DR3624 Inverter/Charger

[FloridaCliff]

I have an opportunity to pick up a DR3624 for a deal(my opinion)

I mainly want this to run my two roof airs off of the DN50 while underway.

Anyone have any real life experience using this inverter underway for my application?

And will it in reality do what I want?

Cliff

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Cliff,

It will work if conditions are right.

I would think about having all your curcuit brakers and vital controls above your drivers area because if you get stuck in traffic,

you may drain your battery bank down very quickly if the dn50 is not producing at idle. This way you can switch things off without pulling over.

You also may end up blowing your main batt fuse if the airs tried to cycle at the same time.

Most roof airs are not designed to operate while driving down the road. Meaning, they are not insulated much

and they are the most inefficient systems out there. Usually, warm road air at 60mph is batteling against what the unit is trying to produce.

Good Luck
Nick-

[TomC]

I'm not going against what Nick has said, but my 3 Coleman 13,500btu roof airs are my only A/C.  Using either the front and the middle, or the front and the rear (only two) keeps the bus at a comfortable 75 degrees in even 107 degree weather.  I do have 2.25" of sprayed in insulation, and only single pane lightly tinted Peninsula windows.  At least for me the Colemans work fine going down the road.  Good Luck, TomC

[Blacksheep]

I hate to say it Tom but my 3 Coleman Mach 3's work exceptionally well no matter if sitting still parked or running 65 down the interstate!
I like the idea that I have the option of how many I can run and when!

Ace

[JackConrad]

Cliff,
   I think that is the same inverter JJR uses. He runs his roof ACs off it while driving.  Jack

[luvrbus]

Cliff, I run my AC off the inverter but you need a high amp battery bank to start with, adding to what Nick said my inverters will cut off when I am in stop and go traffic like in Houston,Phoenix,LA or Dallas  but do fine at high speeds (I don't have roof tops)

[FloridaCliff]

Cliff,
   I think that is the same inverter JJR uses. He runs his roof ACs off it while driving.  Jack

Thanks Jack, Hopefully JJR will chime in on this.

What I am trying to achieve is to not have to run my generator unless I need too.

During the summer we run both roof airs and stay very comfortable, my coach has R21 in the ceiling(3 layers of R7), R14 in the sidewalls(2 layers of R7) and R7 sandwiched between the original floor and a layer of 3/4 plywood.  By the way, my a/c is ducted throughout the interior in the ceiling.  The rear unit is set to have a delay from demand to TRY and prevent them both starting at the same time.

I like the actual on-demand feature of power produced via inverter.

My theory is based on this, that it is cheaper (read less fuel used) to feed power on demand via inverter than running a generator at various levels of demand, all the time.   Please correct me with FACTS, if I am wrong.

But my main question is WILL a DR3624 run two roof airs without any issues?

Cliff

[luvrbus]

Cliff my 4000 will not start 2 units at the same time but will run them after startup and they do produce a lot of heat running 2 units fwiw

[JackConrad]

What I am trying to achieve is to not have to run my generator unless I need too.
During the summer we run both roof airs and stay very comfortable, my coach has R21 in the ceiling(3 layers of R7), R14 in the sidewalls(2 layers of R7) and R7 sandwiched between the original floor and a layer of 3/4 plywood.  By the way, my a/c is ducted throughout the interior in the ceiling.  The rear unit is set to have a delay from demand to TRY and prevent them both starting at the same time.

Cliff

Cliff,
    If you have a generator start switch in the driver's area, you could start the generator when you are coming into a city, traffic, etc. where your engine rpm will be reduced, then shut down the generator when back on the open road.  Jack

[jjrbus]

Hi Cliff, I have the DR3624 but I only run one 13K btu roof air with it. With my set up I can only run both airs on Generator . I never run both airs so is not an issue for me.
On the surface most rooftop AC requre a 20 amp circut breaker or 40 amps for 2 AC's. The 3624 only has a 30 amp circut breaker.
With my experience with this inverter it could not possibly run my two 13K btu roof airs. With one AC running it could not start the second one. This is of course only my opinion.
                                                                                                     HTH Jim

[belfert]

You can run two 15K roof airs from a 30 amp circuit if little or nothing else is turned on.  I bought the Carrir rooftops because they seemed to have the lowest documented amp draw.

I only have a 30 amp RV circuit at home and I have been able to run both my roof airs with no issues.  I have only tripped the breaker once when I forgot to turn off the battery charger in the inverter.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Cliff,

Here is the specs on the 2624.
http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/57/p/200/pt/1/product.asp

3600watts @95%effincy = 3420 available watts  7500watt surge for 5 seconds.
Each rooftop at 14amps x 120volts = 1680 watts each. 
thus you should be able to run both if conditions are right. However, that is pivioting on how well you can
maintain the battery bank with the DN50, and how high the ambiant outside temp is, [because, the hotter it is outside, the more amps the A/C uses]
Every 5 degrees above 90 deg. outside ambiant, will draw another amp. I have seen many roof tops at 20+ amps when the wind is blowing
against the condencer flow.


Nick-

[ake1994]

Cliff,

I have the Dr3624 inverter in my bus. I have two of the Duotherm penguin 15K Btu. The inverter won't start one with the other unit running. The 20 amp breaker on my panel pops first. I have not had the 30 amp breaker on the inverter pop. This may be because I only have two Group 31 deep cycle batteries for coach batteries. I don't recall the amp rating of my batteries. But I may be limited in surge current needed to start the second unit. It will easily run one air, my refrigerator, and several small items of the girls while on the highway off of the 50DN. I usually close off the back 1/3 of the bus and run the front unit. My units are ducted in the ceiling. It cools nicely at 65 mph. I have 2" of spray foam on the ceiling and 1 3/4" in the walls. Pennisula Double pane insulated windows. With only the two coach batteries I have been able to leave the air running with the engine shut down for 15 minutes on two occasions while I refueled. I have been experimenting to see how long it will run before the inverter shuts down for low voltage. Haven't reached that point yet.

I don't do a lot of boondocking, and with my current use of the bus, it may be a while before I see a need for a generator

Just my experience FWIW.

Breck

[DrivingMissLazy]

Everyone should be aware that there are circuit breakers designed for motor starting. I used to use them in the equipment I manufactured. I really do not recall the specs but the starting current  available was significantly higher than for household breakers.

Richard