New to class c motorhomes

[jegstrup]

Before now, I had a class A bit decided to downsize into a class c. I bought a brand new Coachmen Leprechaun 260DS.
My question is about converter vs inverter.
What I’ve found is that unless I’m plugged into shore power or generator, I have only power to my lights, no electrical outlets.
Is this normal?

[landsail]

Your coach had a converter that transforms grid AC to 12VDC and charges the house batteries. Off-grid AC requires a generator or large inverter with a large storage battery bank, usually backed up with a medium to large solar system, a large expense. Less costly while off-grid boondocking would be use of 12 VDC equipment and propane for heating, etc

[jegstrup]

Originally Posted by landsail

Your coach had a converter that transforms grid AC to 12VDC and charges the house batteries. Off-grid AC requires a generator or large inverter with a large storage battery bank, usually backed up with a medium to large solar system, a large expense. Less costly while off-grid boondocking would be use of 12 VDC equipment and propane for heating, etc

Thx! I’m used to switching in the inverter in the class a when I’m off grid. I’m still adjusting to class c life.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by jegstrup

Thx! I’m used to switching in the inverter in the class a when I’m off grid. I’m still adjusting to class c life.

A class A has WAY more room for a big bank of batteries, than a class C does.
That's why class C's don't usually come with a factory inverter.

[jonwisconsin]

Jegstrup, this is normal unless you have a residential refrigerator. Then it comes equipped with a couple outlets that work with the two 6 volts batteries.

[jegstrup]

I’ll buy a small, maybe 500w, inverter and hook it up to the battery bank so I can charge phone and laptop

[landsail]

Using a 500 watt inverter to charge laptops, iPads, phones wastes a lot of energy because of the heat generated converting DC to AC and again back to 5-26 VDC for personal electronics. A better solution is to purchase 12 VDC to 5 to 26 VDC (laptop) chargers (Amazon). Less energy waste. Inverters also do not reach their 90-95% efficiency unless near their rating (in your example 500 watts). I am able in my Class C to run a 19 in LCD tv with DVD player (12 VDC) and a satellite receiver (w/o hard drive DVR) with about 26 watts or 2.0 amps @13 VDC. Very little battery capacity reduction and about 1 hour in the morning with 200 watts solar charging using tilt adjustable racking (one panel rotates with small ropes) brings my AGM battery system up to maximum. I can provide photos of my installation. Mark H, Electrical Engineer

[landsail]

I forgot, I use a small 75 to 100 watt inverter to run my Directv receiver (non DVD). It draws less that 10 watts of the 26-30 watts to run my 19 in HDTV and receiver.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by jegstrup

Before now, I had a class A bit decided to downsize into a class c. I bought a brand new Coachmen Leprechaun 260DS.
My question is about converter vs inverter.
What I’ve found is that unless I’m plugged into shore power or generator, I have only power to my lights, no electrical outlets.
Is this normal?

Yes.

You can certainly add an inverter, however make sure you have the battery capacity to support what ever you install.

Aaron

[robjordan406]

And many of us are trying to figure out how to wire an inverter into the 120V wiring of a Class C

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by robjordan406

And many of us are trying to figure out how to wire an inverter into the 120V wiring of a Class C

Not too hard, there have been several people on here that have done it. Can't find the thread, but SSLance with a Concord installed one. I am planning on it, just haven't decided which circuits I plan to power/split. I might just go whole hog and run the main plug circuit and double the batteries.

Aaron