adding receptacle to inverter?

[doubravsky]

Hello all,

I have a 2015 Thor Four Winds 31W. It has an 1800W inverter that runs the residential fridge (18 cubic ft.) and the TVs.

The coach came with two 12V house batteries. We recently installed 400Watts of solar and two additional 12v house batteries. This has given us enough juice to run the fridge during the day without using the generator all the time.

What I'd like to do is add one or a few of the receptacles in the kitchen area to the inverter, so that we can use the coffee maker in the morning without turning on the generator. I think we've got enough juice now to run a coffee pot for 10 minutes.

Is this a complicated thing to do from an electrical standpoint? Any advice?

Thanks!

dave

[Lloyd]

I don't think you have a big enough inverter.

[doubravsky]

Loyd how do I calculate that out? The inverter is a Xantrex Pro 1800. The Mr. Coffee is rated 900 watts, 7.5 amps. The fridge pulls 6 amps at peak load... so Iknow it handles at least the 6.... but I'm not electric savvy enough to figure out the numbers....

[blw2]

Just guessing, but beyond managing the electrical load you will be pulling.... it seems to be purely a mechanical issue of fishing wires, either to an existing outlet, or installing a new outlet where you want it....

Something I'd like the idea of adding some day, for the coffee pot.

[doubravsky]

Thanks Blw2.... That's what I was hoping..... and although I'm really not wiring savvy and scared of it... if I can figure out what needs to be done I know some home electricians that I can have switch out the wires (provided the inverter can handle it...)

[Beacher]

Originally Posted by doubravsky

....This has given us enough juice to run the fridge during the day without using the generator all the time.....

Doesn't your fridge work with propane? It should run for 2 to 3 weeks on a single house battery and full propane tank without ever needing a generator.

Using a generator simply to run your motorhome evaporative refrigerator with 110 v AC would be the last resort and most expensive option, (next to installing a solar panel system, inverter, and additional batteries to accomplish the same thing).

I have seen a few evaporative refrigerator control circuit boards get fried when used extensively with a generator. Probably due to voltage spikes when the A/C units cycle.

[doubravsky]

It's a residential fridge..... all 110.....

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by doubravsky

Loyd how do I calculate that out? The inverter is a Xantrex Pro 1800. The Mr. Coffee is rated 900 watts, 7.5 amps. The fridge pulls 6 amps at peak load... so Iknow it handles at least the 6.... but I'm not electric savvy enough to figure out the numbers....

I might have spoke to soon on my last post.
It's been awhile since I crunched the #.
Here is a couple link to some good reading you might find helpful/useful.

RV Solar Panel Installation Guide - RV Solar Power
RV Solar Electric Store

[doubravsky]

Thanks Lloyd! Good reading... looks like the inverter may be able to handle the load.. now I'll have to figure out how to change the wiring...

[JamieGeek]

From the looks of the article they had a converter with two breaker sets: One side was run by the inverter/generator/shore power and the other by the generator/shore power only.
If that is the case you may be able to do everything at the converter and not have to run additional wires.