Inverter question

[Luc-MOC]

Would there be any reason to run the inverter when connected to shore power or should it be only turned on when operating refridgerator on battery power.

 

[mhs4771]

If you have a Good Inverter they have an interal transfer switch and once it detects shore power it switches. Our inverter hasn't been turned off in over a year, thus one less thing to worry about when packing up to leave.

 

[WaltBennett]

quote:Originally posted by mhs4771

If you have a Good Inverter they have an interal transfer switch and once it detects shore power it switches. Our inverter hasn't been turned off in over a year, thus one less thing to worry about when packing up to leave.

X2 Ours is big enough to run the AC, but we've only got four Trojans so that's not hooked up. Only time I turn it off is either for maintenance or if we're on 15 - 30 amp service & the batteries have been drained down enough so it wants to start charging at over 60 amps. Turn the old converter on instead & let it get things up to around 90%.

 

[JABURKHOLDER]

Like previously stated... a good inverter will switch when shore power is detected. My thought process on this is turn the inverter off when connected to shore power. If you leave in on instead, as soon as you disconnect shore power you are pulling power out of your battery(s). Without some external source to keep the battery(s) charged, they will just die. I don't follow the logic of a previous poster having never turned off his inverter in over a year. What needs to run continuously for that long and how does the battery(s) not die ? Anyway, I only turn mine on when I need it.

 

[cw3jason]

You can leave the inverter on it will enter into passthru mode and just monitor voltage. I turn mine off, as I don't want to hear the fan running and I figure it will last longer if it is not running all the time.

 

[mhs4771]

Maybe it depends on the brand of Inverter. As stated once in "Pass-thru Mode" the inverter section goes into Sleep Mode and the converter section takes over to charge and keep the batteries charged. I have a remote inside and it gives me a readout of which battery mode it's in and what the battery voltage is. Plus by leaving it on, if we're gone for the day and loose power it will kick back on and keep the fridge running, and I have enough batteries to run the fridge for a few days without shore power.

 

[DQDick]

That's the whole point of a good inverter. In our case we power most of the rig (we're set up for solar) and we just leave it on all the time. It sleeps and batteries charge until needed. If you've noticed the number of severe storms in Kansas lately you'll understand that it's had to switch on and off multiple times in recent days. When it's on it's drawing and when the shore power comes back on it's in standby mode and the batteries are charging.

 

[Carl n Susan]

quote:Originally posted by Luc

Would there be any reason to run the inverter when connected to shore power or should it be only turned on when operating refridgerator on battery power.

It is pretty clear the OP does *NOT* have a sophisticated add-on inverter system like the previous responders. He is referring to the Montana supplied inverter dedicated to the residential refer. It is a pass-thru type inverter so it draws 12V from the batteries when there is no 120V available and goes into "sleep" mode when plugged in to shore (or generator) power.

The system is designed to be "ON" all the time and I see no reason to do otherwise. It automatically handles power failures or when traveling from site to site. The only time when you turn the inverter "OFF" is when storing the RV and the refer is unused. Even then you could leave the inverter active with the refer turned "OFF" and it shouldn't draw power from the batteries. Beware the parasitic usage which will draw a small amount of 12V and eventually (week or two?) discharge the batteries.