heater should run on 12 volts.

I forgot about that requirement but I wonder if a person could take out the ac motor and replace it with a DC unit?

Have a look
https://m.vevor.com/diesel-heater-c_103 ... l%20Heater

Vevor 12V diesel heater under $150

The rub with the generator is most national parks have quiet hours. Big bend does not allow Generators after 8pm, and not before 8am.
I have a 4K that will run the trailer in the day, when I don’t have shore power. It’s the 12hr gap in AC power I was looking to close.

Japhy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 3:45 am I added an inverter and additional battery storage to an F150. The storage battery was a 200AH lithium. The initial request was to charge it via the alternator. I opted not to charge it from the truck as the stock alternator would be insufficient and didn’t want to void the warranty.
That setup will run a 300 watt load for just under 6hrs
That will not run an A/C unit or water heater.
A 1HP A/C single phase motor requires just over 750 watts. That is about a 6A load at 120V, however the intial locked rotor currrent is much higher maybe 20A and it likely won’t start if the voltage sags under a high load.
For what you are intending get a Honda 4KW generator or a camp generator that can run on propane.