AF truck camper owners has anyone install an inverter?

[Buppa]

I would like to know, and specifically on the AF 1150 where did you install an inverter? I have a 2018 AF 1150 on order and have not seen the size of the step up storage going to the cab over but thinking I could install a 1500 watt inverter there. Any suggestion, tips?

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[Buppa]

Thanks for taken the time to share, it confirm what I was thinking about doing.

[SidecarFlip]

SidecarFlip wrote:

Buppa wrote:
Ok thanks, the battery box is right inline with that step area on the out side wall about 4' +or-. I thought I would need to use 1/0 awg wire.

What I would do is go to a TSC (Tractor Supply Store) and get the necessary length of bulk welding cable (they sell it by the foot) and they also sell the crimp on solid copper lugs and make up your feed cables from those available parts. What I did and it was quick and easy. I also added a second battery, built a custom vented battery box (I run flooded cell deep cycle house batteries) and wired them in parallel with the same welding cable and lugs. I own a crimp tool but you can to the physical crimps in a vise if you do it carefully.

I also removed the insulation from the cable ends (welding cable has high temperature neoprene insulation, (much better than the plastic stuff that comes on ordinary wire) and tinned the ends of the stranded wire before I inserted them in the crimp lugs and physically crimped them.

How I did it and I've had zero issues in 2 years.

The inverter needs cooling air (mine had 2 fans built in) but the space under the step on my unit also houses the FW rank which is cold to begin with so ir;s always cool in the anyway. My fans rarely come on. They are thermostatically controlled by the inverter itself. Casr temp has to rise above 100 degrees before they come on anyway.

I hardwired mine to a labelled plug above the galley counter, labelled 'Inverter Only'. It's for out CPAP machines and the Kerug coffee maker.

The inverter I bought (Aims Power 2000 watt PSW) has a remote switching feature so I mounted the remote on-off switch by the outlet as well. That way I can turn it off when not needed. PSW inverters all draw idle current amps even when not in use unless deactivated.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your install.

[SidecarFlip]

Buppa wrote:
Ok thanks, the battery box is right inline with that step area on the out side wall about 4' +or-. I thought I would need to use 1/0 awg wire.

What I would do is go to a TSC (Tractor Supply Store) and get the necessary length of bulk welding cable (they sell it by the foot) and they also sell the crimp on solid copper lugs and make up your feed cables from those available parts. What I did and it was quick and easy. I also added a second battery, built a custom vented battery box (I run flooded cell deep cycle house batteries) and wired them in parallel with the same welding cable and lugs. I own a crimp tool but you can to the physical crimps in a vise if you do it carefully.

I also removed the insulation from the cable ends (welding cable has high temperature neoprene insulation, (much better than the plastic stuff that comes on ordinary wire) and tinned the ends of the stranded wire before I inserted them in the crimp lugs and physically cromped them.

How I did it and I've had zero issues in 2 years.

The inverter needs cooing air (mine had 2 fans built in) but the space under the step on my unit also houses the FW rank which is cold to begin with so ir;s always cool in the anyway. My fans rarely come on. They are thermostatically controlled by the inverter itself. Casr temp has to rise above 100 degrees before they come on anyway.

I hardwired mine to a labelled plug above the galley counter, labelled 'Inverter Only'. It's for out CPAP machines and the Kerug coffee maker.

The inverter I bought (Aims Power 2000 watt PSW) has a remote switching feature so I mounted the remote on-off switch by the outlet as well. That way I can turn it off when not needed. PSW inverters all draw idle current amps even when not in use unless deactivated.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your install.

[Buppa]

Ok thanks, the battery box is right inline with that step area on the out side wall about 4' +or-. I thought I would need to use 1/0 awg wire.

[SidecarFlip]

Most likely you can. Inverters take up minimal space and if the house battery is located there, that is a plus because you want the power leads for the inverter to be as short as possible. In my TC, the inverter is right next to the battery box and the leads (welding cable with crimped on lugs are less than 18" long.)

The farther away the inverter is from the battery(s), the heavier gauge the cables must be.