running a/c on inverter

[David Brady]

Hi Corey,



I have run one air conditioner from an inverter, but on the LXi

the inverter amperage draw occurs before the shunt for the

ammeter, so the draw doesn't show on the ammeter (I thought

all Wanderlodges were set up this way).



When the engine is running, as soon as the battery voltage

drops below 14.7V (or so), the alternator will start to put

out some serious current to bring the battery banks back up

to 14.7V. So you may get a few milliseconds of free battery

buffer powering your AC when the AC first kicks in, but the

alternator will power the AC from that point on.



David

'02 LXi, NC



coreyg67 wrote:

I agree with you to some degree, BUT, you have to take into
consideration the capacity of

the batteries on the coach. At which, the alternator is not required to
completely supply

the power for the A/C. I'm just guessing, I know absolutely NOTHING
about 12volt

systems, or converting D/C to A/C.



David, have you ever run a single A/C with the switch as the coach came
equipped? If

so, what type of draw did you see on the Alt. output meter? Mine runs
at very low levels

the majority of the time, unless I've really drained the 12volt system.



Corey & Jenni

1996 PT42

Prosper, TX



--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com",
David Brady "dmb993@..." wrote:

>

> Hi Bill,

>

> No I'm not sure, but my gut feel is that the generator is more

> efficient. I'll have to look more deeply to see if I can come up w/

> numbers. I have one 300 amp alternator on my Series-60. Typically

> alternators are 50% efficient. When generating electricity you're

> better off generating high voltage and low current, which is what

> you'll do with the generator, and not do with the alternator.

> Add into this the losses at the inverter. This gives me the
feeling that

> the genny will offer more economy. But I might be wrong...

>

> David Brady

> '02 LXi, NC

>

> Wilhelmus Schreurs wrote:

> > David:

> > Are you sure that running your big generator is more
efficient to run

> > one a/c, from the standpoint of burning fuel to the output of
the a/c?

> > With your engines you have two alternators, so each one would
put out

> > 50 percent only and then have 50 percent left over for other
items.

> >

> > Bill 84 FC 35 SB "$quanderlodge"

> > Terrace, B.C. Canada

> >

> >

> > ----- Original Message ----

> > From: David Brady "dmb993@..."

> > To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> > Sent: Tuesday, July 1, 2008 8:25:03 PM

> > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] running a/c on inverter

> >

> > My LXi is set up to run one AC off an inverter and the
alternator, but

> > conventional wisdom is that you shouldn't do it. Steadystate
current

> > draw from the alternator is 150Amps. I want to preserve my
precious

> > alternator, so I always run the generator when I need my AC's.

> > Another point of view to consider the inefficiencies of the
alternator

> > in generating DC and to add on to that the inefficiency of
the inverter

> > to convert to AC to run the air conditioning. The generator
is more

> > efficient at generating the needed AC.

> >

> > David Brady

> > '02 LXi, NC

> >

> > coreyg67 wrote:

> >

> >> I'm trying to figure out a way to run 1 of my A/C units
on the

> >> inverters and alternator. I

> >> would think with the two 2500 watt inverters, and the
300amp

> >> alternator, this would be a

> >> doable venture. Can someone tell me if, and how to do
this task?

> >>

> >> Thanks

> >> Corey & Jenni

> >> 1996 PT42'

> >> Prosper, TX

> >>

> >> ----------------------------------------------------------

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