Generator and Inverter when buying 5th wheel - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Generator and Inverter when buying 5th wheel

lowryc50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi everyone, a few months ago I posted about the must haves when buying a full time rig(in my case a 5th wheel). I got alot of great feedback and we have made our decision. Now I have a new question and I hope this is under the right topic area since I will be buying an RV. Here we go....When I order the 5th wheel I plan to order with a generator however what other accessories would I need to ask for, order, have installed so the generator is useable/workable? I heard someone say that an inverter needs to be added when having a generator installed. Wouldn't the 5th wheel come with that if they are going to install a generator? If not why get the generator? What does the inverter do specifically in conjunction with the generator? How would it be installed and where? Electrical systems are not my forte' as you can tell. I would appreciate someone being able to explain the connection between the two so I will be able to order, have installed, etc the right components. I hope this all makes sense. Thank you for any information you can give me. Also if it would be better for me to find additional information on this on a link I would appreciate some direction as to where to go. Curt

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Start here - http://www.jackdanmayer.com/rv_electrical_and_solar.htm . Even though it talks a lot about solar, the article references other articles and does explain how it all works.

Short explanation A generator provides 120 volt alternating current (AC) electric power, which is what you get from a campground (shore power) to power your appliances, computers, air conditioners, etc. An inverter will generate a small amount of 120 volt AC from your batteries, which are 12 volt direct current (DC) electric power. There are small inverters that do nothing more, enough to power computers or TVs, but not microwaves or coffee makers. There are larger inverter/chargers that can run a microwave and also will recharge your batteries from a generator or shore power. The charger in an inverter/charger is normally much better than the one most RVs come with, called a converter, it will charge the batteries faster and will maintain them better. You probably have to think about space for more batteries than the default for your 5th wheel. Your batteries provide power for most of your lights, your water pump (sinks, showers, etc.), electronics for your furnace, hot water, etc.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

I can't imagine what you would need an inverter for. Assuming the generator doesn't have a 12VDC output the converter in the coach should provide sufficient 12V current to power your 12V lights and systems. The inverter provides 120VAC from your batteries. When running the generator you wouldn't be using the batteries. To be self sufficient you would want an inverter but it has nothing to do with the generator.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Curt and Glenda,

One doesn't "have" to have an inverter unless one has something like a residential refrigerator or some other device that one wants to have running when not on shore power or with a generator running. In our case, we ordered our fifth wheel with a pure sine wave inverter and two extra batteries, for a total of 4 batteries. Our intent at the time was to have that capability while boondocking. While we have a Honda EU3000IS generator, we will be able to use that when power outages might extend for days, plus, we can use it to recharge the batteries.

Our inverter is a large one, a Xantrex SW3000 inverter that can run the microwave and other appliances. Since we've begun to live in ours full-time, we've removed the normal RV refrigerator and replaced it with a residential refrigerator. By having the factory install our inverter, they built a compartment with an exterior door for access to the batteries and the inverter mounted on top of that compartment so the electrical wiring can be shorter in length.

Do your homework with regards to what your actual needs are and to how much you want to spend should you want to have an inverter. Most of the RV's that have residential fridges installed go with a 1000 watt inverter. Not being an electrician, I don't know if extra batteries are needed for one that size.

Good luck with your research.

Terry

lowryc50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you everyone for further educating me. I understand now from what you all are saying that the batteries power those things in the RV that run on 12v DC as bjoyce pointed out. When the generator is running you can run the 120v AC things like microwave and TV and will recharge the batteries. The inverter would be used to convert the 12v from the batteries to AC when not on shore power(boon docking). I don't know why that was so hard to understand before. Looks like I may want to increase the number of batteries and talk to the dealer about an inverter when we order after the first of the year. Thank you all again. Curt

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Curt and Glenda,

Since you are considering that, keep in mind that there are two types of inverters. Pure sine wave inverters provide the "cleanest," most stable power and is best for computerized circuitry, including the computers and many circuits in appliances. A modified sine wave inverter is not so good for those devices and circuits.

Terry