Forum Discussion

ntsgiggles's avatar
ntsgiggles
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014

Bypassing the converter

Hi all.... I am wondering if anyone can help me with something I have been experimenting with ? I have been setting up at our camp trailer its a 29' Heartland trailrunner, with solar panels and 6 volt batteries. I plug in and run our generator, but at certain times it has to be shut off. So here is the prob I am trying to get past. When I shut off my generator I switch to my 1000w inverter this works great so that we can use the plugins for tv or whatever. The prob with this, is that when the inverter is on and being used from the batteries, the converter is running and trying to charge the batteries witch in turn drains the batteries twice as fast. So is there a way to bypass the converter while I am using the inverter ? Can I install a switch of some sort to shut it off, and what kind of switch would it be? or is there some other way to solve this ? I use the main plug in for the generator and inverter both .....thanks any help would be awesome
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Mar 28, 2014
    The on-board converter/charger will either have a separate circuit breaker or has its own 120VAC power plug that may be plugged into a 120VAC receptacle somewhere.

    Either turn it off at the circuit breaker or unplug it...

    In both my trailers it is the first 15AMP circuit breaker going down the panel. Just under the 30AMP Main breaker.

    Roy Ken
  • ntsgiggles's avatar
    ntsgiggles
    Explorer
    Mar 28, 2014
    I run the inverter off the main trailer power plug same as the generator .If I shut the breaker off to the converter will the inverter still power the plugs through the main power cord tho ?
  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer
    Mar 28, 2014
    Just look in your trailers AC breaker box. There should be a breaker labeled for the converter. Turn it off. Problem solved.
    If it's not labeled you'll have to turn them off one at a time to find the right one. If there's something else on that same breaker that you don't want off then you'll have to move the circuits around or, if there's room, add a breaker just for the converter.
    In my camper it's on it's own breaker.

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