Inverter question

[Iowa_Cowgirl]

Hi y'all. I'll try to keep this fairly short.
I camp in a gooseneck horse trailer with living quarters. It has an inverter in it right now, but the set up is weird. To switch from 12v power to 110v when I get to camp, before I plug in, I have to flip a switch on the interter and unplug my fridge from the inverter before I plug into the power at camp. I want to run my fridge off the marine batteries in transit when I travel long distances and have it automatically flip over to 110 without having to hassle with my current weird situation.
What kind of inverter can I purchase to do this?
Thanks.

[Iowa_Cowgirl]

Thanks for all your help y'all!!

[MrWizard]

couldn't see the face book pictures, don't belong to FB
many people use photobucket or one of the other picture hosting sites

anyway good thing you found out the 'Hot" power cord, yes that would fry your inverter

your new Electrician will remove the 'hot cord spliced in' and can a install the transfer switch
the switch can go near the fridge
the wire can run from the switch to the inverter and stay permanently plugged in
will function 'electrically' safe
the TS will switch between the two 120v sources

Yes you can get inverter with built in TS, but then 120v power has to be run to the inverter then back to fridge

let your electrician decide which will be less costly and best to do for you

[Iowa_Cowgirl]

jmtandem wrote:
Iowa Cowgirl,

All is not lost! Horse trailers with living quarters will outlast virtually any RV with the possible exception of an Airstream. The horse trailer is made with axles that are up to the job, tires with weight ratings that are realistic, no filon sidewall delamination possible, no rubber cheap roof that only lasts 12 years, etc. In the long run you have a superior RV that in the short run needs a few minor things fixed inside. That is way better than a new standard white box that will need lots of things fixed on the outside as it ages and that came with barely able axles and tires. Keep your chin up and I am sure the electrical issues will be solved to your satisfaction very soon.

If I was looking for a toyhauler that would go the distance, I certainly would have on my short list a living quarters horse trailer.

I got very lucky finding my trailer. It's a '93 but it's all aluminum. Sold my BP trailer for $6000. Got a hell of a deal on this one at $5000 cash. Put new brakes and tires all around. Couldn't justify buying a $30,000 LQ horse trailer when I could just pay to have mine converted.

[Iowa_Cowgirl]

This may clear things up a bit...
The inverter in my rig is a Powerdrive 2000.
This is the fridge I have:
Fridge

You're right! The plug was hot and guess what, my new contractor pointed that out to me yesterday when I stopped over to check out the rig, HENCE why the 1st contractor was fired and I'm going to sue him for the total amount plus loss of use for ripping me off! The outlet under the seat was only supposed to be used for 12v power off the inverter.
Think I could have shocked the hell out of myself?
Here are photos of my trailer when I got it back from the 1st guy:
Photos of botched LQ Conversion

[MrWizard]

Kinda/sorta.
There is no transfer switch.
Right now I plug the fridge into an outlet that is under seating. The outlet is somehow rigged to the inverter. I flip the inverter "on" and I'm running on 12v.
When I get to the campground, I unplug my fridge from the outlet under the seat, flip the inverter switch to "off" and plug the 30 amp shore cord to the shore power.
The inverter is not in play at all when I'm camping.
FYI: I don't do shows or fair. I camp with my horses and trail ride. Now that's bringing a pet along! lol

yes i know you think you don't have a transfer switch
BUT unless you are physically plugging the fridge into ANOTHER outlet
there is already a TS installed and in use
OTHERWISE that unused cord from the fridge would be 'electrically hot' and a real danger

IF you are moving the fridge cord from inverter outlet to shore outlet, all you need to install is a transfer switch

moving the fridge cord is the part you have NOT clarified

I unplug my fridge from the outlet under the seat, flip the inverter switch to "off" and plug the 30 amp shore cord to the shore power.

