my portable 12 volt system any advise

The newer Xantrex Prowatt Sine wave inverter draws less than 500 milliamps at idle. It also has automatic phase sensing (in case you reverse the battery leads) and an on-off button.

There is no need to disconnect the inverter while charging. I would turn it off if you're not powering any 120V devices.

The OP sounds like the perfect candidate for a solar charging system. He could mount those extra batteries, connecting to the rest of his 12V system, install a solar module/s on the roof and never have to use the generator

No problem at all that I can tell.. IF you have yet to spend money.. you might consider an "in-line" type inverter/charger.. These have both advantages and disadvantages.

For your setup this is how it would work, I will list pro/con later.

When you run the generator it will charge the batteries, Most of these units are very good 3-stage chargers and some can be programmed. The one I know best is no longer being made (Prosine 2.0 by Xantrex) but there are many fine ones out there by many companies, INCLUDING Xantrex. It will pass Generator power to the "house" (note. use a good inverter type generator like a Honda or Yahama please, not a contractor's earbusting model).

When the generator is shut down, it auto switches to inverter mode and the "house" never knew it lost power.. DO NOT RUN A/C during this period.

Basically, it is a a big honking UPS.

Pro's: Simpler hookup, you have only one set of connections to battery.

Con's. Though the combo-unit is likely lighter than an inverter PLUS a converter it is heavier than either of those by themselves.

Pro: less cable clutter

Con: if half of it dies, you go without till till it is fixed.

I rather like mine.. Tripped circuit breaker this evening (on 30 amp site) and did not even know it till I lost internet... The comptuer continued, the TV and DVR continued, cooking dinner continued (Steam cooker electrically heated) but I lost internet.. you see, all the stuff that worked was on the inverter, the MODEM, is not, it is on a mains only circuit (I did this for a reason) when I looked at the router (Which still had power) I noticed the status led flashing Orange

Flashing orange = No Modem
Steady Orange = Modem but no internet
BLUE = GOOD
On my router and thus I knew the modem lost power and "Vanished" Went out-reset and BLUE (ok) once again.

The "modem" is a Linksys WGA (Wireless game adapter) connects me to the park Wi-Fi.. looks to my system like a cable Modem but wi-fi instead of cable. kind of neat, Gives very good range with a minor modification.. i will finish the set up tomorrow when it is nicer out (Cold rain today, very hard on fingers).

I think everyone is asking what is the model of the "SMART CHARGER" you are referring to. This is either the smart mode on-board converter/charger for the trailer or perhaps you may be using a portable smart mode battery charger plugged into the 120VAC receptacle of the generator. To properly charge two 6VDC batteries as one 12VDC Battery you will need a smart mode charger rated at least 40AMPS DC output capacity. The Black and Decker VEC1093DBD 40 AMP Smart Mode portable charger is an excellent battery charger for this purpose and will indeed re-charge your 12VDC battery bank (two 6VDC batteries connected in series) in approximately three hours generator run time.

I would plan things to run down your battery bank no lower than 50% charge state which is somewhere close to 12.0VDC and then recharge back to the 90% charge state the next morning so that you can do this all over again the next day/night run off the batteries. Keeping your 12VDC Battery bank between the 50% charge state and at least the 90% charge state cycle will give you the best expected performance for your batteries. You can expect 12 or so of these 50% to 90% charge state cycles before having to do a full 100% charge state which will take around 12-14 hours to complete the required charge time. This insures your battery will be at its peak specified performance.

If you are planning on using your smart mode on-board converter/charger it will have to be 45AMP model if you want to re-charge the batteries in a quick three hour time. You will also need to have an RV30A-15A Adapter to be able to plug your 30AMP shore power cable directly into the 2KW Generator 120VAC panel receptacle.

Posting model numbers of both the portable smart mode battery charger and the on-board smart mode converter/charge would be useful for those on here to comment on your planned battery charge system...

Just some of my thoughts here
Roy Ken

pianotuna, you asked what make my inverter was so in checking I realized it was a 1000 and not a 2000. I will be using it for tv,dvr and dvd only so 1000 should be more then enough. Thank you

There is no problem leaving the inverter on the batteries while you are charging the batteries. Everybody does that, as most inverters are "installed" so you can't disconnect them anyway.

Obviously, it is better to not have any draw on the batteries while you are trying to charge them as that slows down the time it takes (because your net amps in is less) and you want short as possible generator time.

Note you went from a 2000w inverter in the OP to a 1000w later. ???

The so-called standby draw of an inverter is fairly trivial in the scenario you describe. If you don't have a remote to inside the rig for the inverter, then if it means going out in the dark and rain to shut it off at night or to turn it on in the morning, then just leave it on :)

pianotuna, The system I have put together is separate from my trailer. My plan is to recharge my 6v batteries from a portable smart charger that is plugged into my inverter generator. My biggest concern is leaving my xantrex 1000 psw inverter connected to the batteries while charging the batteries with the portable smart charger and am I missing anything on my set up.

Moved from Forum Technical Support

Hi Robert,

Welcome to the forums.

Leaving the inverter on may lower the charge rate by what ever the parasitic draw for it. That varies from one inverter to another--but it can be as high as 3 amps.

This also depends on the converter and how it recharges the battery bank.

What make and model of converter is in the RV?

Be aware that the generator may not output full power at high altitudes.