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01-28-2011, 07:46 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Additional Batteries and Inverter install
I am upgrading from 2 G.C. Batteries to 4, downgrading from a 3,000 Watt inverter to a 2500. The Trace Inverter I will use has more options. I had to make a new battery box, and will install a new 30 amp transfer switch to switch between the Inverter and generator.
When I plug into the generator up front, the transfer switch will select that supply, then the 50 amp transfer switch I already have installed will switch over from the 'Park power' to the gen or inverter power.
Hard to work on the Montana with Winter weather, so I'm doing most of it in the shop.
http://tinyurl.com/4n8tkgc
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01-28-2011, 08:40 AM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tuscarora
Posts: 484
M.O.C. #10026
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OK, now I'll never have the occasion to do something like this, but as usual...I still gotta know how.
I looked at the pics...I'm confused. Where are the gens? I thought you had them on a rack on the back of the rig ? You said something in one of the pics about whether you plugged gens in at back or up front...I'm guessing "at back" means into the regular shorepower plugin, but what about up front ? Also, apparently you can select either 30 or 50...is that with all "sources"?
Thanks Ozz....inquiring minds, ya know.
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01-28-2011, 10:00 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Ha ha, I was typing away and even confused myself... You got it though, I want options, a man just has to have options We will transport the 2 generators on the carrier in back, I have a 30 to 50 adapter that we will use back there.
But if we are staying someplace for a while and we unload the generators for some reason, or if I want to have the generators or one generator up front, I can plug in up there. I just wired up and installed a 30 amp twist-lock connector there. I did that because I will have the Inverter wiring anyway, adding a 30 amp transfer switch and the generator wiring was a small part of it. I took pictures, will add them in a minute.
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01-28-2011, 10:24 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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01-28-2011, 11:09 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Navarre
Posts: 1,527
M.O.C. #9765
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At the rate you are going, me thinks you are going to weigh 18K when you hit the road.
Mike
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01-28-2011, 11:13 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Probably..., I am going to lighter televisions...
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01-28-2011, 02:13 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Wappingers Falls
Posts: 1,303
M.O.C. #6263
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I'll be right over...your toys are more fun than mine!
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01-28-2011, 03:36 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Paola
Posts: 5,739
M.O.C. #4961
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Ozz, out here in Quartz I see a lot of solar panels. Don't forget about them. I saw two Montana's in town this week getting them installed.
__________________
Dennis & Linda Ward
Paola, Kansas
Montana 3735MK Legacy Edition
1200 watts of Solar
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01-29-2011, 12:16 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Dennis, that is at the end of my list of 'to do's. All of the Inverter and battery upgrades are in preparation for them.
Glad you guys made it out there in the nice weather, relax and enjoy the beautiful country.
Take Linda up to Parker and have a burger and fries in the floating café on the Colorado River there.
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01-30-2011, 01:14 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tuscarora
Posts: 484
M.O.C. #10026
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Thanks Ozz, I got 'er now !
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02-06-2011, 07:56 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Ozz
I am upgrading from 2 G.C. Batteries to 4, downgrading from a 3,000 Watt inverter to a 2500. The Trace Inverter I will use has more options.
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Ozz,
Why are you going to drop from a 3,000 Watt to 2500 Watt? I have 2500 Watt, and to run the Convection Microwave, I have to have everything else off first, or it will overload.
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02-06-2011, 08:17 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Well, the 2500 was one I had at the house, a Trace Inverter and charger. I haven't used it for a number of years, but I gave it a bench test and it doesn't seem to work, the load relay clicks, then it shuts off.
The 3,000 is a Coleman Inverter only. I may continue to use the 3,000. I am only planning on using 4 batteries, along with the 2 Hondas. Good to know about the Convection Microwave, I bet it pushes the 20 amp draw when it is on high.
When Spring breaks, I will do some testing when I get it all installed in the Monte. So far, everything is in my shop.
