Inverter question

[Diesel_Camper]

Are there any all in one converter/inverters out there? I have searched but haven't found any. I'm looking for something that can do the converter/charging job and also power up the AC electrical system when needed. I know you would be limited to low wattage appliances but it would be convenient.

[2oldman]

..

[christopherglen]

I put in a second breaker panel, moved the converter (mine is 100 amp and separate) both ac's and the electric water heater to it - each on their own breaker. A double 30 amp feeding the inverter charger, its output feeding the main panel, and the wires that went to the main panel now feeding the new one. My theory is the loads I don't want on the inverter / batteries are on the new panel, the inverter can run everything else (just not at the same time). It is nice making coffee in the keurig while the toaster is doing its thing - without firing up the genset. Watch TV all night (so it seems) and have 1,264,732,345,734,526 stupid little battery chargers.. Ok, maybe I lost count on the chargers a few times - but you get the idea. A side note, most I/C's run 2-4 amps off the batteries with no load, so you usually want to disable the inverter when you go to bed - or spend a big chunk of your batteries overnight when you are sleeping.

I am planning a solar setup for my trailer, When it is all done (multi year plan) I hope to be able to run 1 ac off the solar, which would eliminate the constant need to fire up the genset for rest areas when traveling.

[edhensley]

sfpcservice wrote:
Ok, I guess it helps when you know what the thing your looking for is called! So I see quite a few versions from $450 on up... But none of them seem to have the 12v fuse panel load center that a regular converter has, and do they actually provide 12v power to the rig the way a converter does or does or is it like running off your batteries with a charger hooked up at the same time?

The converter is actually the ckt board at the bottom of the fuse panel. I do not advocate anyone who is not properly trained doing their own wiring as even 12 volts can cause a fire. Anyway if you take the cover off you will see four heavy wires going to lugs the two from the ckt board are the current converter and the other two come from the battery. If you are mounting the new inverter/converter elsewhere you can take the ckt board out and use the battery wires to carry the 12 volt to the fuse panel.

[Veebyes]

Provided you have enough of a battery bank & enough of a charger there is no real reason not to do away with the CONVERTER/charger & install a nice multistage charger.

Now, if it is 110VAC that you want as well, then the way to go is to do away with the cheap & nasty CONVERTER/charger & get an INVERTER/charger.

The inverter/charger method is the way all cruising boats use. Get to know the difference between modified sine wave & pure sine wave inverters.

Also, for a much better selection, look at the online marine supply sites like defender.com which is usually better than RV sites & the Camping World of boating, West Marine.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I chose the Magnum 3000 watt hybrid unit that allows load support from the battery bank. I am a happy camper.

[2oldman]

Yes. The large 12v feeder cable to the IC feeds the inverter and in reverse charges the battery.

Then just cut the 120v feed to the converter. Anything the converter used to run will now be from the battery plus whatever charge it's getting from the Ic.

[Diesel_Camper]

So you need to wire your shoreline to the inverter/charger and then the inverter out would wire into where the shoreline used to be correct? But then somehow you have to bypass the converter portion and wire directly to the 120v load center?

[time2roll]

These inverter chargers are generally larger in size like 1500 watts and up. They will be connected direct to the battery for both inverting when unplugged and charging the battery when plugged in. You would leave you existing 12v 120v distribution panels in place. You existing converter should should be disconnected from its power source.

Honestly I prefer separate components vs. the all-in-one inverter/charger/transfer switch.

[2oldman]

sfpcservice wrote:
.. is it like running off your batteries with a charger hooked up at the same time?

That's it. Just turn off your converter.. likely for good.

[Diesel_Camper]

Ok, I guess it helps when you know what the thing your looking for is called! So I see quite a few versions from $450 on up... But none of them seem to have the 12v fuse panel load center that a regular converter has, and do they actually provide 12v power to the rig the way a converter does or does or is it like running off your batteries with a charger hooked up at the same time?

[KD4UPL]

Mangum, Xantrex, and Outback are the three big manufacturers. They are called inverter/chargers. It's a great way to go because the charging portion of the unit is usually far superior in quality and output to any converter in an RV.

[horton333]

They are available up to a couple of kilowatts, be ready to dig deep in the pocket for that much electronics and battery of course.
Check here and go down left hand side to inverter chargers.
http://www.bestconverter.com/Xantrex-Freedom-458-InverterChargers_c_112.html

[2oldman]

All kinds of them. Search 'inverter/charger' on google. Did you try the Tech forum?