MDKMDK wrote:
That's exactly what I want to do. Let's go on the premise that I won't run two AC sources to the coach receptacles at the same time. I'd like to have inverter provided AC power to all available coach outlets, when I'm off grid. Mostly because I prefer not to run the generator, if possible, and I'm also unlikely to ever plug my motorhome into an AC outlet with the main shore power cable, either.
Could I run a pigtail grounded power extension cord from the converter/charger's AC coach outlet rail to the inverter's spare GFCI outlet, to power them when the rest of the coach isn't plugged into shore power with that cable or running off the generator (which implies I've plugged the shore power cable into the generator, because that's how my coach is set up)?
Where inside the converter/charger/breaker/fuse panel would I begin to look? Does the front panel remove easily on most of these things?
The converter/charger does not have an "AC coach outlet rail" as such.
I think you're talking about connecting a pigtail directly to the AC distribution panel, which is separate from the converter (but often mounted in the same chassis). That is not an acceptable way of wiring things up: it leaves the possibility of having two power sources connected together simultaneously, which is not okay. It also means that one of the plugs (either the shore power cord plug or the inverter power output plug) is live when it's unplugged under some situations, and having a live male plug is also not acceptable.
You must have some sort of a transfer switching arrangement whenever two different AC power sources feed the same circuit(s), which may be something as simple as unplugging a cord from one receptacle and plugging it into another, or something somewhat more complex like a suitable manual switch or an automatic transfer switch. You cannot simply connect them in parallel. Besides being unsafe, you stand a reasonable chance of destroying your inverter the first time you plug in to shore power or use the generator.
Plugging the shore power cord into the inverter, rather than a shore power connection or the generator output socket, is safe and acceptable. You can't plug it into more than one thing at once.
Edit: I wanted to add that there's no inherent problem with having a GFCI plugged into or connected to another GFCI. Which one trips first in the event of a ground fault is, of course, somewhat up to guesswork, but assuming there are no faults in the system it will work just fine. Indeed, this is done pretty frequently, such as when plugging a modern hair dryer (with a GFCI built into the plug) into a modern bathroom outlet (which is GFCI protected per the NEC).
I'm not sure exactly where the rather persistent belief that this doesn't work came from.
