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11-29-2012, 06:14 PM
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#1
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,754
M.O.C. #7560
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Inverter needed?
Is it necessary to have an inverter for the Monte while we are at Q? If so, what is the recommended size to get? Thanks in advance!
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11-30-2012, 12:58 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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We carry a 1000 rated inverter we bought at Tractor Supply. Have not used it much.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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11-30-2012, 02:14 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kelowna
Posts: 1,475
M.O.C. #6237
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The only thing I use an inverter for at Q is for my CPAP machine the rest of the time we use the generator. We use a 325 Watt inverter.
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11-30-2012, 03:16 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Rondo
Is it necessary to have an inverter for the Monte while we are at Q? If so, what is the recommended size to get? Thanks in advance!
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The inverter is not a necessity.Why don't you wait till you get to Q and boondock a little? This will give you a chance to talk with people, see what they have and decide whether or not you would like an inverter. If you decide you want one everything you need can be had in Q
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11-30-2012, 03:50 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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X2 on everything you need or want and a lot you don't is available at Q.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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11-30-2012, 06:31 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Beaufort
Posts: 545
M.O.C. #12221
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I think that waiting till you get there is a great suggestion.
That said - if you don't have any - you could always just get an inexpensive cigarette lighter type (150w ish) for now from Lowes or Home Depot. They are real handy for charging up cell phones, hot spots camera batteries etc and I keep one in the car for even when we are not RV'ing for that purpose.
I still use them in the Coach for small charging jobs as my 2000w inverter is inefficient powering small loads like that - so if you did eventually install a large one the little guy would probably still have use.
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11-30-2012, 07:03 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: merced
Posts: 983
M.O.C. #6171
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I have a 1500 watt and use it to watch TV in the early morning or in the evening so I don't have to run the generator at those hours when it might bother others.
Even quiet generators can make a low hum the not everybody likes.
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11-30-2012, 10:54 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Tipton
Posts: 3,646
M.O.C. #191
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Rondo,
I just installed a 650w PSW for watching TV and charging computers,Ipods, Ipads, and cell phones. Come see me at Q.
Al
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11-30-2012, 11:11 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Littleton
Posts: 183
M.O.C. #9998
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Installed a pure sine wave 600 watt inverter. It runs our tv, sat receiver, DVR, blue ray, and our electric blanket. All that draws less than 350 watts. Solar panel recharges it all by 1 PM of the following day. A lot of electronics and the electric blanket only work properly with the pure sine wave version of an inverter. By the way, I have heard the smaller units draw very little battery current when not in use vs. some of the larger wattage inverters.
__________________
2010 Mountaineer 285 RLD, 330 watts solar, 600 watts sine inverter, 3 type 31 agm batteries, Traveler antenna
2010 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW, 18k Reese slider, Honda 2000i, Firestone airbags
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12-13-2012, 02:07 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
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I had a SunForce 2500 Watt unit, that starting putting out to high voltage, and the EMS-50 would shut it down. The SunForce also pulled almost 5 Amps with no load applied.
I replaced it with Xantrex Prowatt SW2000 2000W True Sinewave Inverter. It only draws 800 milliamps, which is comparable with smaller units. They also make a 1000 Watt unit.
Inverters pull a lot of amps, and they can drain you battery pretty quick. Example, 150 Watts AC will pull 15 Amps on the batteries.
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12-14-2012, 03:56 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Rapid City
Posts: 739
M.O.C. #77
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Opinion: The type and size of inverter you need (or don't need) should be based on the type of camping you do. For many MOCers, a small 500-1000 watt inverter is sufficient. Others do not have one at all. My situation is this:
1. My CPAP machine will run on either 12VDC or 120VAC so no inverter is needed for it.
2. I do have a 5 cubic foot freezer in the Monty that needs power.
3. My DW is addicted to "Facebook", "Farmville", etc., so we need power for her laptop, my laptop, the Verizon Aircard, Wilson Amplifier, and, finally, for the coffee pot early in the morning.
We have a battery bank that we recharge with either solar (roof mounted) power or generator. That power is fed into a 3KW inverter. The inverter is wired, through breakers to all the 120VAC outlets in the trailer. That gives us many options of power availability.
We do turn off the inverter at bedtime (the freezer will stay cold overnight) and back on when I get up to start the coffee pot. The battery bank has been down to 65% at its lowest point but fully recharged by 2 PM the next day.
The more you boondock, the more you will learn about your own power needs/wants and you can make better decisions later rather than sooner.
See ya @ Q.
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