I look at the inverter as an option and when or how to leave it on, may be a more personal choice due to what you do with the RV. At times that decsison may change?
Inverter left on full time? It heats some components and maybe a bit of heat in the RV when not needed? When plugged into power, it really doesn't help much but that depends on how vital the 110AC items it powers?
Some situations may change what YOU want!
If you have AC items like CPAP, fans, (maybe the frig on ac?) that you want to keep running when campgrouind power might go out and you don't or can't run a generator, leaving the inverter on will cover you for that.
But the downside of that is it also opens up some possible problems if it goes too long, too much power is drawn out of the batteries and they go flat! That's kind of a strech to imagine for the sleeping situation but might be big in other situations?
Maybe you leave the RV for a long day and assume the 110AC will run the frig and you are also using small space heaters as it is very much cold winter out?
Darned if you do but possibly darned if you don't?
The power goes out and the inverter is off, so you lose the frig as well as potentially freezing a pipe or two?
The alternate is leaving the inverter on in the same situation and the inverter feeding the space heaters is drawing a LOT of power from the batteries and you get back after a long day and 110AC as well as 12VDC are both down and out?
It is my opinion that these are pretty extreme and not what we would expect to deal with in our travels but that is where the personal thing comes up! We don't go cold very often as we don't like it! We don't have any animals to leave in the RV that we need to protect. We rearely leave for more than 4-6 hours, so the battery usage is not a killer.
IF we did, we would opt to not use the alternator and space heaters but just use the furnace for heat and if the 110AC goes out, the furnace is not affected!
Perhaps a place to get more informed is looking carefully at what the inverter powers on YOUR RV as it can be different on any RV.
If you go here:
https://www.winnebago.com/Files/File...ram/Wiring.htm
Choose your specific RV down to the early or late build and then go to the 110AC drawings. Check label next to driver for serial number if not sure? On some Adventurer it is under this title:
Body, 110 Volt Wiring Installation/Diagram
Scroll down to about the last page and spot the inverter sub section!
That is like a main electrical box and has a main breaker fed by the inverter which is then broken down into the smaller breakers. If you get to the correct RV and drawing, you can then look at what is considered vital or optional in any situation.
Good idea to ask and guestion before needing the knowledge! Knowledge is power so, trying not to get caught short is always a good plan!
But there is no firm answer for all users that I can see.
Plus, an inverter is approx. 92% efficient, vs shore power @ 100%. I only turn in the inverter when dry-camping/boondocking.
Linear Mode
