using the built-in outlets

[K1ngN0thing]

My camper has a 30amp cord to connect to shore power. I'd like to use an adapter to connect this to an inverter. Could any problems arise from this configuration? I already know to keep the inverter dry.

 

[MikeRuth]

Your biggest issue will be forgetting that those outlets won't have as much power available as if you had plugged into the shore power.
What I mean is unless you have a really good 2000 Watt or more inverter and the batteries to back it up that you can't just go plugging anything in without thought about how much power that device uses. Otherwise I don't see a problem.

 

[K1ngN0thing]

I already know about that. Good to know there shouldn't be any other problems.

 

[jimindenver]

make sure the converter is off before you try doing this otherwise you'll just have a loop where the battery is trying to charge the battery.

 

[K1ngN0thing]

I'm not sure what you mean. I plan to have my batteries connected to an inverter, and I'll plug my camper's 30amp cord into the inverter using an adapter.

 

[LeeRevell]

So, you convert the shore 110VAC to 12VDC, then back to 120VAC? Seems wasteful, and you lose the higher amps of the shore power. I do see a problem.

 

[MikeRuth]

I think Jim indenver is saying if you have a charger in the system now, which I don't think you do.

so you need to make sure that when your connecting the shore power now that your only energizing the outlets and there is no on board converter or charger.

 

[MikeRuth]

Lee he doesn't have shore power available, just wants to feed the shore power cord with the inverter.

 

[SoulRaven]

If you have a converter/charger, it will need to be disconnected.

Isn't an power strip with circuit breaker protection a better solution?

Keeping everything at 12v DC is an even better solution.

 

[K1ngN0thing]

I'm actually not sure if it has a converter/charger. I'll have to check on that.
What do you mean by power strip with circuit breaker protection?
I'm not sure how to keep everything 12v. I want to be able to run a microwave once in a while, possibly a tv and game system down the line, as well as charge things like cell phone and laptop/tablet.

 

[SoulRaven]

I'm actually not sure if it has a converter/charger. I'll have to check on that.
What do you mean by power strip with circuit breaker protection?
I'm not sure how to keep everything 12v. I want to be able to run a microwave once in a while, possibly a tv and game system down the line, as well as charge things like cell phone and laptop/tablet.

About the only things that are hard to do with 12v, are heating, cooking, and normal house or RV style A/C.  Refrigeration is iffy.

You're losing a lot of space and MPG to have a huge battery bank, and/or solar panels when a single house battery could be all you'll ever need.  That's all I need.  I ditched the 4 heavy, expensive batteries, and 3 solar panels, and it has made my life much better.  I gained 3 mpg in the process.  I charge my house battery while driving now, and never run out of power.

If you want to use a microwave, run in to a convenience store and use theirs, or use one at work.  For the space needed, it isn't worth it to me.  I do use a dutch oven sometimes, and a folding oven for my camp stove.

If you're determined to have a microwave, I'd get a generator to power it, because that type of stuff tends to kill batteries rather quickly.

 

[SoulRaven]

Oops, almost forgot. You can get power strips that have a reset button (circuit breaker) built in. They're easy to find most anywhere.

 

[K1ngN0thing]

Do they make power strips that connect directly to a 12v battery?

In the long run I want to have everything on solar, including my fridge, so any investment made now is going to be chipping away at that goal. The space taken up by the microwave in my truck camper is negligible.

 

[SoulRaven]

Do they make power strips that connect directly to a 12v battery?

In the long run I want to have everything on solar, including my fridge, so any investment made now is going to be chipping away at that goal. The space taken up by the microwave in my truck camper is negligible.

No no, the power strips I'm talking about are for AC power.  You plug it into an inverter to give you six AC outlets.

 

[LeeRevell]

Lee he doesn't have shore power available, just wants to feed the shore power cord with the inverter.

As Miss Emily Litella was fond of saying, "Oh, that's very different!  Never mind!" 

 

[jimindenver]

A few things

We run a extension cord from the small inverter to the TV/Satellite The trailers shore cord is connected to the big inverter for when we want it.

Find the lowest wattage microwave you can. Id swap ours using 1375w for a 500w watt cube with a twist knob in a heart beat.

Going all solar is a neat concept but in reality it is just part of a balanced system. We can use our solar to cook, heat water, heat the trailer some and on those beautiful day when we are not using the power, I can push a button and our fridge switches to 120v and uses no propane at all.

I believe I have seen a low wattage inverter shaped like a power strip. Nothing special, just a different shape.

Also know that to have the ability to run a microwave once in a while will require 2 or 4 batteries and a large inverter. My 3000w PSW inverter is 18 or 20 inches long and takes up a good chunk of space. My suggestion is to fill your needs from the bottom up and it would be nice to once in a while is a want, not a need.

 

[LeeRevell]

I wonder about using the 'low wattage' microwaves in the real world, say 1000W for five minutes cooking vs. 600W for twice as long....... total power usage is abut the same? And the lower wattage units is COOKING watts, not true unit power draw.

 

[jimindenver]

True, but setting up for the smaller microwave is easier, takes a smaller less expensive bank, a smaller less expensive inverter ( especially if PSW) and smaller cabling too. That extends right on out to the solar as the smaller the bank, the less solar you need. You can save a lot of money and space nuking a can of corn a extra minute.

 

[highdesertranger]

so as far as the original post. you must make sure you are not plugging your inverter into a converter you will create an ugly loop and you will soon be overrun with locust. secondly if you do this where is your 120 neutral going to be bonded to ground? when you plug in at home or at a camp ground this is done up stream from where you plug in(at least it's supposed to be), in your rv system you not supposed to do this because you will be double bonded, again the locust. if you inverter is separate and not in a loop the ground lug should go to the frame. I am really not an expert on this but would look into it. if this is done wrong you could electrify your vehicle and the locust will be there. highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

You don't want LOCUST!!!!
Bob