CR CRUISER
Campbell River,BC
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Joined: 04/21/2006
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Most of our RVing is at locations without services so one of our priorities is battery power conservation. Even though we have one of the quiet generators I still hate disturbing the peacefulness of the camping atmosphere.
The inverter that I have installed consumes about 1AH even when not using it. As well the LCD TV and DVD consume a small amount as well. I know it's not much, but over 4 or 5 days, it starts to add up. There is a remote panel that we can turn the inverter off but a few times we have forgotten and wasted battery power.
I'm trying to figure out a way to install a timer on the 12 volt inverter supply power. I could use a latching solenoid (<.2amps) on the power feed cable and I need to come up with some sort of timer to activate it. I thought of one of those bathroom heat lamp timers but they only go up to 60 minutes. I'm looking for one that will go up to 3 hours so that when we climb into bed and watch a movie, the inverter will automatically shut off without me having to boot the DW out of bed to go turn it off before we go to sleep.
Does anybody have any suggestions for a 12 volt timer that would work?
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Might find something useful here
or Here
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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Center Pin
Fort Langley, BC
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This should work nicely 12h Spring Wound Timer
Trailer: 07 Tango 299BHS
TV: 2004.5 Dodge 610 CTD 3500 QC 48RE 2wd Laramie SRW, FP Gauge, FASS 95/95, Rhino Lining, Hensley Arrow, Reese Signature Series 5er Hitch, Air Bags & Compressor, Canopy, AL Boat Rack.
Been running B100 home brew June 2008!
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CR CRUISER
Campbell River,BC
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This should work exactly as I want.
Thanks for the info.
Lee
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sum1
So-Cal
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Beware! Putting a timer/switch/relay on the 12V supply side requires a configuration that can handle the input load at the inverter's full rating plus some safety margin. Keep in mind that the input amps can be 10 - 15 times the output amps.
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TechWriter
Green Bay, WI USA
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Joined: 12/22/2002
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sum1 wrote:Beware! Putting a timer/switch/relay on the 12V supply side requires a configuration that can handle the input load at the inverter's full rating plus some safety margin. Keep in mind that the input amps can be 10 - 15 times the output amps.
Try one of these if there's one for your generator/inverter.
Tom
2004 34' Sea Breeze LX 8341
Vortec 8.1L & W-22
w/Xantrex RS2000 inverter/charger +
Xantrex XW-MPPT60-150 60A Charge Controller with 760W (3/4 KW) of Kyocera solar
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CR CRUISER
Campbell River,BC
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sum1 wrote:Beware! Putting a timer/switch/relay on the 12V supply side requires a configuration that can handle the input load at the inverter's full rating plus some safety margin. Keep in mind that the input amps can be 10 - 15 times the output amps.
Yes, you are correct. The timer will only power on/off the latching solenoid (relay) that I'm putting in the 12 volt feed to the inverter. The solenoid only requires 3.8 amps to activate and 0.13 amps to hold. It is rated for 250 amps continuous load.
This is the solenoid that I'll be using.
http://bluesea.com/category/4/14/products/9012
The downside is it's price,, $175
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smkettner
Southern California
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I would look at moving the remote switch within reach of the bed.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
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Center Pin
Fort Langley, BC
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CR CRUISER wrote:
Yes, you are correct. The timer will only power on/off the latching solenoid (relay) that I'm putting in the 12 volt feed to the inverter. The solenoid only requires 3.8 amps to activate and 0.13 amps to hold. It is rated for 250 amps continuous load.
This is the solenoid that I'll be using.
http://bluesea.com/category/4/14/products/9012
The downside is it's price,, $175
Have you talked to a parts guy at the local auto parts store? I while ago I needed a continue duty relay for the windless on my boat. If memory serves me right I got one rated for continuous 100 amps and it was $10-$15, I don't remember what it's draw was to energize. He had a number of them and the specs.
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CR CRUISER
Campbell River,BC
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smkettner wrote:I would look at moving the remote switch within reach of the bed.
I had thought of that but the remote panel is presently at the aft end of the trailer with all of the other power panels. If I moved it to the front bedroom, I would have to turn it on there in order to use the microwave in the galley. Then I probably would forget to turn it off.
I already explored the possibility of somehow connecting 2 remotes to this inverter but Xantrex says it can't be done.
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