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More Watts
Installed a Giandel 3000 watt inverter to replace my 2200. Larger than the 2200 but fits comfortably in the under-the-refrigerator compartment (with drawer removed).

I'm in Tucson.
jor
09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
Re: More Watts
Reply #1 –
Did you also increase house battery bank size/capacity?
Re: More Watts
Reply #2 –
Quote
Did you also increase house battery bank size/capacity?

Nah. Just staying with 400ah. I've got room for a couple more so if the spirit moves me...
jor
09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
Re: More Watts
Reply #4 –
Quote
So the bigger inverter just drains the batteries faster?

Not really. Our usage remains the same. Just want to avoid tripping the internal breaker if I happen to exceed its capacity. Not really needed but why not!!!  :D
jor
09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
Re: More Watts
Reply #5 –
We now have two 206ah replacing our old four LA batteries and gained an outdoor storage compartment, the old battery box.  We have an old 2000W inverter but basically never use it.  We mostly have everything in our 98~MB running on 12v or propane.  We do have a tea water boiler and a toaster oven that use 120v but everything else is 12v and no microwave oven.  Now we can use the extra 200ah+ over our old batteries in the winter time for the furnace and not have to depend on the solar panels to get us the extra power we need after a few days in cold weather.   Maybe we might consider running the roof AC to cool down the LD for a few minutes in summer time on a hot day but we probably would have to put in soft start capacitor to get it to run with our 2000 inverter?  We could add more batteries back into our old battery compartment but for now we have enough.

     Karen~Liam
       98 ~ MB
         NinA
1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags
Re: More Watts
Reply #6 –
Quote from: Karen & Liam  - 
Maybe we might consider running the roof AC to cool down the LD for a few minutes in summer time on a hot day but we probably would have to put in soft start capacitor to get it to run with our 2000 inverter?  We could add more batteries back into our old battery compartment but for now we have enough.
Definitely would need a soft start, and even then 2000 is pretty darn close.   Mine at 3000 watts never runs into issues.

I regularly run my AC (actually a heat pump on the 2017’s) once my 400ah of batteries are fully charged.   I’ll run it one to two hours, or until the batteries are down to 80%-75%, to precool the RV or just to prep & eat lunch, knowing I’ll still be fully charged later that day.

But then I have 850 watts solar on top, so on a sunny day I’m generating about 600 watts, or 33-40 percent of what the heat pump uses.
Dave

2017 TK
Re: More Watts
Reply #7 –
Unfortunately we are restricted for our roof solar panels by our BlueSky 3000i which caps us at 30 amps.  I remember one of the techs an AM Solar suggested that we could put up to 460 watts of panels for that BS3000i unit.  We have about 420 Watts in panels now but have more roof space if we need it.  We are going to try to see how this amount of panels work with our new 400ah+ Li batteries.  We did not have power issues with good solar with our old batteries except when we had to run the furnace which usually coincided with cloudy weather.  Our current panel configuration may be technically more watts than recommended.  The setup has never output over the recommended amperage even when we were in the desert in the summertime

       Karen~Liam
         98 ~ MB
           NinA
1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags
Re: More Watts
Reply #8 –
Quote from: Karen & Liam  - 
Unfortunately we are restricted for our roof solar panels by our BlueSky 3000i which caps us at 30 amps.  I remember one of the techs an AM Solar suggested that we could put up to 460 watts of panels for that BS3000i unit. 

We have 560-watts of solar and rarely see 30-amps except in mid-summer.
Excess solar power is dumped by the controller. I’m considering adding another 100-watt for winter usage.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: More Watts
Reply #9 –
Ray, here, who doesn't understand a Watt from a What!  Can someone recommend an appropriate soft start device for use on my Rear Bath?  I, too, would like to use my ample solar to spot cool the moho from time to time to time.  Thank you in advance.
2017 RB
Re: More Watts
Reply #10 –
Hi Ray, The soft start device isn't always necessary. In Liam's case only because his 2kw inverter was so close to being not enough surge capacity. Nothing to do with the solar panels.  A 30 amp limit on the charging current from solar isn't an issue. I consider that to never be enough to run an air conditioner. It is all about the Lithium batteries. 
   In most systems the LiF batteries supply power to the inverter, and the inverter runs the standard LD supplied roof air conditioner, usually a Dometic, and the solar supplements the batteries until they run down. Running the generator or plugging in is still needed except for short spells of air con use.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: More Watts
Reply #11 –

I would recommend the soft-start, to ease the impact to the inverter. I installed this one recently, and it works seamlessly:
Amazon.com: Wodli Soft Start Kit for RV Air Conditioner, RV AC Soft Start...
You have to download the correct instructions for this exact model number - info provided with the unit.

Steve

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: More Watts
Reply #12 –
Ok, thank you Ron and Steve.  I will go over these threads again and look into things a bit further before I make a move. 
2017 RB
Re: More Watts
Reply #13 –
Ditto Steve.  How did your install go and has it worked well?  I have noticed most recently since I changed our two old Starting Capacitors in our old roof unit since they were failing that our roof AC will run when we are hooked up to 20amps AC.  The new Capacitors are just like replacements not soft start.  That was never the case before, we always had to have our generator or be hooked up to 30amps.  We are planning on adding a soft start some day.


   Karen~Liam
     98 ~ MB
       NinA

  

1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags
Re: More Watts
Reply #14 –
Quote from: Karen & Liam  - 
Ditto Steve.  How did your install go and has it worked well?
It worked well - the install has you removing the start cap, if there is one. I simply disconnected ours, leaving the leads handy in case I decided for some reason to revert. They site you link to had good pics and instructions, but I found it expedient to rewrite them for ease of my specific case - I was on the roof on a day when temps were going to reach 100. A speedy install was mandatory.

The unit sounds very different now as the compressor engages - very 'gentle' and no dip in voltage noted. Have not actually tried using the inverter, since I don't intend to camp in hot weather without hookups.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: More Watts
Reply #15 –
Hi Steve; I don't plan on trying to run my old Dometic off of my inverter, but it wouldn't hurt to have a soft start circuit on my old roof A/C. The cycling is pretty rough knowing how much current a locked rotor takes. While I'm in there I plan to replace the two capacitors in the circuit.  Thanks for that Woodli link.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: More Watts
Reply #16 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
While I'm in their I plan to replace the two capacitors in the circuit.  Thanks for that Woodli link.  RonB

Ron, in a generalized sense, the soft-start replaces the start capacitor function. The start capacitor is not used.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: More Watts
Reply #17 –
Quote from: Steve  - 

The unit sounds very different now as the compressor engages - very 'gentle' and no dip in voltage noted. Have not actually tried using the inverter, since I don't intend to camp in hot weather without hookups.


For the few occasions we need to sleep with the A/C on, the quieter compressors' start is a nice improvement. The soft-start reduces thumping to a minimum and significantly reduces the start-up amperage surge that can damage the A/C's electrical components. It's another win-win.

Modern A/Cs should come with soft-starts, but most do not. At the manufacturer's level, the upgrade would not cost much. Some Dometic European A/Cs have inverter drives.

Larry

Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
 
Re: More Watts
Reply #18 –
Our new Soft Start came from Amazon today.  Thank You Steve for the link on Amazon.  We don't use our AC often, we tend to stay away from hot places when they are hot!  We mostly use our AC to cool down our LD at night before bed for about an hour or so when we are in a hot place when hot.  This unit will give us an easier start on our AC when plugged in or now maybe on our new Li batteries. 

      Karen~Liam
        98 ~ MB
          NinA
1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags