I am planning on installing an inverter this spring. I have read many of the threads here and am planning on just plugging in the shore power to the inverter's AC output. In addition, I also need to turn off the converter when using the inverter. My converter is very hard to get to, with access only by removing a small kitchen drawer.Is there an easier way to turn off the converter, besides reaching behind the drawer every time? Some type of remote switch? Or does the main fuse panel typically have a fuse for the converter?What is the easiest way to do this?

There are 2 versions of Inverter's1. You have an Inverter ONLY, which will require the converter to stay hooked up2. You have an Inverter/Charger.Which are you installing? Most Converters have a 120 plug in cord. If your Converter is a standalone, it will have this cord. Run an extension cord to a accessable place and then just unplug and plug in when needed. If the converter is integrated into the fuse/breaker panel, find which breaker is powering the converter---disconnect the other receptacle circuit wire from the converter wire and put it on another breaker and just turn the converter breaker On and Off. Doug

In my rig the converter operates on it's own breaker - I just flip the breaker off.

If your converter plugs into a receptacle you can use a power bar extension cord out to where you can get at the switch on the power bar.If the converter is hard wired like a Parallax 7355, and it does not have its own 120v breaker (many share the breaker with the very receptacles breaker you want to run things from) then you have to insert a switch.That switch goes in the black wire (not the white wire) up from the 7355 before the black wire gets to the bottom of the breaker where the other black wire is. Now you can leave the breaker on to run the receptacles but the converter can be turned off. I used an ordinary stick house light switch mounted near the converter with extension wires to where I snipped the converter's black wire and the wires are all hidden behind the cabinet front.If you forget to turn off the converter when on inverter nothing bad happens right away if the inverter is a larger one. ( a smaller one might trip on its low voltage alarm, which tells you about the converter) With mine, the converter fan comes on as the reminder, and also the unusually high amps showing on the Trimetric.

On my POPUP trailer I have my converter wired into a 15AMP 120VAC Circuit breaker. This is usually the second breaker down the 120VAC power distribution center.I have installed a second converter PD9260C when I upgraded to a better smart mode converter/charger that came with a 120VAC Power Plug. I installed a new 120VAc RECEPTACLE close to the where the new PD9260C was installed and routed the 120VAC wiring back to the WFCO Power Distribution center. I was able to replace the large size 15AMP Circuit breaker in the power distribution center that was feeding the original WF8900 series converter with two half size 15AMP 120VAc breakers. Now I can turn off the 120VAC feeding either the WF8900 series converter or the PD9260C installed in a different location at the same 120VAC Power Distribution Center circuit breaker panel.This is what I did to use two 120VAC Converters in my OFF-ROAD POPUP 30AMP wiring configuration.Although it does not do any harm running both Converters at the same time I normally just use one or the other by flipping the two half size circuit breakers. The PD9260C is the primary and the WF8945 is a back-up unit.Roy Ken

Ours is a switch on the panel. Great for making it easier for the generator when running the air.

how to turn off converter easily | Good Sam Community

Learjet
Explorer
Jan 10, 2015
daamac wrote:
Here's another thought: if you just plug in the trailer umbilical into the inverter and assuming you have typical RV appliances, you'll be supplying AC power to everything, including the microwave, the refrigerator AC heater, and the water heater AC heater.

I have my Circuit breakers marked, all those items you listed stay off while using the inverter.
RVhiker
Explorer
Jan 10, 2015
Here's another thought: if you just plug in the trailer umbilical into the inverter and assuming you have typical RV appliances, you'll be supplying AC power to everything, including the microwave, the refrigerator AC heater, and the water heater AC heater.
BFL13
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2015
Lots of people just plug the shore power cord into the inverter for "whole house". Works great and is safe without a transfer switch--you are the transfer switch. The shore cord can only be plugged into one place at a time. You must turn off the converter when doing it that way.
ScottG
Nomad
Jan 10, 2015
I simply installed a 20 amp light switch next to mine that interrupts the hot side.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Jan 10, 2015
hoopers wrote:
I am planning on installing an inverter this spring. I have read many of the threads here and am planning on just plugging in the shore power to the inverter's AC output. You're going to connect the shore power to the inverter AC output circuit? Are you sure it won't blow the inverter? Most either use a dedicated inverter AC circuit or a transfer switch or manually move a plug.

In addition, I also need to turn off the converter when using the inverter. My converter is very hard to get to, with access only by removing a small kitchen drawer. If you don't have a dedicated CB just install a household light switch.

Is there an easier way to turn off the converter, besides reaching behind the drawer every time? Some type of remote switch?
Or does the main fuse panel typically have a fuse for the converter?
What is the easiest way to do this?"Fuse" generally means DC fuse and does not turn off the converter. But why do you think you need to turn off the converter? Just leave it on unless you're planning to wire it to the inverter AC output which is not a good idea.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2015
Ours is a switch on the panel. Great for making it easier for the generator when running the air.
RoyB
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2015
On my POPUP trailer I have my converter wired into a 15AMP 120VAC Circuit breaker. This is usually the second breaker down the 120VAC power distribution center.

I have installed a second converter PD9260C when I upgraded to a better smart mode converter/charger that came with a 120VAC Power Plug. I installed a new 120VAc RECEPTACLE close to the where the new PD9260C was installed and routed the 120VAC wiring back to the WFCO Power Distribution center. I was able to replace the large size 15AMP Circuit breaker in the power distribution center that was feeding the original WF8900 series converter with two half size 15AMP 120VAc breakers. Now I can turn off the 120VAC feeding either the WF8900 series converter or the PD9260C installed in a different location at the same 120VAC Power Distribution Center circuit breaker panel.

This is what I did to use two 120VAC Converters in my OFF-ROAD POPUP 30AMP wiring configuration.

Although it does not do any harm running both Converters at the same time I normally just use one or the other by flipping the two half size circuit breakers. The PD9260C is the primary and the WF8945 is a back-up unit.

Roy Ken
BFL13
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2015
If your converter plugs into a receptacle you can use a power bar extension cord out to where you can get at the switch on the power bar.

If the converter is hard wired like a Parallax 7355, and it does not have its own 120v breaker (many share the breaker with the very receptacles breaker you want to run things from) then you have to insert a switch.

That switch goes in the black wire (not the white wire) up from the 7355 before the black wire gets to the bottom of the breaker where the other black wire is. Now you can leave the breaker on to run the receptacles but the converter can be turned off.

I used an ordinary stick house light switch mounted near the converter with extension wires to where I snipped the converter's black wire and the wires are all hidden behind the cabinet front.

If you forget to turn off the converter when on inverter nothing bad happens right away if the inverter is a larger one. ( a smaller one might trip on its low voltage alarm, which tells you about the converter) With mine, the converter fan comes on as the reminder, and also the unusually high amps showing on the Trimetric.
ksg5000
Explorer
Jan 10, 2015
In my rig the converter operates on it's own breaker - I just flip the breaker off.
dougrainer
Nomad
Jan 10, 2015
There are 2 versions of Inverter's
1. You have an Inverter ONLY, which will require the converter to stay hooked up
2. You have an Inverter/Charger.
Which are you installing? Most Converters have a 120 plug in cord. If your Converter is a standalone, it will have this cord. Run an extension cord to a accessable place and then just unplug and plug in when needed. If the converter is integrated into the fuse/breaker panel, find which breaker is powering the converter---disconnect the other receptacle circuit wire from the converter wire and put it on another breaker and just turn the converter breaker On and Off. Doug

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