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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: bbeane on March 30, 2017, 09:32:47 pm

Title: Additional Inverter
Post by: bbeane on March 30, 2017, 09:32:47 pm
Fixing to add an additional inverter (1000 watt or so) to run the Tv, sat receiver,  and outlets for charging and running small electric devices. Trying to avoid turning on the power hungry freedom.  Some where down the road a res fridge. For those that have them what brand? I've seen P/S wave inverters from 80 bucks on up.
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on March 30, 2017, 09:57:43 pm
I had some help and got a Magnum Pure Sine Wave 1000w inverter for about $170.  What ever you get be sure it is a pure sine wave inverter.  Residential refrigerators and all of your electronics will do better with PSW.  Add up all of your devices use level and what you might use for a refrigerator and add 1/3 or so for some extra capacity.  1000w should be good. 

Here is a PSW 1000w inverter at Bay Marine
Samlex PST-1000-12 Pure Sine Wave Inverter 1000 Watt / 12Volt (http://baymarinesupply.com/chargers-inverters/inverters/samlex-pst-1000-12-1500watt-inverter.html)

I think $300-$400 might be a good target price for higher quality.  Lots on Amazon for $175 and up.  It might be maximum continuous power and surge power.  It also might be how efficient they are and how much power they use when there is no load.  Some of these go into an ultra low load idle mode and power up on demand.  Lowest price is probably not where you want to go here.
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: jcus on March 30, 2017, 10:10:20 pm
Go Power GP-SW300-12 300 Watt 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter (http://invertersrus.com/product/gopower-gp-sw300-12/)
Very well built and heavy.
If just for your tv,sat/sound system you will only need a 300 watt unit. I have used this one for 5 years.
Mounted under dash connected to fwd fuse panel, with ac power line running up to above dash area.
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on March 30, 2017, 10:12:28 pm
Your only looking at 80 watts for a 40 inch LED TV plus about 22 watts for the 211K sat receiver. Check reviews reading between the lines at Amazon: Amazon.com: high effiency inverter (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=high+effiency+inverter&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ahigh+effiency+inverter) 211K receiver still suck 20 watts when turned off.  After narrowing search down, check other forums, etc for reviews. U.S. support is good too. Add a few more watts for a Kodi box (unless Kodi on a laptop) and OAT antenna amplifier.

Nice to have a larger dedicated pure sine wave for the microwave as they don't like mod sine wave and take forever to reheat a latte.

Pierce
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: John Haygarth on March 31, 2017, 12:07:33 am
This is the one I bought 4 yrs ago for fridge/tv/stereo and 2 outlets (computer/phone charging. It has worked flawlessly  and due to us boondocking all the time it has worked continually for months at a time without 1 hiccup.
The one I bought at the time has 2 outlets and no digital readout function so these are extra benefits.
recommend it strongly. good price $199.00
JohnH

Amazon.com: ROYAL POWER PS-1000 PURE SINE INVERTER 1000 WATT 12 VOLT DC TO... (https://www.amazon.com/ROYAL-POWER-PS-1000-PURE-INVERTER/dp/B00AEUXP7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490932810&sr=8-1&keywords=royal+inverter+1000+watt)
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on March 31, 2017, 12:31:54 am
My Samsung refrig will max out (warm start) at about 600 watts.  Normal operation is about 130 watts while running, about 50% duty cycle.  Check each of your devices for power needs.  No reason to way over buy, certainly not to under buy.  Check your Bose system if you still have it.  The circuit it is on has it listed at 6 amps at 110v.  That is about 600 watts.  The Directv receiver uses about 30 watts, the dish uses some too, not sure how much.  You probably won't use it all atbthe same time but yuo have tomhave enough reserve so that you can.
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: jcus on March 31, 2017, 12:50:53 am
My Samsung refrig will max out (warm start) at about 600 watts.  Normal operation is about 130 watts while running, about 50% duty cycle.  Check each of your devices for power needs.  No reason to way over buy, certainly not to under buy.  Check your Bose system if you still have it.  The circuit it is on has it listed at 6 amps at 110v.  That is about 600 watts.  The Directv receiver uses about 30 watts, the dish uses some too, not sure how much.  You probably won't use it all atbthe same time but yuo have tomhave enough reserve so that you can.
Good point on the Bose. I dumped mine for a vizio 5.1 with a wireless subwoofer connected to rear channels. The sub/rear channels draw about 200 watts, so are wired into non inverter socket. When boondocking on inverter, front speakers only use about 50 watts. So on inverter, sound not the best, but good battery life. On shorepower/gen., power usage not a problem, so good sound.
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: bdale on March 31, 2017, 08:47:11 am
This 1200 watt Aims unit is what we chose.  It gives you automatic switching to shore power and, with the optional control panel, you can mount it in a storage bay and still turn it off easily from inside the coach.

Amazon.com: AIMS Power PWRIX120012S 1200W Pure Sine Inverter with Transfer... (https://www.amazon.com/Power-PWRIX120012S-Inverter-Transfer-Switch/dp/B00TI1D5JK/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490964223&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=aims+pure+sign)
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: John Haygarth on March 31, 2017, 10:37:59 am
We do not have a dish on roof and almost never have tv on as no antenna either ( both came off for more solar panels). Our opinion of tv while on the road is looking out the window enjoying the scenery. When it is dark we are in bed or reading. Last thing we want while on the road for a holiday is all the negative news and alternate news!
DWMYH
JohnH
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on March 31, 2017, 10:41:47 am
Looks like a good choice.  Let us know how it does.
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: bdale on March 31, 2017, 11:27:47 am
Looks like a good choice.  Let us know how it does.
If you're referring to my post above about the Aims unit, that was not a response from the OP.  Sorry for the confusion.  It has been working great since I installed it during my fridge conversion last year though.  I'd still buy it again.
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on March 31, 2017, 11:44:28 am
OK, did you put in the remote control?  It still looks like a good choice.

Bruce ... let us know what you choose and how it works.
Title: Re: Additional Inverter
Post by: bdale on March 31, 2017, 11:56:59 am
OK, did you put in the remote control?  It still looks like a good choice.

Bruce ... let us know what you choose and how it works.
Yes, we did install the hard wired remote.  It makes it easy for us to turn off the fridge between trips and also shows when the inverter is running on battery or is bypassed for shore power.