1000 Watt PSW Inverter/Charger w/255 ah AGM
After dealing with battery issues for quite some time I decided to ensure that I would have ample power for 2 weeks-plus boondocking by upgrading my electrical storage.
I took half my wardrobe space and created a power center to augment my Renogy 200 watt solar.
There are two group 24 battery boxes in the forward half of the wardrobe. My third battery is in the standard RV battery case adjacent to the wardrobe. All power is within a 3 ft circle, so I used 4 stranded AWG for cable between the batteries and the batteries to the inverter. I fused the DC with a 250 amp car audio fuse holder, and the 10 ga line coming from the solar panels with a jumbo 30 amp fuse/holder.
I bought an AIMS 1000 watt (2000 watt peak) PSW inverter/charger because it was the cheapest PSW I could find with a charger. All of the fancier brands like Schneider Electric (Xantrex), Samlex, and TrippLite were at least 2 times the price. The AIMS unit has been flawless, and their customer support is top-notch. The Samlex and Xantrex are similar configurations, and are also made in China. I wanted PSW because I am a musician and my tube amp will operate much more quietly.
First I got rid of the old original Magnatek converter garbage that was making me nervous every time I plugged into shore power. I simply found the two wires connected to the AC detection relay switch (blue and white) and closed the circuit by connecting them together. I left the breaker/fuse panel intact. The old converter is sitting in a corner in my garage. There is a youtube video on how to bypass/remove the old converter.
Then I had to be able to isolate the 30 amp current coming from shore power since I did not want to use the inverter/charger as an AC pass-through. I only wanted to provide fused 30 amp AC current to the inverter/charger when connected to shore power to charge the battery bank (the AIMS is 25/55 amp) and run the heavy appliances (AC and micro) and outlets, but also only wanted to power the outlets (NOT the microwave and AC) with the DC to AC inverter when boondocking, so I also isolated the 20 amp outlets circuit.
I was able to accomplish the isolation of both circuits by installing a 2-gang breaker box under the sink with a 30 amp and 20 amp breaker. When I'm plugged into shore power, I throw the 30 amp breaker to ON, and the 20 amp breaker to OFF. When I am boondocking and want AC in my outlets, I do the opposite. Also, it is important to switch the house main 30 amp breaker to OFF when on inverter power, otherwise, power loops through the inverter/charger and the unit cycles and clicks.
I connected the 20 amp AC line coming FROM the inverter and new double gang circuit panel directly to the 20 amp breaker in the house circuit panel. I connected the 30 amp line coming from the breaker-protected double-gang circuit panel to the main 30 amp breaker in the house circuit panel.
All in all, it is a workable system, when boondocking, I have power in my outlets without cranking the generator, I have a very efficient, modern smart charger for the battery bank, and I got rid of a fire hazard by eliminating my old, worn out converter.
The AIMS inverter/charger is a great value, and I believe made by a good company despite being on the lower end of the price scale.
If anyone wants to see pics, I can post in this thread, or PM.
I took half my wardrobe space and created a power center to augment my Renogy 200 watt solar.
There are two group 24 battery boxes in the forward half of the wardrobe. My third battery is in the standard RV battery case adjacent to the wardrobe. All power is within a 3 ft circle, so I used 4 stranded AWG for cable between the batteries and the batteries to the inverter. I fused the DC with a 250 amp car audio fuse holder, and the 10 ga line coming from the solar panels with a jumbo 30 amp fuse/holder.
I bought an AIMS 1000 watt (2000 watt peak) PSW inverter/charger because it was the cheapest PSW I could find with a charger. All of the fancier brands like Schneider Electric (Xantrex), Samlex, and TrippLite were at least 2 times the price. The AIMS unit has been flawless, and their customer support is top-notch. The Samlex and Xantrex are similar configurations, and are also made in China. I wanted PSW because I am a musician and my tube amp will operate much more quietly.
First I got rid of the old original Magnatek converter garbage that was making me nervous every time I plugged into shore power. I simply found the two wires connected to the AC detection relay switch (blue and white) and closed the circuit by connecting them together. I left the breaker/fuse panel intact. The old converter is sitting in a corner in my garage. There is a youtube video on how to bypass/remove the old converter.
Then I had to be able to isolate the 30 amp current coming from shore power since I did not want to use the inverter/charger as an AC pass-through. I only wanted to provide fused 30 amp AC current to the inverter/charger when connected to shore power to charge the battery bank (the AIMS is 25/55 amp) and run the heavy appliances (AC and micro) and outlets, but also only wanted to power the outlets (NOT the microwave and AC) with the DC to AC inverter when boondocking, so I also isolated the 20 amp outlets circuit.
I was able to accomplish the isolation of both circuits by installing a 2-gang breaker box under the sink with a 30 amp and 20 amp breaker. When I'm plugged into shore power, I throw the 30 amp breaker to ON, and the 20 amp breaker to OFF. When I am boondocking and want AC in my outlets, I do the opposite. Also, it is important to switch the house main 30 amp breaker to OFF when on inverter power, otherwise, power loops through the inverter/charger and the unit cycles and clicks.
I connected the 20 amp AC line coming FROM the inverter and new double gang circuit panel directly to the 20 amp breaker in the house circuit panel. I connected the 30 amp line coming from the breaker-protected double-gang circuit panel to the main 30 amp breaker in the house circuit panel.
All in all, it is a workable system, when boondocking, I have power in my outlets without cranking the generator, I have a very efficient, modern smart charger for the battery bank, and I got rid of a fire hazard by eliminating my old, worn out converter.
The AIMS inverter/charger is a great value, and I believe made by a good company despite being on the lower end of the price scale.
If anyone wants to see pics, I can post in this thread, or PM.
