So you are saying it auto switches from 120 volts to 12 volts when you unplug or shut off the generator?
That does seem like it will waste a tremendous amount of battery power, and would not work out well for someone who likes to do a lot of dry camping.
However it can have some advantages. Such as a electric compressor type refrigerator can be lighter, about $800 less expensive, and if that money saved is put into a additional battery, such as having 2 golf cart batteries, and a pair of 120 watt solar panels on the roof, then it can work out well.
Most RV's use 35 amp hours a day just to run the CO meter, propane detector, and electric side of a propane refrigerator (0.5 amps per hour that the refrigerator is on to turn on the gas valve and light the burner). In their case, it would be practical to shut off the propane detector in the hours it is not needed, such as when the water heater and stove will be off. In my case I never bother to shut off the propane detector at all, because the power consumption (0.4 amps per hour, or about 12 amp hours daily) is more than made up by my solar system.
I really wonder why they would make it a 2 way unit at all? Afterall while on shore power, the 45 to 55 amp converter is more than enough power to overcome whatever power the refrigerator might consume, or they could install a larger converter to make up for what the refrigerator might use.
Fred.
