We mostly dry camp, rarely on shore power except at home. I installed 1000w of solar and have 630 AH of battery (3x Rolls 12 @ 210 AH each, big beasts). Inverter is a 2000w Kisae PSW, and I run a cord to the 30A shore power plug to run it. Usually this meets our needs, but want to do more camping in spots where solar will be less reliable. For now, when we need generator (2000w Yamaha inverter), I run outside, unplug the inverter cable and run the shore power line to the Yamaha. I need to turn on the converter/charger to charge the batteries. Once done, reverse the whole operation (I usually forget to turn off the converter until I hear the fan kick in on the Kisae, reminding me that I've created an inefficient loop). Kisae has a remote switch.Getting older and lazier, there must be an easier way, right? Transfer switch I guess. I'm not an electrical wizard, but I'm handy and can do most things myself with a little guidance. However I'm a little fuzzy on the wiring diagram for all this and could use that guidance. Ideally, I want a situation where when on shore power, converter is charging batteries and everything is powered up. On generator same thing. On inverter would prefer to not have to remember to turn on/off the converter. I assume I don't need to worry about the solar controllers (one 30A, one 50A, both wired to battery bank.All the equipment is relatively new, so ditching anything isn't in the cards (may eventually move to a bigger generator to power AC, but not now).Any help is appreciated on the wiring and suggestions for switch.

While away from home, you could just leave everything like MW,kettle, toaster,etc (fridge and WH on gas though, and-no air cond.) on inverter except the converter. When shore power or gen available that will run the converter, which in turn backs up the batteries doing the inverter and the other 12v stuff.That's what we do. At home it is different, we do the manual transfer off the inverter to shore power (house) till next time out.

BFL13, that is what we do now too. Last time out I found myself running the generator each day because of cloudy conditions, and found it a pain to keep switching between the cords. Eventually, I'd either have a generator wired to the transfer switch with auto-start or get one with remote as well. Want to be able to operate everything without always doing the manual route.

phemens wrote:BFL13, that is what we do now too. Last time out I found myself running the generator each day because of cloudy conditions, and found it a pain to keep switching between the cords. Eventually, I'd either have a generator wired to the transfer switch with auto-start or get one with remote as well. Want to be able to operate everything without always doing the manual route.Right, so just stay on inverter the whole time except at home, and only use gen or shore power to run the converter. Also works when you only have 15a shore power (at somebody's house or at a fairground for dog trials) and you want to run the MW, etc. and not pop one of their breakers.)The trick is to have a three receptacle end #12 cord to go in the gen or pedestal. The converter goes in one. Another short #12 goes in another with its three receptacles end. When you want to be on shore power for everything at home, you plug the Rv into that short one's. Heading out, the RV shore cord goes in the inverter and now the long cord to the gen only does the converter.

ok, misread something there. You are running a cord from the converter straight to the generator (unplugged from AC panel in trailer)? I guess that could work too, I would have to find an easier way to plug the converter back into the breaker box to get the shore power (or I guess just run extension cord from converter to house?)

phemens wrote:ok, misread something there. You are running a cord from the converter straight to the generator (unplugged from AC panel in trailer)? I guess that could work too, I would have to find an easier way to plug the converter back into the breaker box to get the shore power (or I guess just run extension cord from converter to house?)As above except I have a plug- in cord on the converter, not hard wired. If hard wired you would have to re-wire it. Don't need a 30a shore cord, so the #12 is fine to the gen or pedestal to run the converter, and the inverter runs the MW ok on its 15a receptacle. Just needs the usual "power management" not to run everything at once.We never need air conditioning, so that is the deal breaker for this method if you do.Of course if solar is not happening, you can use the inverter's remote on/off to only have that on when actually running something 120vExcept get on sale for half thishttps://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/15-m-12-3-triple-end-contractor-grade-extension-cord/A-p8035685e at times. also they have the three foot one as the short piece. You don't need all three but they don't have a two.

Question on transfer switch with inverter and generator

14 Replies

phemens
Explorer
Oct 13, 2018
ok, misread something there. You are running a cord from the converter straight to the generator (unplugged from AC panel in trailer)? I guess that could work too, I would have to find an easier way to plug the converter back into the breaker box to get the shore power (or I guess just run extension cord from converter to house?)
BFL13
Explorer II
Oct 13, 2018
phemens wrote:
BFL13, that is what we do now too. Last time out I found myself running the generator each day because of cloudy conditions, and found it a pain to keep switching between the cords. Eventually, I'd either have a generator wired to the transfer switch with auto-start or get one with remote as well. Want to be able to operate everything without always doing the manual route.

Right, so just stay on inverter the whole time except at home, and only use gen or shore power to run the converter. Also works when you only have 15a shore power (at somebody's house or at a fairground for dog trials) and you want to run the MW, etc. and not pop one of their breakers.)

The trick is to have a three receptacle end #12 cord to go in the gen or pedestal. The converter goes in one. Another short #12 goes in another with its three receptacles end.

When you want to be on shore power for everything at home, you plug the Rv into that short one's. Heading out, the RV shore cord goes in the inverter and now the long cord to the gen only does the converter.
phemens
Explorer
Oct 13, 2018
BFL13, that is what we do now too. Last time out I found myself running the generator each day because of cloudy conditions, and found it a pain to keep switching between the cords. Eventually, I'd either have a generator wired to the transfer switch with auto-start or get one with remote as well. Want to be able to operate everything without always doing the manual route.
BFL13
Explorer II
Oct 13, 2018
While away from home, you could just leave everything like MW,kettle, toaster,etc (fridge and WH on gas though, and-no air cond.) on inverter except the converter. When shore power or gen available that will run the converter, which in turn backs up the batteries doing the inverter and the other 12v stuff.

That's what we do. At home it is different, we do the manual transfer off the inverter to shore power (house) till next time out.

Forum Discussion

Question on transfer switch with inverter and generator

14 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Autimatic Transfer Switch?

Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)

Generator question

Generator noise reduction

Generator operation