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02-06-2011, 09:54 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Ozz
Good to know about the Convection Microwave, I bet it pushes the 20 amp draw when it is on high.
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Ozz,
Come to think of it, when on 30 Amp Service, we have to turn off some stuff too (mostly the fireplace). Ya the EMS clocks the Convection Microwave around 18-19 Amps.
While we travel, we have the inverter on, and run the refrigerator and the ice machine off the inverter, so we don't have to worry about gas on.
Last summer we were traveling in 98 to 99 degree temperature, stop at Wally World, to pick up some stuff and have lunch. The inverter smelled like it had been working really hard, but everything seem fine otherwise.
We opened the Monty up for lunch, and boy was it nice and cool. We forgot to turn off the AC, so the inverter was running hard for about 4 hours. I should have figured it out sooner, because I monitor the Solar output via wireless router on my PC (now smart phone). The battery voltage started climbing when we first started that morning, but then it started dropping even though the panels were putting out 320 to 400 Watts.
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02-06-2011, 10:03 AM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Cresco
Posts: 447
M.O.C. #6693
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OZZ:
I am no authority on anything, but I have a question. On your inverters, ??? are they square wave inverters, modified-sine-wave inverters, or pure-sine-wave inverters?? Like I said I am just learning as I go along. Just curious....JB
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02-06-2011, 10:07 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Man that is a nice set-up you have with the panels, for budgetary reasons, I may not end up with panels.
I'm surprised the ice machine and reefer both worked with the inverter, and amazed that the A/C worked with it.
I imagine my Coleman is square wave, I will have a battery backup that will power the computer while on Inverter.
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02-06-2011, 12:14 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by deadeye
OZZ:
I am no authority on anything, but I have a question. On your inverters, ??? are they square wave inverters, modified-sine-wave inverters, or pure-sine-wave inverters?? Like I said I am just learning as I go along. Just curious....JB
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Jack,
I am not Ozz, but I have Sunforce 11260 2500-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter $599. You can get from Northern Tool & Equipment or Amazon.
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02-06-2011, 12:23 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Ozz
Man that is a nice set-up you have with the panels, for budgetary reasons, I may not end up with panels.
I'm surprised the ice machine and reefer both worked with the inverter, and amazed that the A/C worked with it.
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Ice machine pulls about 6.5 Amps (715 Watts) when running and the refrigerator is about 2 AMP (220 Watts). If you are on the road, most trucks will send up to 30Amps at 13.5 Volts (13.5 X 30 = 405 Watts), so you could run the refrigerator off the inverter without a problem.
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02-06-2011, 12:28 PM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Yea, I did answer Jack, in my edit, should have posted a new one so it would be seen.
I looked, my Coleman is a modified sine. I am still working on my Trace, might be able to fix it, if so I will have my choice to use.
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02-06-2011, 12:32 PM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by 7.3Ford
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Ozz
Man that is a nice set-up you have with the panels, for budgetary reasons, I may not end up with panels.
I'm surprised the ice machine and reefer both worked with the inverter, and amazed that the A/C worked with it.
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Ice machine pulls about 6.5 Amps (715 Watts) when running and the refrigerator is about 2 AMP (220 Watts). If you are on the road, most trucks will send up to 30Amps at 13.5 Volts (13.5 X 30 = 405 Watts), so you could run the refrigerator off the inverter without a problem.
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I didn't know what the ice machine pulled, would have thought it more, the starting amps usually is the killer, it can be up to 7 times running amps
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02-06-2011, 02:27 PM
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#20
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Kamloops
Posts: 20
M.O.C. #10885
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Ozz
Hard to work on the Montana with Winter weather, so I'm doing most of it in the shop.
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Understand about the weather picture out the back window today, it snowed 5 inches.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...g/DSCF3799.jpg
Left the slides in ran the furnace from the battery, getting ready to install a freedom 458-20 modified sine wave, 2000 watts with 100 amp battery charger, built in switch.
martin
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