RV/Trailer wiring, AC and DC

[TheEquineFencer]

these inverters have an auto pass thru function when generator/house power is detected

I understand that. But if I wired the A/C after the inverter, if she tried to start the A/C, there will not be enough battery to run it. Wiring the A/C before the inverter will eliminate that problem.

I guess it depends on the rating and such of the one you have. Why did you replace it?

 

[motofool33]

The one you have, how big is it, physical size? PM me about price and when you can get it please.

I think I just figured out a simpler way to get around the A/C problem. If I bring in 120V from shore power, wire the A/C unit in BEFORE going through the inverter, if she has shore power available, she can use the A/C unit. If she doesn't then she just runs on the batteries and the inverter.

base is like 13" wide and around 20" deep off the top of my head. it should be exact same as the unit you linked earlier

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I just found out when I was "poking around" the base of the cabinets in the trailer to see where to mount the stuff, they are rotten. I've got to pull them apart and rebuild them too.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Here's what I'm looking at, Freedom SW 2012 (815-2012). http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/inverter-chargers/freedom-sw-12v_newgen.aspx

2000W version.

I just did some measuring, this thing is HUGE.

Yep ! And have you checked the price, especially with all of the upgrades !

The generator she will be getting shortly will be an Onan 4000W KY.

You are falling into the trap again ! (Unless you are getting this cheap, but more on that later.)

You still have not sat down and listed all of your loads !

Buying an oversized inverter or generator will hurt you in the long run. An oversized inverter will draw more current from your battery bank at idle. It will also consume more power in the inversion process (inverter reach maximum efficiency when operating at about 75% of rated load).

Generator require fuel. The bigger the generator, the more fuel required and I'll bet that old Onan is pretty thirsty How many 5 gallon cans does your wife want to carry if she is "boondocking" for a week ? You would be much better off with a 2500-3500 portable inverter generator.


"Right Sizing" is EXTREMELY important when it comes to inverter and generators.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I just found out when I was "poking around" the base of the cabinets in the trailer to see where to mount the stuff, they are rotten. I've got to pull them apart and rebuild them too.

If they are rotten, why ? Likely a roof leak !

 

[theoldwizard1]

with a bank of 4 Trojan t105 6volt golf cart batteries and a 2800 watt magnum inverter pure sine wave i could get 4 hours of use running stuff inside, ...

That sounds kind of short especially if you are just running a TV, DVD player and a computer.

Do you know what your 120V AC load is and more importantly what you typical 24V DC current draw is ?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I understand that. But if I wired the A/C after the inverter, if she tried to start the A/C, there will not be enough battery to run it. Wiring the A/C before the inverter will eliminate that problem.

That is what I said !

Here is how I would wire it.

• 30A female RV pigtail feeds into the trailer
• Inside the trailer, the pigtail goes into a fused A/C disconnect box (cheap) with 2 - 15A fuses. Because you only have 1 hot, wire it to both fuses.
• From 1 fuse, run 14/2 Romex to you air conditioner.

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[TheEquineFencer]

If they are rotten, why ? Likely a roof leak !

The roof leaking is what got all this started. I just found out how bad it is.

As far as the 4000W Onan, for the most part it's brand new and just about free. Here's the specs.

AC Voltage Available 120
AC Amps 33.3
Single Phase *
Circuit Breaker 30A 1-Pole
AC Voltage 120
Voltages, Single Phase Amperes 120-33.3

Average Fuel Consumption
No Load (Gal/h) 0.3
Half Load (Gal/h) 0.5
Full Load (Gal/h) 0.7
Performance @ 37.7ºC, 152 M. Altitude
Air Conditioner Starting One
With Additional Watts Available 2000

If she wants to use and electric frying pan she can and the microwave at the same time with the A/C running.

