2 inverters to a 3 position switch?

[Joel_T]

I'm planning on being able to plug my trailers 30a power cord into either shore power or generator or inverter. We'll use a 300w invertor most of the time but for brief use of microwave, coffee maker, and ?, a 2000w inverter. So, for the electricians out there, can I tie the 2 invertor outlets into a common outlet and use wired remote switches for each inverter in a 3 position switch, also remote, to isolate them?

(I'm aware of the A/C off, converter off, frig on gas requirements)

[time2roll]

A benefit to powering the branch circuits also prevents powering up the water heater or air conditioner inadvertently. Even the microwave will be dark unless the large inverter is switched on. No one will be fooled by the 300w powering the MW clock as ready to go.

I do have my converter on a separate breaker. Still need to manually put the fridge to propane-only or the 300w will draw a lot to keep the fridge cold.

300w can stay on 24/7 for small item convenience while the 2000w is on just as needed. Very user friendly for the rest of the family.

[Joel_T]

SoundGuy wrote:

Joel_T wrote:
I'm tripping over dollars probably to save maybe 10a a day. The loss I'd take selling a "new" 300w wouldn't be much different than the added expense to set up the second inverter.

If you're so convinced you want to use both inverters - a 300 watt and a 2000 watt - why not just wire both sets of inputs to the battery, simply plug your trailer's main service cable into the inverter you want to use at the time, just as you would into shore power or your genset, and not bother with a multi position, high current switch at all? :h JMO, but I'd be putting any extra $$$ into beefing up the battery reserve to make better use of the 2K inverter's full potential.

I'm not "so" convinced....just exploring alternatives. I'm lazy too....don't want to go outside to plug and unplug options.

[SoundGuy]

Joel_T wrote:
I'm tripping over dollars probably to save maybe 10a a day. The loss I'd take selling a "new" 300w wouldn't be much different than the added expense to set up the second inverter.

If you're so convinced you want to use both inverters - a 300 watt and a 2000 watt - why not just wire both sets of inputs to the battery, simply plug your trailer's main service cable into the inverter you want to use at the time, just as you would into shore power or your genset, and not bother with a multi position, high current switch at all? :h JMO, but I'd be putting any extra $$$ into beefing up the battery reserve to make better use of the 2K inverter's full potential.

[wa8yxm]

Been thinking about this.

you can do it but use a FIVE position switch

Inverter 1/off/Inverter 2/OFF/Other source

Always put an OFF between two active sources.

[Joel_T]

I'm tripping over dollars probably to save maybe 10a a day. The loss I'd take selling a "new" 300w wouldn't be much different than the added expense to set up the second inverter.

[Joel_T]

westend wrote:
A good 2K PSW inverter will draw around 1 amp at idle (unless equipped with an idle circuit to minimize draw). A 300W inverter will consume about 500 milliamps at idle. The difference is so small that you won't notice the difference in draw. Having one inverter obviates the use of switches, transfer switches, and any additional wiring which can also fail.

What 2K PSW inverter draws only 1a. Those I've looked at are closer to 2a.

[MrWizard]

A Generator produces AC
You run the A/C when you want to cool the RV

This nomenclature makes it easier for everyone to understand and be less confused when talking about electricity

[time2roll]

westend wrote:
A good 2K PSW inverter will draw around 1 amp at idle (unless equipped with an idle circuit to minimize draw). A 300W inverter will consume about 500 milliamps at idle. The difference is so small that you won't notice the difference in draw. Having one inverter obviates the use of switches, transfer switches, and any additional wiring which can also fail.

My 2000w draws about 1800 milliamps at idle. The 300w draws 160 milliamps. It does make a difference when left on continuous. Especially if solar is marginal.

Besides the OP's 300w is already installed.

[Vulcan_Rider]

SoundGuy wrote:
when dry camping don't even give a thought to how little those bulbs draw. :B

They draw even less when turned OFF. 😉

When the sun goes to sleep, I'm usually not far behind.

[SoundGuy]

Vulcan Rider wrote:
Having all LED lights probably helps some too.

More than just "some" ... an LED bulb can typically draw 1/6th the power of a similar incandescent bulb. I've got 16 921 LED bulbs in our short 19' camper and when dry camping don't even give a thought to how little those bulbs draw. :B

[Vulcan_Rider]

valhalla360 wrote:
Keep life simple, you aren't going to save enough amps to justify a complicated failure prone system.

+1

But some people just like to "tinker" and make things "better".
Sometimes it ends up being self-defeating.

When I said that I simply run the gen. when needed, I forgot to mention that having a 12 V flat screen TV really helps a lot.
I got that model by mistake but am REALLY glad that I did.

I find that in the summer time I have to run the Gen. for AC anyway.

In the "winter" I run it about 2 hours morning and evening and that lets me use the TV pretty much all that I want and the little gas furnace keeps the chill off all night too. Having all LED lights probably helps some too.

[valhalla360]

Keep life simple, you aren't going to save enough amps to justify a complicated failure prone system.

[SoundGuy]

westend wrote:
Having one inverter obviates the use of switches, transfer switches, and any additional wiring which can also fail.

Agree completely, and idle draw would seem to be a minor concern if one only turns the inverter on when needed and off when it's not, easy to do since many are are supplied with a remote switch that can be mounted inside the trailer. I too don't see any advantage in a complicated wiring scheme when it's much simpler to just mount a single sine wave inverter near the battery and when dry camping just plug the trailer's main service cable into the inverter output, as I've done (7 pics). Simple, easy to implement, and within the limitations of the inverter you've chosen the trailer behaves just as it would when plugged into shore power.

[westend]

A good 2K PSW inverter will draw around 1 amp at idle (unless equipped with an idle circuit to minimize draw). A 300W inverter will consume about 500 milliamps at idle. The difference is so small that you won't notice the difference in draw. Having one inverter obviates the use of switches, transfer switches, and any additional wiring which can also fail.