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Topic ClosedMy adding inverter plans - Pls review and comment - Event Date: 29 Mar 2018
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Blender Bob View Drop Down
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Posts: 48 		Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: My adding inverter plans - Pls review and comment
    Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 7:43pm
With caution and keeping draw levels low, I set out to do some testing on just what does the R-Pod microware pull when on.  First found thing I found when I used the F.R. 30a cable to take power from my test inverter to the R-Pod, was in immediate alarm from the inverter. Contacting Whistler inverter company, support there mentions that the RV probably has ground connected to white wire which signals a short to the inverter. His suggestion is to use a 2 prong plug and not 3 on the cable. Doing more research, I find a lot of discussion about grounding vs grounded: i.e. grounding boats and RVs is different. I believe the R-pod is wired for land/shore power via it power cord and trailer input. Powering via an isolated inverted w/o a true earth ground is a different story. More info in here:  https://www.civicsolar.com/support/installer/articles/electrical-grounding-boats-and-rvs   After much more reading, i felt comfortable using a 3 to 2 prong plug to exit the inverter and into the RV cable -- and now the RV is taking power from inverter. Yaay!  I have all the circuit breakers open there is no demand. Next is to test the pull of the Microwave.
Bob
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2631 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 7:49pm
When I was young and stupid, and also in the army... I had the occasion to remove the batteries from a military jeep, which is a 24V system (two 12V batteries in series). Not knowing the "correct" sequence, I put an open end wrench on the positive terminals of one of the batteries. Well, it was very secure, so I had to put some muscle into it. When it broke loose, it made direct contact with the frame of the seat (both batteries were under one of the front seats). It took less than 1 second for that wrench to become cherry red and too hot to touch. It took less than 2 seconds to completely destroy that battery. It was also very obviously destroyed, as it was swollen in all 6 directions (up, down, north, south, east, and west) and smoking.

I don't know how many amps that wrench was carrying, but it was toast too. Zero to toast in 2 seconds. Hey! That's Tesla acceleration! Star
bp
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 8:57pm
bp,
Your experience is exactly why we disconnect the negative of the battery first. Glad you weren't holding the wrench firmly.
Charlie
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Posts: 2631 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 9:03pm
Originally posted by CharlieM

bp,
Your experience is exactly why we disconnect the negative of the battery first. Glad you weren't holding the wrench firmly.
In spite of being a "shade tree mechanic", I had never learned that important little lesson. Oh, I had a good grip on that wrench, but I was able to get my hand off it quite quickly.
bp
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Posts: 471 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 10:20pm
Originally posted by Blender Bob

Thanks Voisj for your story and suggestions.
If you liked that story I have 1 more for you.
While travelling in Death Valley a few weeks ago, I ran into a guy wintering there from Alaska. He had built his own mini trailer about 12' long and He had 6 ( or 8?) of these (I think it was these) 6 volt 428 amp hour batteries,
 and a 600+ watt solar set up on the roof. His furnace and water heater (Tankless) were the only gas items He had, everything else was electric including his induction cooktop. He even had a small window type A/C unit to keep it cool, And it worked well.
@ $370 apiece It seems steep, but it can be done, I've seen it. 
What if you just had 2?,  you may be able to make Margaritas and power up the microwave occasionally? I think for $700 two of these may be good for a serious boondocker.
Cheers John
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Posts: 1446 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Apr 2018 at 9:10am
Originally posted by voisj

While travelling in Death Valley a few weeks ago...

Maybe the lesson is that anything is possible but at just 6 of these batteries, an inverter, a 400w solar system, that's roughly $2200 for batteries, $270 for an inverter, $500 for the solar, and at least $100 for wire, connectors and other doodads, you're north of $3000.  At 123 pounds each, just the batteries are 738 pounds....

If you want to spend the winter in Death Valley and you want to spend that much on electricity, okay.  You still have to deal with water, sewage, trash, food, etc., so it's not like you're totally self-suffient on site though.

Whatever floats your boat.  This doesn't seem like a very practical way to go, especially in terms of versatility.  Death Valley gets a lot of sun.  Pods have wheels, so they are meant to travel to many locations, not all of which have a lot of consistent sun.  For a lot less, a relatively quiet generator works rain or shine, night or day (except quiet hours).

Of course Blender Bob isn't talking about an induction stove top so he won't have to spend this much money.  If he can make it work, great.  The versatility of a generator is still hard to beat in my opinion.

I have a 100w solar system I take when I'm going somewhere sunny.  I leave it at home if I'm going to, say, the Smokies.  Shade is nice in the summer.

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Blender Bob View Drop Down
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Posts: 48 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 12:24pm

My final test! With a 1200Watt inverter hooked up, I fired up the microwave that came with my 178 to find out that no matter what setting: Popcorn, Beverage, P10 power, the highest draw was 660 to 680 watts off the inverter. What a surprise since the device is rated for 1500 watts. Note: I am NOT using the grill or convection oven.  This solves a lot of problems!!

So with my two marine 12v DC24 batteries, I get approx. 18 min of microwave and stayed above 56% battery level. That’s easy instructions to measure. And, there’s plenty of power to run my blender for frozen margaritas enough to blind most of my camping comrades. Add to this solution, my 120W solar can put back ~25% of my total battery capacity per day, so with a little monitoring all can go well for days of dry camping.

Summary things I learned: 1) Manage demand, this is not a shore power solution. Try to stay below inverter power of 1200w to keep from using giant battery cables. 2) Use a 3 to 2 prong 110v adapter to remove the 3 prong ground from the inverter – address grounded / grounding. 3) Test your intended demand as it may be different than you think. 4) Watch resting battery voltage and stay above 12.25v to length battery life, but if a deep cycle demand is needed, well you get a few dozen before it’s new battery time. So why not!

Thanks everyone for your comments!
Bob
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Posts: 2588 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 12:43pm
Glad to know you are going to enjoy your margaritas.  We make them with hand crushed chunky ice so only muscle power is needed.  The key to a good margarita, good tequila and fresh lime juice and the right amount of Contreau or triple sec.  No cheap tequila and no margarita mix.  My personal favorite is Herradura Reposada, but it's really better just to drink straight.  But sip it and savor it like a good Irish whisky.  
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 12:50pm
It's a lot to go through.. considering perfection is reached with 3 fingers of good bourbon and 2 pieces of ice...

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Blender Bob View Drop Down
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Posts: 48 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 1:00pm
Aaahh! So true, so true! If I was only closer to KY. 

Makes me want to pack up and head out. Agreed, can't go cheap. No marg mixers. I use Don Julio blanca and Grand Marnier. For slow sipping, my Innsbruck connection brings home-made Austrian schnapps. I count my many blessings gazing at the milky way.
Bob
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