I think the generator is sized correctly for the application with the worst possible scenario in mind.

http://www.americanrvcompany.com/assets/images/OnanLoadMgmntBasics.pdf

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by theoldwizard1 View Post
Here is how I would wire it.
30A female RV pigtail feeds into the trailer
Inside the trailer, the pigtail goes into a fused A/C disconnect box (cheap) with 2 - 15A fuses. Because you only have 1 hot, wire it to both fuses.
From 1 fuse, run 14/2 Romex to you air conditioner.
.
.
.

I'm probably going to wire everything 12/2 on 20A breakers. With a 30A feeding the two 20A breakers.

 

[theoldwizard1]

As far as the 4000W Onan, for the most part it's brand new and just about free.

Onan are top quality. They have not been out of production for awhile (bought by Kohler who slaps that name on some equipment) but there are still thousands running in RVs.

I would still rather have a 2500-3500 portable inverter generator like a Champion Power 3100 Inverter. Useful for non-camping applications and it uses less fuel.

If she wants to use and electric frying pan she can and the microwave at the same time with the A/C running.

But what if she wants to dry her hair with the A/C on while frying bacon, making toast, coffee and warming leftovers in the microwave ? When you are dry camping/"boondocking" you do have to make sacrifices !

Good luck !

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Onan are top quality. They have not been out of production for awhile (bought by Kohler who slaps that name on some equipment) but there are still thousands running in RVs.

I would still rather have a 2500-3500 portable inverter generator like a Champion Power 3100 Inverter. Useful for non-camping applications and it uses less fuel.


But what if she wants to dry her hair with the A/C on while frying bacon, making toast, coffee and warming leftovers in the microwave ? When you are dry camping/"boondocking" you do have to make sacrifices !

Good luck !

I agree with you on the non-camping uses. There's one something like that in the works too. I'll need one when I'm out in the woods at the creek gold prospecting....

 

[TheEquineFencer]

The Onan 4000W KY is really quite a robust generator and can "take a beating" if you know what I mean.

I have a Onan 6500W NHE-Spec A 120V only in the shop now, $200 cost, but that is like putting a 426 Hemi in a Geo Metro to just drive around on.

 

[Falcon67]

I don't know where you guys get those Onans so cheap - they are $$$$ around here, even used. I'd have one quick if I could afford it.

As it is, even at 3/4 load on our 3500 it'll run 12 hours on close to 4 gallons. I figure that's pretty good.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I don't know where you guys get those Onans so cheap - they are $$$$ around here, even used. I'd have one quick if I could afford it.

As it is, even at 3/4 load on our 3500 it'll run 12 hours on close to 4 gallons. I figure that's pretty good.

I picked up this early model Onan 6500 from a former customer. It used to run OK, then he let it sit, the carb got clogged up. He brought it to me and I cleaned it out and had it running at 100% rated. Then I didn't hear from him for a while, 2-3 years. Turns out he thought I'd charged too much to work on them. he took it to the local Onan distributor and really got burned. They charged him about $100 an hour and it still didn't put out like it used to. He got pissed off and sprung for a new Honda 7-8000W for his car hauler. He was cleaning his shop up and decided to get rid of the Onan and called me to see if I wanted it before putting it on CL. That's when I got the rest of the story. It started not pulling the loads and loosing Hz, tripping breakers under load. New Honda went in. I got the thing home and finally got around to trying it out. The endbell bearing had come apart and the carb was clogged. I cleaned the carb and got online and found a replacement bearing available locally for $9.00 unlike the high priced Onan part. I replaced it and got the carb cleaned out. I now just need a fuel bowl gasket and put it back together. It runs fine, it just leaks fuel. My 10K load bank burned when the shop burned so I don't have regular load bank to really get the governor dialed in right, but I'll get around to it sometime. It came with everything to do a tune-up, oil change, extra fuel, oil and air filters for $200.'s Around here it might sell for $3-$400, it's a non-reconnectable 120V only with two output breakers. I want to get back on it and see what I might be able to trade or barter with it when I get time.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Falcon67, What generator are you using?

 

[Falcon67]

Champion 3500. Works well, low investment. Pretty impressed for a $300 generator.