Disconnecting Inverter

[KelloggKid]

Our FC has the newer style inverter that doesn't require separate outlets. I assume that there is a relay that switches the outlet over to the inverter when there is no shore power present.

My question is whether or not there would be a problem with me disconnecting the inverter from our battery pack and leaving it disconnected. We only use the 110 when we are on shore power and never use it when boon docking. In other words, we have never used the inverter and do not see ourselves using it.

Most of our camping is boon docking and we are very conservative with our power usage. Because the inverter adds to the parasitic loads and because it has no on/off switch, I'd like to simply disconnect its negative wire from the battery terminal.

Would there be any harm in doing this and would we still be able to use the outlets when on shore power?

[alano]

I would try disconnecting the positive terminal, not the negative terminal. Why?, because there might be another path to ground resulting in parasitic current drain.

There should be a fuse in series with the positive connection from the inverter to your batteries. I would try removing the fuse and see if your outlets are still hot when connected to shore power. I don't see there being much risk of doing harm since the lack of a fuse shouldn't result in a secondary failure.

[KelloggKid]

Thanks Al. There is no fuse between the battery and the inverter. There is, however, a circuit breaker built into the front panel of the inverter. Unfortunately it is not the time with an on/off switch but simply has a reset button should it be tripped. Your comment about disconnecting the positive rather than the negative lead makes perfect sense. The trailer is presently in storage for the winter but when I pull her out and put the batteries back in I intend to disconnect the positive lead to the inverter and then see if the outlets still work on shore power. Assuming they work then I'll just leave the inverter disconnected.

[billrector]

Originally Posted by KelloggKid

Thanks Al. There is no fuse between the battery and the inverter. There is, however, a circuit breaker built into the front panel of the inverter. Unfortunately it is not the time with an on/off switch but simply has a reset button should it be tripped. Your comment about disconnecting the positive rather than the negative lead makes perfect sense. The trailer is presently in storage for the winter but when I pull her out and put the batteries back in I intend to disconnect the positive lead to the inverter and then see if the outlets still work on shore power. Assuming they work then I'll just leave the inverter disconnected.

Why not install a 4-way battery switch.....all off, all on, airstream on, inverter on? That way you can turn the inverter off if you want but can easily turn it back on if you want to watch TV when boondocking.

[alano]

Originally Posted by billrector

Why not install a 4-way battery switch.....all off, all on, airstream on, inverter on? That way you can turn the inverter off if you want but can easily turn it back on if you want to watch TV when boondocking.

A simple ON/OFF switch (SPST) could work just as well.

[pcskier]

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f542...ll-168120.html

Good info in this thread with a switch installed by Wulfrat that does exactly what you want but with the option of powering the inverter if you ever need it. As well as the capability to isolate the batteries fully for short term storage.

[mythbuster88]

My inverter has instructions printed on top that says in order for the pass through function to work it needs 12V.

[overlander63]

Disconnect both positive and negative inverter leads from the batteries.
Unplug the inverter from the 120v system. It's a simple plug in to an outlet.
That's it.