New Bounder Class A owner Inverter question

[CodyWest]

Bought a used 95 Bounder. Everything works, deal with right, its a pig but we love it.

OK,. explain the Inverter. It has on the passenger side storage compartment, a 900w what I think is factory installed, inverter.

A 120v plug to a power box.

So how does this work? If at all. We connect 120 to the coach, everything works. Microwave, fridge, lights AC units.

I put two new 6vt batteries upfront. On battery charge, other than the ac power plugs, microwave, ac units, everything works.

I checked the power panel above the table on the driver's side. All fuses are ok and working, and no circuit breaker switches tripped.

So is the inverter dead? Is it supposed to run the AC stuff (other than the AC units up top) while on house batteries?

I did plug an ac 120v cord to the 120v side of of the inverter, but nothing inside the coach exploded or caught fire. I did check the 2 green fuses on the inverter, they appear to be ok. Not blown.

[wa8yxm]

900 watts it runs the TVs Radio and related hardware or a residential fridge (Possibly both) It won't run the microwave or A/C, or water heater. All those take over 1,000 watts. EACH.

1500 Watts MIGHT run the microwave
2000 watts will run the MW and might (I doubt it) kick start the A/C

3000 is the minimum for ONE A/C and even then you are borderline.

[tommy_g]

Get a meter and make sure that you have AC power supplied at the plug. Check to see if DC power is on the output side. If you have DC at 13V or so, then it is probably working. This is over simplified but will let you know if it is putting out something.

P.S. The quality of mine seems to be ok after 47 states, 6 provinces, 100,000 plus miles and 22 years of use.

[RLS7201]

To the best of my knowledge, 95 Bounders did NOT have an inverter from the factory. If you have an inverter, a previous owner installed it.

Richard

[RustyMacIntosh]

MrWizard wrote:
Make/model number of inverter
Would be helpful

In my Bounder, The location you describe came with a converter aka battery charger not an inverter
I installed a stand alone inverter in that compartment
The factory wire from converter to the batteries up front is only 8ga, adequate for the house 12v loads and battery charging from the 40 amp charger but not too power an inverter ... To much voltage drop
It sounds like you are describing the standard converter
That charges the batteries and supplies DC power for the RV house systems when 120vac is available
Not an inverter that makes 120 vac using the batteries

How does one know it is working? If at all.

[RustyMacIntosh]

Cody I think I have that same unit. Mine also had some sort of converter, Inteli something-whatever--with a fan and connections under the MH. I never got around to figuring out what it did either. I know the front batteries never were charged while on AC power.

One of the most annoying factors I quickly found out about my Bounder was the brakes, which even rebuilt seem nominal. And the rear suspension. The MH is grossly overweight. Or if not grossly close to it. The whole mess goes down the road like a drunken sailor.

After putting tires on mine, and Bilston shocks, and new sway bar bushings we have come to the conclusion the rear suspension needs a big makeover. So it goes to the spring shop next week getting new leafs stuffed into it. On our unit the 460 does ok. Mileage is in the 8mpg.

We put a 100w solar panel up top. I scored a huge inverter at Harbor Freight weekend sale that we now use occasionally. (When the genset won't start or in a campground).

One last suggestion is to hit Amazon, buy yourself some rear cameras. Several in fact. One at the license plate, and one up top and maybe even on the sides. Ours the driver's side window leaked. The haze (albeit slight) made it hard to see back there. I added another rear mirror on both sides which helped but it wasn't until we had several cameras peering around behind us did we feel much more secure.

FWIIW, I own property on Parrotts Ferry. I am in Columbia ALL the time now. Gods Country. (Considering the rest of California). I almost hung my Bounder up going into the Post Office parking lot the first time up there with the MH. CRanch Casino gives us free parking and WIFI. YEAH!

[cavie]

CodyWest wrote:
OK I got it. Thanks even the non-reader from Mobay (probably Prunedale or Marina). It will be replaced. I thought it was an inverter. It obviously is not working. I'm learning quickly about Fleetwood quality

Tell use how you know it is not working?? If it is an inverter it will have large 12 volt wires feeding it from then battery and a 120 volt output side. If it is the converter it will have 120 input wires and 12 volt output wires to charge the batteries. You need a volt meter. You need to learn what you are looking at.

You are not learning about Fleetwood Quality. You are learning about RV quality across all manufacturers.

[CodyWest]

OK I got it. Thanks even the non-reader from Mobay (probably Prunedale or Marina). It will be replaced. I thought it was an inverter. It obviously is not working. I'm learning quickly about Fleetwood quality

[MrWizard]

Make/model number of inverter
Would be helpful

In my Bounder, The location you describe came with a converter aka battery charger not an inverter
I installed a stand alone inverter in that compartment
The factory wire from converter to the batteries up front is only 8ga, adequate for the house 12v loads and battery charging from the 40 amp charger but not too power an inverter ... To much voltage drop
It sounds like you are describing the standard converter
That charges the batteries and supplies DC power for the RV house systems when 120vac is available
Not an inverter that makes 120 vac using the batteries

[Lwiddis]

900 watt inverter running the A/C? Oh boy! You need to read more!

[azdryheat]

An inverter converts 12 volt to 110 volt house current. Most modern motorhomes have an inverter.

Chances are, with an older coach, you have a converter which converts 110 volt house current to 12 volt. This is why your 110 volt items only work when you're plugged in to shore power.