Welcome to the fourth entry in July’s Medium Mod Contest. One Medium Mod will be published in every Email Alert in July. At the end of the month, we’ll hold a reader vote to determine July’s winner. Click here for information about the 2023 Mod Contest, including how to enter.
Dave Lamoureux, Marshall, Michigan
Giandel 1200-Watt Inverter Install
2020 Ram 3500 HD
2015 Arctic Fox 1150
At times while dry camping or boondocking without shore power, we wanted small amounts 110-volt AC availability without the noise from our generator. Charging certain 110-volt AC items – running a fan, or even a short microwave oven snack reheat – was too noisy with the generator; especially when camping in a serene place where silence is preferred.
For this modification, I installed a 110-volt AC Giandel 1,200-watt inverter and additional Progressive Dynamics 5100 series 110-volt AC switch box; in very tight Arctic Fox quarters, I might add.
With the batteries removed, I used the actual inverter mounting holes as a template to mark hole locations on the inside side wall of the Arctic Fox battery box for drilling. Then I remounted the standard Rieco-Titan jack controller to allow more room for a second Progressive Dynamic 5100 switch box.
Above: Rieco-Titan Jack box was rotated 90-degrees and 2nd Progressive Dynamics switch box was installed
The 110-volt AC from the inverter was routed to a secondary Progressive Dynamics 5100 switch box using the primary connection. Potential 110-volt AC power from the first 5100 (either shore or generator power) was wired to the generator connections within the second 5100 switch box, along with the house Arctic Fox 12-volt house 110-volt AC to 12-volt charger input line.
The charger input 110-volt AC line was fitted with a 15-amp inline breaker (pictured above). When the shore power or generator power is being used as power, the 12-volt house charger is operational. When the 110-volt AC inverter is being used, the 12-volt charger is non-operational to prevent a battery circular drain event.
It works fantastic and is completely as planned.
Materials Used:
1. Giandel 1200 watt 12 VDC to 100 VAC inverter; $179.86 Amazon
2. 10-2 Romex wire 10-feet; $70
3. Progressive Dynamics 5100 series switch
4. 110-volt AC, 15 amp inline breaker. Amazon
5. 3-feet #4AWG both Black and Red wire to connect the inverter to the battery connections
6. 5-feet 10-2 outdoor-rated extension cord
6. Various electrical-related items, wire nuts, tape, etc.
It took me ten hours to complete this modification and cost me $250. In my opinion, the skill level of this modification is medium to hard.
Disclaimer: The modifications above are submitted by Truck Camper Magazine readers. It is your responsibility to make sure that any do-it-yourself modification project you undertake is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.
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