Tie in power inverter?

[jonyb]

I've read a few threads here on this subject, but never really found the answer I was looking for.

I want to add a power inverter to my 2012 Jayco Octane T29A. The only real purpose is to power a TV/Sat receiver, and an outlet for a fan. I know that will drag the batteries down, but I've got some pretty serious battery power and should be fine. Those have been upgraded already.

The plan is to tie into the OEM converter (I hope I'm saying inverter and converter right) with a homemade plug going to the inverter, which will be powered from the batteries with 4 gauge wire.

I've attached a picture of my converter in the camper. Any advice on where to tie into? There's an orange 12/2 coming from the cord, and another orange 12/2 coming from the generator.

[csorba]

I installed a similar system but didn't connect to all circuits. I only wanted 2 circuits to have power when my inverter was on. tv circuit and above the sink circuit. I used 2 x Xantrex 15 amp auto transfer switches ($60 ea) the were very easy to install.

Turn off all 110 power incoming to trailer- *** safety first
Identify which circuits u want power to
Remove factory 110 power cord from that circuit. I cut mine at the back of the converter and pull it out the front
Then attached the cord you just cut to the 110 side of the xantrex transfer switch
Attach the other input side to the power from your inverter
The third side (output) then goes through the back of the converter your picture showed and re attached to your original 110 breaker,

I did mine in about 1 hour.

Auto transfer switches for individual circuits 15 amp are way cheaper the whole rv switches.
I did mine this way so that there way no way any other devices (ie water heater) were trying to run on my batteries.

Hope,ths helps,

[24fb_freedom]

I just did an install on my 5th wheel,I dont have a drawing of how i did it but will try my best to explaine, I wanted to power all my outlets, I have 3 breakers i wanted to run off of inverter two run the tv's and the rest to charge phones cameras etc etc.. I tested all breakers to find the circuits for the outlets, I ran a 10/2 cable with a 30 amp breaker to one of the inputs on the automatic trans switch,then ran a 12/2 from the inverter to the other input on the trans switch,then the output on switch to a sub-panel that feeds all four breakers on it to all outlets. this way when my inverter is running and i turn on gen it will automaticly transfer over to gen, and when the gen or shore power goes off it turnes over to inverter so i always have 110v on my outlets. sorry if i confused any of you guy's.

[time2roll]

OK 1000w will need that #4 to the battery.

If you want the existing outlet to work you can wire the inverter power to that circuit using a transfer switch. I recommend the 15 amp Xantrex.

Transfer switch has two input, one output. (1)Remove the branch circuit romex from the power center and connect to the output of the transfer switch. That is all three Hot, Neutral and Ground. (2) connect the inverter to the default (normally closed) input. (3) New piece of romex from the panel to the other transfer switch input. Connect in the panel same as the original was removed.

s/b straight forward if you have done any home wiring.

http://www.bestconverter.com/Xantrex-Prowatt-SW-Inline-15-Amp-Transfer-Switch_p_457.html

If the branch circuit powers items not wanted to run from the inverter, such as 120v fridge, those items need to be off or disconnected.

Some inverters will not tolerate getting wired into a system and sharing the 120v ground with the battery negative. If this is the case you get to just run an extension cord direct.

[RoyB]

Is this INVERTER a pure sine wave - I didn't realize you already had the Inverter already - guess I missed that...

[jonyb]

1000W inverter, and like I said, existing wire is too small. I had a 150W or something close and it didn't work. There is plenty of space behind the power center, but to access it I'd have to pull some drawers out, or try to pull the power center out - and there's not a lot of slack in the wiring.

[time2roll]

What is the wattage rating of the inverter?

300w or less you can use existing wire. Probably only need 150w.

Is there much space behind the power center to connect the inverter?

[RoyB]

rgr - I think this plan will work for you pretty good...

You're next problem will be how big of a PSW INVERTER you want to have. I started out small and eventually ended up with a 600WATT unit. The 1500WATT was one I already had so just added it as a back up and mainly just to run the 120VAC receptacles around the trailer. It would draw too much battery power for me to have loaded down for the full 1500WATTS.

INVERTERs are rather power hungry...

