Battery question.....

[dhuard]

I just bought a 2012 Georgetown. This seems like a very basic question but... How do I operate the RV just using battery power.

Not using the generator and no shore power I would I would like to use the RV's batteries but when I plug something into an outlet it doesn't seem to have power. The master power switch is on and it shows my batteries are fully charged.
Also should I be able to run at least 1 AC unit ?

Is there something I am missing ?
Thank you

[TURBS]

Unless you have an "inverter" you won't have power at outlets.
They are 110v not 12v

Turbs

[dhuard]

It has an inverter in the back near the 50am cable. I guess then my question is how does it know I want to use the inverter for 110? Should it just turn on by itself or is there a switch I should be using to activate it?

[TURBS]

My inverter has a switch right on it.


Turbs

[dhuard]

Sounds right... I assumed that it could be switched on from the inside. I will go back where my shore power cable is and see if that works.
Thank you.

[Herk7769]

Are you confusing an Inverter and a Converter?

A Converter converts 120 volt AC shore power to run the 12 volt DC items and charge your battery.

An Inverter takes 12 volt battery power and makes 120 volt AC.

Normally, the inverter only powers specific items or outlets.

It will (almost) never run the air conditioner due to the heavy battery draws to create 120 volt AC and 20 amps of AC current (2400 watts) or 200 amps of battery current.

[dhuard]

Good info.... I want to convert 12B battery power to 120v

Hoping that the inverter has a switch and will power some of the outlets. The previous owner installed 3 more batteries to power some medical equipment that he needed.

[dhuard]

Sooooo It looks like I only have a converter. It clearly says converter on it.
Here is a picture.


Here is another picture of the extra batteries that were installed.



Is it possible to add an inverter so that I can use some of the outlets and not the generator ?

Thank you

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by dhuard

Is it possible to add an inverter so that I can use some of the outlets and not the generator ?
Thank you

Short answer is yes; but it will depend on your level of skill at working with electric; some of which will be high enough to kill.

[dhuard]

I have an electrical contractor in the family that he just works on homes. He would be pretty cheap but he doesn't know RV's.
Do you think I should go to an RV place to have it installed? I have no experience with electrical.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by dhuard

I have an electrical contractor in the family that he just works on homes. He would be pretty cheap but he doesn't know RV's.
Do you think I should go to an RV place to have it installed? I have no experience with electrical.

If he was willing and read the directions carefully, he might be OK.

Biggest issues are proper inverter size based on battery bank size, wiring and fusing. YOU will also need to understand the limitations of the amount of power you can expect from your batteries.

DO NOT put in a 3000 watt inverter and expect your 150 AH battery bank to last more than minutes for example.

My 150 AH battery bank (2 75 AH batteries) powering a 2400 watt inverter will not run my 1500 watt electric coffee maker through a brew cycle after a night using the heater even a little bit.

I have since downsized my inverter to 1000 watts and use a cowboy coffee pot on the gas stove when we boondock. It powers our TV and the computer/phone chargers just great and leaves me plenty for the LED lights and fridge.

[dhuard]

Good to know. Thanks for the info!