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dave4106
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 72.160.32.106
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 8:06 pm: | |
why would an a/c be wired off converter. my understanding is that this would deplete the batteries rather quickly. if the generator was running to keep the batteries charged while using a/c , would the charger be able to keep up? |
Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Registered Member
Username: Pete_rtsdaytona
Post Number: 258
Registered: 1-2005
Posted From: 72.40.13.48
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 9:15 am: | |
Dave
I'll be wiring my front A/C unit off the INVERTER
(your title says inverter - the body of your post says converter) - because my Trace DR3624 inverter has a built in "transfer switch" - when plugged into "pole power" the Pole Power 110 ac goes to my front Air Conditioner directly thru the transfer switch and my trace changes from "invert mode" to "smart battery charger mode"
When going down the road -(no pole power) - i'll switch to "invert mode" and let the 6v92 alternator and batteries power my fromt air conditioner unit
Pete RTS/Daytona
(Message edited by pete RTS/Daytona on August 06, 2006) |
James Robinson (Jjrbus)
Registered Member
Username: Jjrbus
Post Number: 41
Registered: 12-2000
Posted From: 68.244.220.68
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 10:39 am: | |
Pete explained it pretty well, I also have the trace DR3624 and use it to run all the 120Volt AC items when not running the generator or hooked to a power pole.
When running, with the selector switch in the both position (house and bus batteries) the bus alternator charges both sets of batteries. The inverter takes power from the house batteries and runs the AC, 120 volt refrigerator, lights ect..
I have been useing this setup for 5 years with no problems. |
Greg Peterson (Gpmci102)
Registered Member
Username: Gpmci102
Post Number: 2
Registered: 8-2006
Posted From: 71.228.18.37
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 1:30 pm: | |
I am not going to hook up any of my AC units to the inverter. The inverter will only be used to run my refrigerator and other small loads when I am parked and with out generator or shore power. I will need more than one AC running when going down the road and the practical way to do this is with a generator or the original bus air.
If you do the calculations to run one AC unit off an inverter, even for a short time, you will find that you need submarine size battery banks. You can help supply this from the bus alternator when going down the road but you will probably need two more AC units running and that is a big load without a generator. You probably will need a generator anyway when parked to automatically charge the batteries when required. I don’t think you will want to start up the big bus engine just to charge the batteries.
If you need a generator anyway I don’t see what running the AC off the inverter buys you, the down side is you need a bigger and more expensive inverter and a large expensive bank of batteries. The batteries will be cycled frequently and probably discharge a good amount each charge and discharge cycle. This will shorten the life of these expensive batteries.
Of course this is just my opinion. If you have a lot of extra $$$$ run everything on the inverter. |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 155
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 63.97.117.27
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 10:23 pm: | |
Greg,
I agree. I run my AC from the gen while underway. It makes no sense to me to run it through an inverter and lose all that power to heat. Most generators don't get used enough anyway.
Some of the newer water cooled diesel generators are so quiet that I just have to have one. My old gas Onan is noisy but it does the job just fine and burns very little gas, but when it dies I will have that diesel. |
dave4106
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 72.160.32.106
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 07, 2006 - 1:05 am: | |
thankyou for the feedback. you all have reenforced what looked like a no brainer to me. i already rewired the front a/c back to the generator/shoreline leg. |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member
Username: Buswarrior
Post Number: 856
Registered: 12-2000
Posted From: 70.48.193.36
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 08, 2006 - 6:57 pm: | |
Hello
Or....
depending on the capability of your inverter...
power the AC through the inverter, inverter tied to both the coach DC and to the generator.
Going down the road, you have the choice to run it off the big engine alternator or run the genset.
I like to find redundancy where I can find it.
My stuff seems to break when I don't want it to!
happy coaching!
buswarrior |