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Old 07-15-2016, 02:09 PM   #1
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Inverter in a 3895

We just picked up a 2016 3895 and I want to install an inverter. It looks ike the Xantrex Freedom 458 fits the bill. Has anyone put one of these in their TH? Do I have to uninstall the factory charging system?
Basically what I want to do have a full coach inverter with passthrough for gennie and shore power, and an off switch by the Voltage's existing panels? Easy right!!?
thanks for any advice. first post!
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Old 07-15-2016, 02:33 PM   #2
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I am sure you understand the pitfalls of going full coach. That being said I would recommend leaving the existing DC supply/charger in place, just isolated at the breakers. This way you can have a backup should something go wrong.

I am a bit biased, but have you looked at Magnum?

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Old 07-15-2016, 02:56 PM   #3
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Honestly I dont know the pitfalls. My last toyhauler had a simple 600 watt unit behind the TV.
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Old 07-17-2016, 03:31 PM   #4
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Personally, if I were going to go whole RV, I'd cough up the bux for pure sine wave. I have a small MSW inverter to dedicated receptacles that run a couple of TVs and the sound system and charge phone and laptop.

Whole house needs lots of batteries - 4 x 6V at least.

I agree with other poster: leave converter in place. Remember to turn it off when running inverter.

I honestly don't know if a built in 25A transfer switch is rated to handle 30 or 50A when you're on shore power.
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Old 07-18-2016, 05:06 PM   #5
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Whole coach isn't a good idea. I have a Xantrex 3000 watt running "most" of my coach. Exclude the Air Conditioners, Fridge, Microwave and any other high load items and then run the rest of the coach off the inverter.

I discarded my "converter" and its charging system and use the charging system from the "inverter" instead. Works GREAT!
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Old 07-18-2016, 06:27 PM   #6
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I have a Magnum 3100W unit in my 3950 with 4-6V golf cart batteries and 370W of solar on the roof. We dry camp a few times a year at NASCAR tracks. I only start the generator if we want to run the AC. Mine powers both refrigerators, the ice maker, TV, coffee pot, microwave, DirecTV receiver, radios, fans, etc. all day on a sunny day and still manages to charge the batteries enough to make it thru the night and make coffee in the morning before the sun starts working for me again. Get a GOOD charge controller (Bogart Engineering). Solar is the way to go in my opinion.
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Old 07-19-2016, 03:05 AM   #7
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My experience is close to donzinger's. We have 4x100w panels, a xantrex 2000 pure sine inverter, 4x12 bats on board, and an aux 4x6v pack. We only start the Gen for A/C, and run the fridge off propane. Microwave, coffee, toaster oven no problem, just not at the same time!
After a few days, If it was a cloudy day sometimes we may need to run the gen at night for a half hour or so before bed just to be sure to make the night.
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Old 07-19-2016, 03:43 PM   #8
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thanks for the input. For you guys that are only doing partial coach, how are you connecting to specific outlets? At the circuit panel?
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Old 07-19-2016, 07:14 PM   #9
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My inverter is in the basement and the receptacles are in the cabinet under the main TV and behind the bedroom TV. Different color so as not to get confused with shore power receptacle.


Not elegant, but works perfectly.
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Old 07-19-2016, 10:51 PM   #10
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I power the whole trailer via inverter by plugging my shore power cord into the inverter outlet. I make sure the breaker for the converter is switched off in the AC panel before doing this and also switch off the air con, water heater, and microwave breakers so that they can't accidentally be switched on and overload the inverter. All outlets are then hot just like when plugged into shore power. I can run the fridge on inverter electricity if I want, but I manually switch it to gas. Not slick as a transfer switch, but I don't have an onboard genny and this works for our off grid camping style.
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Old 07-19-2016, 11:05 PM   #11
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My inverter is always on unless the AC is on. Love it

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Old 07-19-2016, 11:22 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewarnerusa View Post
I power the whole trailer via inverter by plugging my shore power cord into the inverter outlet. I make sure the breaker for the converter is switched off in the AC panel before doing this and also switch off the air con, water heater, and microwave breakers so that they can't accidentally be switched on and overload the inverter. All outlets are then hot just like when plugged into shore power. I can run the fridge on inverter electricity if I want, but I manually switch it to gas. Not slick as a transfer switch, but I don't have an onboard genny and this works for our off grid camping style.
this is kind of what I was wanting to do. I would run the AC on inverter though. Does anyone have pictures of their quad 6V battery setup? I found some trays, but they seem expensive
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Old 07-19-2016, 11:40 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the_owl View Post
this is kind of what I was wanting to do. I would run the AC on inverter though. Does anyone have pictures of their quad 6V battery setup? I found some trays, but they seem expensive
Here you go
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2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
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Old 07-19-2016, 11:42 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the_owl View Post
this is kind of what I was wanting to do. I would run the AC on inverter though. Does anyone have pictures of their quad 6V battery setup? I found some trays, but they seem expensive
More
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2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
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Old 07-20-2016, 02:01 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donzinger View Post
Here you go
Donz,

I like it!
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Old 07-20-2016, 03:46 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the_owl View Post
this is kind of what I was wanting to do. I would run the AC on inverter though. Does anyone have pictures of their quad 6V battery setup? I found some trays, but they seem expensive
Running AC off of an inverter is not a practical project. Certainly not with only 4 batteries. This link is focused on solar, but addresses the challenges of trying to provide the electricity needed when you don't have access to shore power/generator.
The (Almost) Fantasy of Solar-Powered RV Air Conditioning | Technomadia
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Old 07-20-2016, 03:52 PM   #17
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Even while camping on full hook up, my inverter stays on. If there is a chance of a power outage due to a pending storm and we are running AC, I turn the inverter off. That would kill my four batteries

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2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
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Old 07-20-2016, 09:35 PM   #18
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thanks for the info. Learning as I go. What do you guys like for 6V batteries?
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Old 07-20-2016, 09:41 PM   #19
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I went with the Duracell's from Sam's Club. They're made by Deka

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2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
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Old 07-20-2016, 10:09 PM   #20
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Costco 6V, I think made by Interstate?

Inverters are really cool, but have to be matched to battery capacity and expected loads. If you eliminate the practically infeasible like the air con, and the feasible but requires a lot items like microwave, then they become very handy without a big investment and install. 4 batteries will pair well with a 1000 watt or even 1500 watt inverter, but any bigger of inverter gets a little scary when you consider how many amps @ 12V DC you are pulling.
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