Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-05-2020, 05:05 PM   #1
Weekend Camper
 
Monarch's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location:
Posts: 47
Inverter/Charger

Does anyone have experience using an inverter/charger that you attach to your tow vehicle's battery and connects to the trailer's shore line plug? One has to leave the tow vehicle idling while supplying power to the trailer. for example see https://cargenerator.com/ or Inverter Charger | Freedom HF Inverter/Charger | Xantrex.

Supposedly, they can be used to charge the trailer's battery bank. Is that true?
__________________
Monarch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2020, 05:50 PM   #2
Seasonal Camper
 
Rrizz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: PA
Posts: 272
Looks like an overpriced 1000w inverter to me with fancy marketing. 200-300 watts for a fridge?? not likely. same for a heater/furnace..
__________________
2010 sunset trail ST26RK, 2012 Nissan Titan SV crew cab, equalizer hitch / Pine Grove, Pa
Rrizz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2020, 06:32 PM   #3
Site Team
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,151
Walmart has them also.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Xantrex-F...verter/2994992


It's a Modified Sine Wave. Not a pure, but if you're not intending to use it for any electronics that requires a pure sine wave, it should work. Xantrex has a pretty good name in the field.
If I can ask, what is your need for one?
You must be thinking about dry camping?



Some of the higher end RV's are using inverters to run the residential fridge. They can get AC when on the road traveling to keep the fridge cold. So I guess you are right that it would get the DC from the tow vehicle, and transfers it to the RV.
Lloyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2020, 08:26 AM   #4
Weekend Camper
 
Monarch's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location:
Posts: 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lloyd View Post
.................................................. ...........................
You must be thinking about dry camping?

Some of the higher end RV's are using inverters to run the residential fridge. They can get AC when on the road traveling to keep the fridge cold. So I guess you are right that it would get the DC from the tow vehicle, and transfers it to the RV.
Yes, dry camping. I have the typical RV fridge. Right now I have a suitcase solar panel, so I can only power up what the battery does.
I t would be nice to have a backup to charge my trailer bsttery.
__________________
Monarch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2020, 09:22 AM   #5
Site Team
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,151
If that's all you want to do, have you considered a small generator and battery charger?
I think by the time you would get that inverter hooked up you would probably have at least $400 invested. A small generator could come in handy for other uses also.
A lot of the smaller ones aren't to expensive, and some are pretty quiet with low decibel rating.
Lloyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2020, 04:10 PM   #6
Seasonal Camper
 
Rrizz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: PA
Posts: 272
Precisely. I have a Wen 2000 watt I bought off amazon a few years back for $600. I use it for when I go to car stereo shows, paired with a 12v power supply ($80) to keep the battery charged up and topped off.
The generator has been flawless, starts on first pull, is ridiculously quiet (just as quiet as the $1200 Honda) and sips gas. I have also used it to power my jobsite trailer while waiting for electricians to get me power. (lights, laptop, printer, ect. no heat or AC) and have run it for 8 hour days on less than a gallon of gas.
__________________
2010 sunset trail ST26RK, 2012 Nissan Titan SV crew cab, equalizer hitch / Pine Grove, Pa
Rrizz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2020, 08:30 PM   #7
Weekend Camper
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: IN
Posts: 13
Depending on how many AC amps you are wanting you will quickly decide for a generator. Just use the old Watts = V X I formula. We use a 600 Watt (by the way I would suggest use just a pure sine wave inverter - the AC electronics in your trailer will thank you) inverter. Which means I have approx. max of 5 amps of 120V AC power. The kicker is the DC battery draw for that measly 5 amps AC is a draw of 50 Amps DC. You can see the bigger the inverter the way bigger DC draw on you batteries or a running tow vehicle. We have 2 100 amp batteries. The set up as I configured it currently will run the TV and my computer and network if we need it. (Samlex Solar PST-600-12 PST Series Pure Sine Wave Inverter)
__________________
2019 Sunset Super Lite 289QB
Photobob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2020, 08:51 PM   #8
Family Vacation Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 136
Much easier charging trailer batteries from TOW using a 7-pin harness (B+) charging line? This line is FUSED and Relay Controlled by IGN= ON so that you do NOT find a dead TOW start battery :-) Make sure GROUND is properly sized and wired too.
TerryH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2020, 07:11 AM   #9
New Camper
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: MA
Posts: 5
External inverter use

[QUOTE=Monarch;143404]Does anyone have experience using an inverter/charger that you attach to your tow vehicle's battery and connects to the trailer's shore line plug? One has to leave the tow vehicle idling while supplying power to the trailer. for example see https://cargenerator.com/ or Inverter Charger | Freedom HF Inverter/Charger | Xantrex.

Supposedly, they can be used to charge the trailer's battery bank. Is that true?
My primary inverter failed and the battery got completely drained which shut down all systems in the camper. As we are seasonal this year I needed to get the frig and lights powered up. I Purchased a auto charger/inverter at Walmart that had battery minder function. I took about six hours to fully recharge but once done it operated just like the internal unit and allowed us to have full function in the camper until I got the replacement a week later.
Robldoit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2020, 09:33 AM   #10
Gone Traveling
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,392
[QUOTE=Robldoit;143585]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monarch View Post
Does anyone have experience using an inverter/charger that you attach to your tow vehicle's battery and connects to the trailer's shore line plug? One has to leave the tow vehicle idling while supplying power to the trailer. for example see https://cargenerator.com/ or Inverter Charger | Freedom HF Inverter/Charger | Xantrex.

Supposedly, they can be used to charge the trailer's battery bank. Is that true?
My primary inverter failed and the battery got completely drained which shut down all systems in the camper. As we are seasonal this year I needed to get the frig and lights powered up. I Purchased a auto charger/inverter at Walmart that had battery minder function. I took about six hours to fully recharge but once done it operated just like the internal unit and allowed us to have full function in the camper until I got the replacement a week later.
Sounds like you left your vehicle connected to the RV running for a week? Surely not?
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2020, 11:22 AM   #11
Weekend Camper
 
Monarch's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location:
Posts: 47
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans View Post
[

Sounds like you left your vehicle connected to the RV running for a week? Surely not?
Or the vehicle not running with the inverter attached?
__________________
Monarch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2020, 11:45 AM   #12
Weekend Camper
 
Monarch's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location:
Posts: 47
Perhaps, I could just charge my trailer's batteries directly from my truck using jumper cables? Would I have to disconnect my trailer from the batteries?
__________________
Monarch is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Crossroads RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×