24 Volt

[Jay Darst]

LEE,

I run the front A/C unit on the Xantrex inverter while driving. My
brother Dan runs his front A/C unit on the Xantrex 2,500 watt
inverter while driving. Have run the roof A/C without the Detroit
running while unloading from a trip. Ran no problem for about an
hour. I shut it off when finished with chores, It didn't shut down
from low voltage or over heat.

Dan's inverter had a "over heat" shut down once. He was using the
160 amp alternator, which was insufficient. He installed a 320 amp
alternator and has not had any trouble since that installation. I
also installed a 320 amp alternator. Ran 6 hours on the interstate
so far, with the front A/C blower ice cold air- no problem- none.

When the voltage to the inverter is reduced(such as when a very high
amp load is present, the amps must increase. Some electrical jargon
says that- for the same load, if voltage is reduced, amperage must
increase or if volatge is increased, amperage will be reduced.

So when the little alternators were trying to maintain the load, I
noticed the voltage drop and the amps were trying to be 150 or so.
Alternators can not conyinuosly run at 90 or 100%, they will fry.
They will run at 70% continously, at least the Leece NeVille will, I
know from experience.

Do not waste your money on the chassis A/C system. It is far to
expensive and troublesome. I spent $1,800 on mine. It works, just
have to recharge it every spring.

Replaced 3 roof top a/c's that were 20 years old for about $1,700.

Installed maintenance free inverter system for $1,800, everything
except labor included.

I would be $1,800 ahead had I known that the inverter could support
a roof a/c.

This is a post I placed a bit ago:

"... My inverter is Xantrex 2500D, meaning dual in/dual out. This
allows
for 2 legs of 30 amps instead of 1. So, there is a 30 amp breaker on
on each of the 2 legs in the factory distribution panel that feed
power to each of the 2 (dual in) power legs of the inverter.

I installed 2 auxillary power distribution panels, 1 for each leg
(dual out) coming from the inverter. Now I have 8 breakers that are
powered by the inverter.

I would install the panels in the closet, even if you have to flush
mount the boxes instead of cutting the factory panel and recessing
the boxes. All 110V distribution in 1 spot! I also installed my link
1000 in the closet so all of my power is controlled from 1 location,
very handy.

The Redi-Line compartment must be water proofed. I used silicone
caulk to plug every little hole in the compartment, Made sure the
access cover installs tightly. Maybe use a little weater seal,
prefer rubber instead of foam.

My system works VERY well, no problems at all.

One error i have seen people make. They have a tendancy to connect
the white wires and the bare ground wires to the same place in the
distribution panels. You CAN NOT do that, you automatic internal
switch will fry trying to "lift" this connection.

You MUST have isolated ground strips in each distribution panel, in
other words, the white wires and bare ground wires must be isolated
from each other.

Here is a link to the installation manual:
http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/429/docserve.asp

Go to page 45, it will show you a simple schematic.

For the Inverter selection process, go to:
http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/254/docserve.asp

For those of you wanting something really technical, something that
will start your grn automatically, you'll need to look at the RV
series.

You are welcome to call me with questions- 217-971-0036.

Jay Darst
85PT40 Xantrex 458 series X-81-2530-12 equipped.
by the way, the "X" at the beginning of the part nuumber would
indicate that the unit is a "rebuilt" unit. Usually about $450
cheaper than the brand new one. Remember, its brand new until you
open the box, then its used. "


I have a fair bit of experience with inverters, have done marine and
RV installs. Have tried all the short cuts and made all the
mistakes. Believe I got it now.

Jay Darst
85PT40
Springfield, IL where we just got back from an Easter weekend in
St.Louis in da Bird. Sundermeier RV Park, VERY nice for a city RV
park. http://www.sundermeierrvpark.com, close to St.Louis Mills humongous
shopping mall! My girls are industrial grade shoppers!

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "indynotjones"
wrote:
>
> Hi electricians, My iota charger had an unfortunate encounter
with a
> welding outlet and I am in the market for a new one. One thing
leads
> to another and I am now looking at running the front A/C off an
> inverter for those minor cooling days without the generator. Then
I
> looked at the currents and now am considering going to and LN 24v
> alternator(maybe 130A at 24V) and an outback VFX3524M inverter.
It
> looks to me like I could hook the inverter to one of the 30 amp
legs
> and put the inverter loads there and that way the existing
selector
> switch would still work as isolation for the 50 amp and gen use?
>
> I have read through the writeup by http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/
but
> I don't want THAT much automation. I think the 24v bus would be
an
> asset for a future solar addition also.
>
> Any thoughts on 24V?
>
> Lee Benson, 85FC35, Carthage, IN
>