I run all of my 120VAC toys I want on using an INVERTER and all of the 12VDC items we want on direct connected to my battery bank and it is planned out to make it thru the one day/night run off my 255AH Battery capacity. Then I re-charge the next morning at 8AM when my battery SOC drops to around 12.0VDC. I get it back up to its 90% SOC in a three hour 2KW Generator run time using smart mode charging mode so I can do all of this all over again the next day/night run off the batteries.

It takes some planning to be successful about camping off the power grid.

Roy Ken

[jonyb]

Roy, unfortunately I'm on a work computer, and most pictures are blocked out on this thread. I posted mine this morning before leaving the house. I'll check yours out as soon as I get back home later on tonight. Thanks for all the replies thus far.

[RoyB]

John - If you notice on my floor plan you will see my 1500WATT PSW Inverter and it connects to the outside wall right next to the 30AMP Shore Power Cable. When i want to connect my whole trailer to the 1500WATT PSW Inverter I just connect up an adapter cable.

This solves the possibility of not having two 120VAC sources connected up at the same time. I become the human change-over relay...

With just 1500WATTS available I have to shut down alot of things as well by flipping circuit breakers.

If you hardwire in parallel to the shore power cable with a cable that will plug into your planned inverter then this MALE PLUG will be hot when you are connected to SHORE POWER CABLE.

This is a HUGH NO-NO...

This is my converter setup and the flip lid outside connector on the right is what the 1500WATT PSW Inverter is hard wired to. It is perfectly safe using the RV30A-15AMP adapter. NO BARE HOT pins you can touch...


This setup will do what you want to do without using switching relays... It also keeps you from having to tie into your 120VAC wiring also.

the only possible problem will be your INVERTER may trip your GFCI receptacles if you purchase the wrong model of INVERTER...

Got to think being safe... It won't be you that gets hurt - it will be your dog or one of your kids or wife or the repairman that is working on something for you etc...

Roy Ken

[2oldman]

jonyb wrote:
I want to tie the inverter in to power all the breakers in the utility panel, not just the breaker that feeds the TV. That's why I'd trip all the extra breakers that are not needed..

Yes, just find the main cable in and connect there. I went back to my shore power junction box, perhaps not a choice for you.

I used to flip breakers, but now I just turn off the a/c at the thermostat and make sure the HW and refer are on gas.

[westend]

You have the basic wiring plan correct but are missing the piece about the transfer switch. You should have either an inverter with it's own auto transfer switch or an independent transfer switch.

It might only take one instant, one time, to do some serious damage to the electrical devices in your rig if two power sources are online at one time. In your specific use, it may be easier to establish a subpanel with just the few circuits powered that you intend to use.

Transfer switch choices. In fact, I'd give the folks at Best Converter a call and ask them what they think.

RV electrical. There are many good ideas here about wiring and inverters.

[jonyb]

I want to tie the inverter in to power all the breakers in the utility panel, not just the breaker that feeds the TV. That's why I'd trip all the extra breakers that are not needed.

The way my camper is set up there's no way I can hide an extension cord. The TV is in a wall mounted cabinet. On the other side of the wall is the bathroom, and the utility panel/inverter is past that bathroom. IF I plugged a cord in, the cabinet door wouldn't latch closed, and it would cross the path of 2 doors. People would trip over it going to the bathroom. And then it would only feed the TV. I want to power a receptacle for a circulation fan also.

In the picture, a 12/2 comes in on the bottom right corner feeding the terminal strips. That's where I "think" I can tie this in. I'll be the only one operating all of this, so I believe I can get by without a disconnect switch, or just unplug it and turn off the inverter when not in use.

[2oldman]

jonyb wrote:
then tie it in somewhere to the utility panel that I showed a picture of.

And I guess that 'somewhere' is a breaker that feeds the TV outlet..?

[RoyB]

Oh another issue perhaps - when you pull the 120VAC from the distribution panel breaker for the home entertainment items what else is being disconnected. My trailer has several 120VAC things on the same connection for the home entertainment items. They love to daisy change the 120VAC receptacles...

I'll get out of y'all hair - I'm probably being ignored anyway haha...

Roy Ken