Whole RV Inverter/Charger

CA Traveler wrote:

LipschitzWrath wrote:
There were two drivers for wanting to go whole RV. One, it seems like it would be very difficult for me to re-wire dedicated outlets. Mainly, it is access related. It seems like everything is enclosed in my 5er and I don't know how to access the wiring on pretty much any of it.

Can't you access the circuits at the CB panel? Or at plug locations? I've run wires in various walls etc you just have to start checking them out.

The other driver was to take advantage of the "assist" function of the Multiplus.

Some rigs have the Magnum hybrid inverters.

As far as two inverters, that's another issue altogether. One poster suggested just connect the L1 and L2 lines on my 240V input, essentially creating a 120V system in the entire RV. While that sounds doable, what would happen if I ever did actually connect to 240V shore power? I'm envisioning fireworks, but I may just not be thinking about this right.

My suggestion and you definitely don't want a permanent direct short. Think about the 30/50A adapter that connects L1/L2. With a whole house inverter you need to do the same unless your you have 120/240V equivalent inverter. It could be a ATS or other automated approach.

It all boils down to my laziness. I guess maybe broadening my goal may present other options. We have the percolator idea with it's unbeatable KISS allure. What other options to I have to:

1) Be able to run 110V loads in the camper without having to go outside and pull start my two Yamaha's?

2) Allow me to run other power-hungry 110V appliances (microwave, coffee maker) while the AC is on?

Nothing you've suggested is laziness except to push the button after installation.

A basic setup: 2000W charger/inverter with built in ATS and remote panel. 30A AC circuit from the CB panel. 2 20A AC CB protected outputs. Your basic plug circuits are connected to these outputs. This may include TV, MW, etc but not heavy loads like the refer, HW, etc.

Charging is automatic when pedestal or gen AC is available. Large loads are not connected to the inverter so no need to switch to propane as this is automatic.

Don't need to go outside, change the refer etc. Just plain "lazy".


You guys don't need to be gentle with me. I understand the lunacy in my requests.

Most of us try to be nice. :B

I can certainly access the circuits at the breaker panel, but then the question becomes how can I get the inverter output to the breaker panel? Same problem. There is obviously something simple about fishing wire in an RV that I am not understanding. But when I crawl under my RV, there is NOTHING exposed and it doesn't look like there are access panels anywhere.

The L1/L2 thing: that's why I asked about the "split-phase" example from Victron. If you only feed one 1 leg, then half the circuits in my camper wouldn't be fed. That could be good or bad, but something tells me my luck isn't good enough to have all the circuits I want fed on the same leg. I suppose you could start changing breakers and feeds at the breaker panel to get the desired outcome. That might be the way to go, now that you mention it.

I'm guessing ATS = Automatic Transfer Switch? If so, I believe the Victron Multiplus has that. Am I missing something?

Would you mind expounding more on your example? Are you saying to take a 30A feed from the breaker panel and power the inverter/ATS from that? Then take the outputs from the inverter and feed whatever circuits I want to power from that? Would a subpanel be required in your example? I dunno where I'd put a sub.

Would your example allow the inverter to take over the duties of the converter (battery charging/12V supply)?

In my mind, it seems like that would work. The breakers would still be "fed" by shore/gen when in use via the transfer switch, yet would be active with 120V from the inverter when not connected to shore/gen. Sounds pretty elegant.

This is the kind of info I'm looking for.