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Location: Texas | I just got settled in at the rodeo grounds and walked over to a buddy's trailer for a cold beer. He didn't have his trailer plugged in and didn't have his generator running, but he was warming a hotdog in his microwave and had his tv on. I asked him what was up with that, but being a bull rider, the only thing he knew for sure was things worked when he turned them on. I found a power inverter next to a transfer switch in his trailer. How do you hook one of these power inverters up so they don't interfere with the generator power and land line power? I have a transfer switch to go from generator to land line power. Do I need another transfer switch to install an inverter? How do you wire one of these up? I understand they convert battery dc into ac, but don't know what it takes to get them hooked up.Please remember you are talking to a rodeo cowboy, so keep it simple, if possible. Thanks in advance for any help. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 736
 
Location: Western WA | this isn't really answering your question, but I've seen inverters in the Camping World catalog and am thinking of having one installed myself - but will probably have RV service folks or the Camping World people do it. |
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Location: Texas | I should probably have someone install one for me also. Just didn't know how complicated it might be. Sure would be nice to watch tv without the generator running, now that it is cool enough not to need the ac. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 524
Location: Lone Oak, Tx | I hope your friend had a LARGE battery bank and a LARGE inverter. Microwave will suck it up quick. To answer you question, you could probably hook one up yourself but yes you would need another transfer switch for your inverter and, depending what your going run (if it's a microwave), a large battery bank and inverter. If it's just TV, you shouldn't have any problems but you'll want to eventually turn the generator on to charge up those batteries. I have been wanting to put one in mine just to run my fridge while going down the road (I have a dorm type fridge. Electric only). You might could try and do search on the forum for "inverter" and see what you find.
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Location: Texas | maccwall- thanks for the response. I took another look at his setup and it appears his inverter is 3000w. He has 2 batteries under his gooseneck and a large deep cycle battery, looks about like a big tractor battery, in a box next to his generator. I couldn't see enough of the wiring to tell if all 3 batteries are connected to the inverter or not, but assume they are. His inverter has a fan built into it, I guess for cooling. Is there some place I can find a wiring diagram for hooking up the inverter and transfer switch? How does the transfer switch work with the existing switch for the generator? I don't understand what dictates which switch is activated, if I'm making any sense. May be too complicated for my feeble brain. Thanks again for your help. |
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Veteran
Posts: 192
Location: Kentucky | Back to basics question. Are the 2 batteries under the gooseneck that will run some electric lights in the LQ call inverters? |
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Member
Posts: 10
Location: Wa. | No they are not inverters, they are the normal 12v power for the trailer. |
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Location: Texas | I contacted the folks that did my LQ conversion in OKC and next month when I'm there for the USTRC finals they are going to send somebody out to the fairground and install an inverter, extra battery and solar panel. How's that for service? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402
Location: Lockport, Illinois | An inverter changes 12 volt DC to 110 Volt AC. A Converter changes 110 volts AC to 12 volt DC. I have two series 27 Deep Cycle batteries under my gooseneck that feeds a 3000 watt inverter. You can either plug appliances directly into the inverter, or connect the inverter to a transfer switch. Unless you have a massive battery bank I would not use it for microwaves, AC, heaters, or anything with high wattage, it is better to use the inverter for lights, tv, radio, and low wattage appliances. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402
Location: Lockport, Illinois | Here is a good site that describes an inverter, how to figure how big an inverter you need, what batteries you need, and usage of various appliances. http://www.boatus.com/boattech/inverters.htm
Edited by BigT 2006-09-25 8:12 PM
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power inverter
