Hi all,Looking at getting a budget inverter/charger unit from Tripp Lite for my 71 caveman Truck Camper.Currently my 110v and 12v systems are totally separate. I have shore power that feeds a single breaker, feeding my outlets/fridge/lights etc. I have a Single 12v battery feed connected to my water pump and a few small 12v light fixtures.Looking at this:Tripp Lite APS750 Inverter / Charger 750WAnd just wanted to clarify some things.Using the above unit, I planned to feed my 110v breaker box from one of the available outlets.Hardwire shore power cable into the units AC input feed.Run 2awg wire from this unit to my battery bank (adding a second battery in series)Am i correct in assuming that when shore power is connected it will straight pass through this unit to my breaker and run everything as it does now while charging my battery.When disconnected from shore my fridge will run off propane, not the converted 110v feed from my batteries.I was looking at a simple converter/charger but felt the inverter/charger would suit my needs better. Since I have to add one or the other to charge my battery bank from shore power, I would like to be able to use my outlets when disconnected from shore if i ever have to.New to camper configurations, not necessarily wiring and electrical.

You are correct. Your fridge will run on gas if you tell it to. Don't add another 12v battery in series. That would be 24v.

Hi,Be aware that the Trip Lite is a modified sine wave inverter. (and excellent). So don't run any apple products from it, nor computerized things such as heating blankets.

Yes 110v power will pass thru while charging the batteriesYou will have to set the fridge to LP manuallyBecause on automatic, it will run using the inverter, when the inverter is turned on for other things

2oldman wrote:You are correct. Your fridge will run on gas if you tell it to. Don't add another 12v battery in series. That would be 24v.Meant parallel. Oops. Thanks!

MrWizard wrote:Yes 110v power will pass thru while charging the batteriesYou will have to set the fridge to LP manuallyBecause on automatic, it will run using the inverter, when the inverter is turned on for other thingsFridge is so old I do not think it has auto switch. Small dial saying elec/gas. So should be good, thank you!

Adding Inverter/Charger.Questions | Good Sam Community

Talisman61
Explorer
Jun 27, 2017
Back again.. anyone had any luck with the WFCO power center? Looking at this unit:
WFCO Power Center Converter/Charger
To handle my converter/charger needs and clean up my wiring. I needed to redo my 12v fuse holder and wasn't a fan of the rigged up breaker box.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2017
Cotek is ok too.. so far. You should see the spark when you first connect it! Wow!
brulaz
Explorer
Jun 17, 2017
time2roll wrote:
I had a Xantrex Prosine 1800 that gave up way to soon. Since then I have moved to GoPower and my perception is that they run cooler and are better built. Samlex is probably fine for what you need. Not sure it is a big deal at this level.

Was about to buy a Samlex but then found a better deal on a Kisae.
So far so good. Have not heard any bad reports about them or GoPower.

On the other hand have read several bad reports about the cheaper Aims inverters. So would avoid those.
Talisman61
Explorer
Jun 16, 2017
It will all be mounted in the removable base of a cabinet, and the battery hung outside just below it. Very close.

I'll continue reading up, thank you for all the help!
time2roll
Nomad
Jun 16, 2017
Yes two wires will come off the breaker. One to the TS and one to the Charger.

There might be a wire nut involved to split the circuit. Doubt the breaker is made to have 2 wires in the connector.

Charger and inverter can share the 12v connection to the battery depending on where everything is mounted.
Talisman61
Explorer
Jun 16, 2017
time2roll wrote:
Just wire the converter before the inverter and the power will flow correctly when plugged in. And no inverter charging loop on battery power.

And here do you mean wire the converter before the transfer switch? The inverter you linked should only be wired from Battery>Inverter 12v Input>Inverter 110v Output>Transfer switch right?

So I should have Shore Power > 15a breaker > Converter/Charger branched to Transfer Switch 110V Input?
time2roll
Nomad
Jun 16, 2017
I had a Xantrex Prosine 1800 that gave up way to soon. Since then I have moved to GoPower and my perception is that they run cooler and are better built. Samlex is probably fine for what you need. Not sure it is a big deal at this level.
Talisman61
Explorer
Jun 16, 2017
time2roll wrote:
Talisman61 wrote:
So just to clarify, since all of these inverters have outlets and are not hardwire mounts, I'd just wire a pigtail 15-5 plug into the transfer switch that just plugs into one of these inverters?
Yes. The transfer switch I linked would just plug into the inverter.
The transfer switch also has hardwire input connection for the utility power coming off your 15 amp breaker.
Then an output connection to connect your branch circuit.

The charger would get power right after the breaker, before the switch.

Most inverters transition to hardwire at 1500 to 2000 watts rated.

Note the GoPower has very low idle draw if it gets left on and also has a provision for a remote power switch so you can hide it in a cabinet.

great, might just go that route. Like you said, the individual components make it nice if only the transfer switch or charger fail.

What brands of inverters are no go's? I see true sine wave samlex has decent reviews and have a few lower priced 300-500 watt inverters
time2roll
Nomad
Jun 16, 2017
Talisman61 wrote:
So just to clarify, since all of these inverters have outlets and are not hardwire mounts, I'd just wire a pigtail 15-5 plug into the transfer switch that just plugs into one of these inverters?
Yes. The transfer switch I linked would just plug into the inverter.
The transfer switch also has hardwire input connection for the utility power coming off your 15 amp breaker.
Then an output connection to connect your branch circuit.

The charger would get power right after the breaker, before the switch.

Most inverters transition to hardwire at 1500 to 2000 watts rated.

Note the GoPower has very low idle draw if it gets left on and also has a provision for a remote power switch so you can hide it in a cabinet.
Talisman61
Explorer
Jun 16, 2017
time2roll wrote:

Here is some equipment to consider:
GoPower 150w sine wave inverter $150

You could spend more on a larger 300 watt inverter or spend less and get a MSW inverter. The smaller inverter also means you don't need monster 12v wire connection. I only recommend sine wave.

So just to clarify, since all of these inverters have outlets and are not hardwire mounts, I'd just wire a pigtail 15-5 plug into the transfer switch that just plugs into one of these inverters?

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