[pianotuna]

Hi Cowgirl,

So is it a 120 volt fridge or is it dual voltage 12 volt dc and 120 volt ac? Folks are still confused (at least, I am) LOL

[jmtandem]

I paid a LQ conversion guy to build my conversion.

Iowa Cowgirl,

All is not lost! Horse trailers with living quarters will outlast virtually any RV with the possible exception of an Airstream. The horse trailer is made with axles that are up to the job, tires with weight ratings that are realistic, no filon sidewall delamination possible, no rubber cheap roof that only lasts 12 years, etc. In the long run you have a superior RV that in the short run needs a few minor things fixed inside. That is way better than a new standard white box that will need lots of things fixed on the outside as it ages and that came with barely able axles and tires. Keep your chin up and I am sure the electrical issues will be solved to your satisfaction very soon.

If I was looking for a toyhauler that would go the distance, I certainly would have on my short list a living quarters horse trailer.

[jmtandem]

That seems pretty clear to me... but I guess the YES!!! is for running off 12v, which I previously said was confusing and she didn't correct me.

Before any problems can be dealt with we have to know what exactly they are. I have never heard of using a transfer switch for batteries and 110.

Agreed. It has been a little confusing.

[Iowa_Cowgirl]

OMG! Sorry to hear that Don.

[pianotuna]

Hi Cowgirl,

Don't feel bad--even the most canny people sometimes get ripped off.

I paid $600.00 for an inverter. It ended up being JUNK of the worst sort. I returned it for a full refund. That was 3 years ago--funny--I've never gotten their cheque.

Then there was the generator that came not working correctly--after I had it fixed--it burst into flame while being tested (thank goodness it was outdoors at the time). No refund available--but they offered to sell me another one at 50% off. I declined. (btw I'm clearly NOT very canny.)

Iowa Cowgirl wrote:
The first guy came highly recommended by a horse trailer dealer, so I didn't worry or check references. Bad on me. I'm taking him to court, which is out of state.
Not asking for pity. It just sucks.

[Iowa_Cowgirl]

I'll have to look at it when I get home from work.
My government job blocks some photos. 😞

[MrWizard]

here is my DIY transfer switch
i did it because i had the parts and know how
but this will give the idea, so you understand what we are talking about
mine is also connected to my fridge and switches between inverter and shore/generator



click on image IF you need to see a bigger picture

[Iowa_Cowgirl]

Side note:
I paid a LQ conversion guy to build my conversion. He ripped me off and messed up my trailer with crappy and dangerous work. Long story short, the inverter he put in was a used inverter without a built in transfer switch. I paid $8500 for the conversion, which I took out a loan for. Now I have to pay $2500 to a licensed contractor to fix the first guy's mess. Oh and btw, 2nd guy told me the job was overpriced and should have only cost me around $5000.
The first guy came highly recommended by a horse trailer dealer, so I didn't worry or check references. Bad on me. I'm taking him to court, which is out of state.
Not asking for pity. It just sucks.

[Iowa_Cowgirl]

MrWizard wrote:
Cowgirl
Correct me if I'm wrong
Right now you plug the fridge into a socket/ cord powered by the inverter
When you reach the show/fairgrounds you move the fridge plug to another OUTLET for the shore power
Assuming both are located near the fridge, you simply plug the fridge into the transfer switch output, and plug the two inputs into the two power sources
One into shore outlet one into inverter power
One input is default "inverter" the other is the "switched" shore power
It switched automatically when you plug in the trailers shore chord

Kinda/sorta.
There is no transfer switch.
Right now I plug the fridge into an outlet that is under seating. The outlet is somehow rigged to the inverter. I flip the inverter "on" and I'm running on 12v.
When I get to the campground, I unplug my fridge from the outlet under the seat, flip the inverter switch to "off" and plug the 30 amp shore cord to the shore power.
The inverter is not in play at all when I'm camping.
FYI: I don't do shows or fair. I camp with my horses and trail ride. Now that's bringing a pet along! lol