Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 12, 2025 ...

Re: FT AC & DC Power distribution.

Reply #25 – November 09, 2013, 02:42:50 am

   Well it looks like roof air can be run while driving with a inverter and dual alternator set up or 320amp alternator (expensive) for the cost of doing that running the Gen be just fine

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Re: FT AC & DC Power distribution.

Reply #26 – November 09, 2013, 06:17:28 am

Before desiel gen sets the alternator was a better choice for road warriors.  Variable speed drive comes to memory.

You had to make do in the early 80's.

Did a few.  Last one was on a triple nickle v8 cummins 555.  Non turbo engine.

Engine revved to 3300 rpm and ran fairly well revved hard.  75mph.

Original foretrvel made pusher had a 505 cummins if my feeble memory is still good.

Also had naturally aspirated 185hp 3208 cats. 542 Allison's

Bob

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Re: FT AC & DC Power distribution.

Reply #27 – November 09, 2013, 02:43:22 pm

In the first message of the thread, Propman said "I am thinking to change from Converter to Inverter".
An inverter and a converter are not interchangeable. A converter provides 13 volts DC from 120 VAC, while an inverter provides 120VAC from 12 volt batteries. Foretravel installed inverter/"battery charger" combo units which can either invert or battery charge, but not at the same time. Note that a converter and a "battery charger" are very similar but are not the same thing. A battery charger will provide higher DC voltage then a converter will.

I have replaced the inverter/"battery charger" which Foretravel installed with an 1800 watt pure sign inverter, and a seperate 55amp IOTA Converter (not a battery charger).

This setup allows me to connect to 15 amp shore power to power the water heater, the fridge, the 120VAC lights, the instant hot water, and the converter. I run the microwave from the inverter and recharge the batteries with solar (if sunny) or the converter (trickle charge). DW thinks we are on 30 amp shore power.

Hope this helps!

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