Here I go again... There are definitely lower hanging fruit than this particular upgrade path, but this is one which I have been contemplating for a long time. I had hoped to do the inverter before we left for our 5 month excursion to Canada, but time wasn't on my side. Anyway it is well started now... Three days into it, I have removed the old Heart Freedom 20 inverter/charger, the compressor, and temporarily relocated the DC breaker panel to the basement ceiling. This freed up the space on the front wall of the storage bay adjacent to the battery compartment, which is the location I have coveted to house the new Magnum MSH 3012 Hybrid inverter, the Magnum Mini Panel (an electrical panel which contains an 60A inverter bypass, 250A DC circuit breaker, AC Bus Bars, Grounds, DC shunt, Magnum battery monitor, Solar DC charge controller mount and breakers, etc). The little Thomas aux compressor will be replaced with a 12v ARB twin compressor (http://store.arbusa.com/ARB-On-Board-High-Performance-12-Volt-Twin-Air-Compressor-CKMTA12-P21341C9.aspx), location to be determined as the project progresses. The current installation is part of a larger project to include a new DC breaker panel, solar panels, and eventually, new batteries. Here are few pictures, we will see if they post right side up from the iPad or whether I will have to fix it on my computer. Scratch that, I guess I can't add pictures from my iPad... I will do a detailed write up as time permits because there has been a bit of a learning curve to this installation, not the least of which is how to manage all this while we are living in the coach.
Don
niiiice. i would like very much to be able to get the tires full when and wherever, and can only get about 100 psi with the regulator turned all the way up. being able to run air tools without hassle? Yes please. And I suppose at some point we are going to want more inverter. Time to save more pennies and look under the sofa cushions!
That ARB compressor looks like a nice unit. I added a 12v compressor last spring. Very nice to have for airing up the coach and topping off the tires.
I went with the Extreme Outback Magnum Compressor Product : Extreme Outback (http://www.extremeoutback.com/product/14/ExtremeAire+Magnum+12+Volt+Compressor++Part%23+007-222.html) and this 2 gallon air tank Viair-91022-2 Gallon Tank (http://www.amazon.com/Viair-91022-Gallon-Ports-Rated/dp/B002AYLZX0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420631859&sr=8-1&keywords=91022). I designed in the option to switch between 2 pressure switches, one for 100 psi for normal use and one for 150 psi when I need extra pressure.
Adding the tank gives some reserve capacity for air tools and also serves as a "wet" tank. I ran 4 gauge wire to the house batteries with a 100 amp fuse and used this connector 175 amp connector (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ZPPMG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Have had no problem with it so far. Lesson learned here is high capacity 12v air is expensive. :)
You guys are killing me - now I have "Compressor Envy". Interesting the MSRPs are within $20 of each other...
I'm having the original Inverter replaced with a 2000 watt "True Sine" Inverter.
So is my original Inverter an Inverter/Charger?
In addition, will the Heart Interface LINK 2000 take care of switching like:
2000 watt Inverter cannot be TURNED ON when shore power is ON?
2000 watt Inverter TURNED OFF when shore power is TURNED ON?
Any other scenarios?
best, paul
envy? I guess it's not overkill if you need it!
To add more complications, the airing up of the tires on a low mile, long in years coach requires dry air, CO2 or dry nitrogen so as to not rust the tire cords internally as far as I am lead to believe.
@Don I'm excited to hear a first hand account of the Magnum MSH 3012 Hybrid! Want to know if there are any issues when a high load hits and the inverter starts drawing from the batteries to cover the load. Like say when you are on 30amp and have both airs going and then fire up the microwave! If that works I'd drop the coin in a minute. :)
see ya
ken
As far as overkill is concerned, I can speak from experience. My first 12v compressor was built with one of the cheaper units, with lower CFM, and a 50% duty cycle. I would top off a tire, then let it cool down, then go to the next tire, etc. Airing up the air bags was next to impossible. Either of these compressors has a 100% duty cycle and 6 CFM capacity. From low pressure I can air up to 80 psi in about 4 minutes, then pull out and finish to full pressure with the engine, to minimize neighbor disturbance.
I plan to probably add a tank, since the Governor would purge over the set pressure if I just used the wet tank as a reservoir and it would be nice to have a higher pressure reserve for air tools, tire filling etc... Initially, I plan on just using it as a direct replacement for the Thomas as part of the HWH system, but I eventually (as time permits) want to add to the capabilities similar to what you have done. Since it is just a small part of this inverter upgrade solar install, I have to stay focused!
Don
Having NO experience with that specific inverter my conversation is more in the realm of a question. If trying to start a heavy load on a generator, and the inverter on and the generator sags, the power goes out of spec..The inverter then takes the load while under load. The internal transfer switch doesn't last long doing that. Just wondering how the load sharing inverters handle that ?
Yes, my 12v compressor/tank is separated from the coach air system with a ball valve so I can use it by itself or connected.
Here is the compressor I want when I grow up:
Oasis Manufacturing XD4000-12 Oasis 12-Volt Continuous Duty Tankless Air... (http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Oasis-Manufacturing-XD4000-12-Air-Compressor/p3943.html)
180 amps @ 12 volts.
Will run a 1/2 inch impact wrench without a tank.
Wow! Thanks for the link... now I can point to this bad boy if somebody accuses me of overkill with my little 3cfm @ 90 psi aux compressor. ^.^d
Don