Doing an electrical system from scratch, need some help!

Hey everyone! I joined this forum specifically to ask this question and I hope someone here can help me figure it out.

My wife and I purchased a used 2011 Forest River R-Pod with the intention of doing a light remodel (paint and replacing vinyl floor) and it is now a down-to-the-studs remodel after finding water damage in the floor and walls that wasn't noticeable until the floor was removed.

Anyway, since I have the opportunity to put whatever I want into an empty shell of a camper, I'm doing everything from scratch with new components since the original systems looked awful, maintenance heavy and childishly wired in my opinion. We're going for a low energy solar/shore power setup thats as maintenance free as possible.

I've done literal days of research now and think I have it all figured out except for one detail. Without specifications (since I've only decided on one component), here's what I've planned:

Solar panels (wattage TBD)
Solar charge controller
Spartan Power 2200w inverter/charger (also includes a transfer switch): ***Link Removed***
AGM batteries (probably two 6V, haven't calculated my needs yet).

What I'm stuck on is probably the simplest part of the setup, the distribution panel. Initially I had trouble because I didn't even know the right keywords to search for, and could only find residential sized breaker panels.

The problem I'm having now is that I can find extremely few options that DON'T include a converter/charger. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I'll be needing one with the inverter/charger I've chosen as our camper will be connected to the 30amp shore power for the majority of our trips.

I've currently found these two that I think complete the system, providing a DC panel and an AC panel in compact form without also adding in a converter/charger:

***Link Removed***
***Link Removed***

Will either of these work to complete the system, am I missing something, or is there a better product I should be looking for?

rbts
Explorer
Apr 12, 2018
The distribution panel links were to:

Progressive Dynamics PD5000 Series AC/DC Power Distribution Panel – 30 Amp, 120 VAC
WFCO WF-8930/50 Distribution Panel

I don't think I can link to them as a new member, sorry!
agesilaus
Explorer III
Apr 12, 2018
You need to use the -Advanced Post Form- to post links. Use the link icon (looks like a blue circle with some chain at the bottom) to post a link.
DrewE
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2018
New members unfortunately can't post links until a few other posts are made (for spam prevention/remediation), so I can't tell which units you're thinking of.

The Progressive Dynamics PD5000 panel or the Parallalax 80D panel would both be perfectly reasonable choices. Bestconverter sells them (and they're good and helpful people to deal with, and quite knowledgable about RV power systems).

It's also reasonable to have separate AC and DC distribution panels if that ends up suiting your installation better. DC fuse panels in just about any size and shape and description are quite easy to find. Small AC panels that are not wired for 240V split phase use are harder to find. In some cases, it might be possible to safely tie the two legs together via main lugs or similar...or just to ignore one of the legs, or something. I suspect you already understand this, but the 120V panel in an RV should keep the ground and neutral independent, like a sub-panel in a house (but unlike the main panel where they are bonded together).
2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2018
rbts wrote:
I don't think I can link to them as a new member, sorry!
Just post the raw url and see if that works.
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 12, 2018
rbts wrote:
The problem I'm having now is that I can find extremely few options that DON'T include a converter/charger. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I'll be needing one with the inverter/charger I've chosen as our camper will be connected to the 30amp shore power for the majority of our trips.
I think you have this backward. You don't need a large inverter/charger/solar if you will be mostly plugged in.

Get an RV electric panel with converter and go camping a bit. Get two batteries for one or two nights off grid but save yourself the inverter/solar until you decide to go mostly off-grid.

www.bestconverter.com/PD4045-45-Amp-Inteli-Power-Mighty-Mini-Power-Center
SoundGuy
Explorer
Apr 12, 2018
rbts wrote:
Solar panels (wattage TBD)
Solar charge controller
Spartan Power 2200w inverter/charger (also includes a transfer switch): ***Link Removed***
AGM batteries (probably two 6V, haven't calculated my needs yet).

The problem I'm having now is that I can find extremely few options that DON'T include a converter/charger. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I'll be needing one with the inverter/charger I've chosen as our camper will be connected to the 30amp shore power for the majority of our trips.

This being the case why go to the expense of installing solar, a controller, double GC-2s, an inverter, and a transfer switch? :h
donn0128
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2018
Why do you want an inverter charger? Are you planning to run everything on 120VAC instead of 12VDC? In a RV 12VDC is much more convienent. You already have the battery, so use a converter charger of your choice, make everything 12VDC except the one or two things you think you want as 120VAC.
In a small RV like your RPod you will not have enough space to put enough batteries to run much on 120VAC.
rbts
Explorer
Apr 12, 2018
DrewE wrote:
New members unfortunately can't post links until a few other posts are made (for spam prevention/remediation), so I can't tell which units you're thinking of.

The Progressive Dynamics PD5000 panel or the Parallalax 80D panel would both be perfectly reasonable choices. Bestconverter sells them (and they're good and helpful people to deal with, and quite knowledgable about RV power systems).

It's also reasonable to have separate AC and DC distribution panels if that ends up suiting your installation better. DC fuse panels in just about any size and shape and description are quite easy to find. Small AC panels that are not wired for 240V split phase use are harder to find. In some cases, it might be possible to safely tie the two legs together via main lugs or similar...or just to ignore one of the legs, or something. I suspect you already understand this, but the 120V panel in an RV should keep the ground and neutral independent, like a sub-panel in a house (but unlike the main panel where they are bonded together).

Thank you, thats very helpful! It is only 120V in the trailer and I did not know the ground and neutral should be independent. I also just found the 80D and a bunch of options from Paneltronics which seems to be the premium solution.
rbts
Explorer
Apr 12, 2018
donn0128 wrote:
Why do you want an inverter charger? Are you planning to run everything on 120VAC instead of 12VDC? In a RV 12VDC is much more convienent. You already have the battery, so use a converter charger of your choice, make everything 12VDC except the one or two things you think you want as 120VAC.
In a small RV like your RPod you will not have enough space to put enough batteries to run much on 120VAC.

The inverter is for the ability to run some AC appliances for short amounts of time while not plugged in to shore power (laptop charger/toaster/etc.) I know DC is far more efficient, but my goal is to make everything as versatile and painless a system as possible.
drsteve
Explorer
Apr 12, 2018
rbts wrote:
donn0128 wrote:
Why do you want an inverter charger? Are you planning to run everything on 120VAC instead of 12VDC? In a RV 12VDC is much more convienent. You already have the battery, so use a converter charger of your choice, make everything 12VDC except the one or two things you think you want as 120VAC.
In a small RV like your RPod you will not have enough space to put enough batteries to run much on 120VAC.

The inverter is for the ability to run some AC appliances for short amounts of time while not plugged in to shore power (laptop charger/toaster/etc.) I know DC is far more efficient, but my goal is to make everything as versatile and painless a system as possible.

If you plan to run stuff like a toaster, microwave, coffee maker, and the like, you better have a large battery bank. Very large.