phemens wrote:
Getting older and lazier, there must be an easier way, right?
There is, but it won't be cheap !
Replace what you have with a combination inverter/charger/transfer switch like a
Samlex Evo !
These are actually designed to be used with a permanently mounted generator, but a portable generator will work if you have some place to mount it.
Throw out your current converter. Connect the DC distribution panel directly to the battery bank
(via a fuse of course). All connection, shore power, generator power, solar power from the charge controller, house battery and AC out, go to this one unit ! If you have shore power, it uses it. If not, it uses battery/inverter. If that is insufficient it can (optionally) start the generator.
There are probably other manufacturers of the same.
EDIT : Samlex does make a
smaller, less expensive, inverter/charger/transfer switch without a separate generator input
(so the generator would plug into the exterior shore power cord) but it is only rated at 10A of AC "pass thru" current.
