When I'm parked, plugged into shore power and I'm plugged into the inverter outlet in the refrigerator compartment, is the electricity coming from the shoreline or from my batteries?I guess I'm asking if I am draining my batteries with the refrigerator (or other appliance) by being plugged into an inverted outlet and replenishing them at the same time with the shore power or am I bypassing the batteries since I'm plugged into shore power?Additionally, if it's coming from the batteries, should I switch to the shore power outlet to keep from running on them?I hope my question makes sense.

You are using shore power. The inverters have an internal transfer switch to automatically switch from inverter power to shore or generator power.

It's inconsequential either way. The converter is supplying the 12 volt system when you are plugged in, and doing so at a far greater wattage than what your inverter would be pulling for a reefer.So even if your unit did not have an internal switching mechanism, the CONVERTER would actually be supplying the power, not draining the batteries, at worst, it would take a few minutes longer to recharge is all.

Just FYI, My inverter is the Xantrex Freedom SW 2012.

Depending how sophisticated your system is, some power management systems will temporarily draw power from the inverter/batteries if overloading the shore line. If the overload persists, the power management system starts shedding powered appliances.

Your inverter has an internal transfer switch. When it "sees" power from shore or generator, it "PASSES THROUGH" THAT source to everything downstream of it.

When on inverter am I using the batteries? | Good Sam Community

36 Replies

pianotuna
Nomad III
Feb 05, 2018
The Freedom SW 2012 does have a built in transfer switch.
wolfe10
Explorer
Feb 05, 2018
Your inverter has an internal transfer switch. When it "sees" power from shore or generator, it "PASSES THROUGH" THAT source to everything downstream of it.
Mile_High
Explorer
Feb 05, 2018
Depending how sophisticated your system is, some power management systems will temporarily draw power from the inverter/batteries if overloading the shore line. If the overload persists, the power management system starts shedding powered appliances.
Tinstar
Explorer
Feb 05, 2018
Just FYI, My inverter is the Xantrex Freedom SW 2012.
kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Feb 05, 2018
It's inconsequential either way. The converter is supplying the 12 volt system when you are plugged in, and doing so at a far greater wattage than what your inverter would be pulling for a reefer.

So even if your unit did not have an internal switching mechanism, the CONVERTER would actually be supplying the power, not draining the batteries, at worst, it would take a few minutes longer to recharge is all.
msturtz
Explorer
Feb 05, 2018
You are using shore power. The inverters have an internal transfer switch to automatically switch from inverter power to shore or generator power.

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When on inverter am I using the batteries?

36 Replies

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