How should I plug in my vacuum cleaner? Newbie ???

dayakster wrote:
Even when I'm plugged into the house I still have to switch my 12v on to get the interior lights to work

This doesn't seem right. The lights should work whether you're plugged in or not (assuming your batteries are in good shape). When you plug into the house (or run the generator), the 120V AC outlets and accessories (microwave, a/c, etc) should also work.