Replacing magnetek 6300 with inverter/charger

I hooked my inverter directly to the input of the AC panel. Everything works. No problem..except when you forget about the HW and air con. :)

For some reason new members don't get to post links.

How many and what type of batteries are you installing?
You should still have a converter charger but wise to upgrade it to a replacement lower section or a stand alone unit.

Thanks all. Plan is for 200ah deep cycle AGM initially. Maybe 400ah in the future.

I am thinking though that the 2000w might be over kill. We mainly just need it for charging laptops. Maybe a few other devices but nothing like a microwave or coffee machine. Just liked the idea of re-using the outlets as they are well placed.

A 600w inverter would be more efficient I guess. I just can't find a relatively affordable inverter/charger with hardwire outputs for connecting to an AC distribution panel. All of the "affordable" ones have regular outlet sockets which I have read are not suitable for connecting to a distribution panel?

If I let go of wanting to re-use the outlets, things are much simpler! A 600w pure sine inverter with a few dedicated outlets would be fine. I was also considering trying to add some kind of disconnect switch to the magnetek charger so I could safely hookup the inverter to the AC panel. Since we will rarely use the shore hookup it is fine if this is a manual process to re-connect. I have read not to mess with these panels so not sure if this is a safe/smart approach. Curious if anyone has any thoughts on this as a middle ground solution.

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nakedgun wrote:
I am thinking though that the 2000w might be over kill. We mainly just need it for charging laptops.

All of the "affordable" ones have regular outlet sockets which I have read are not suitable for connecting to a distribution panel?

trying to add some kind of disconnect switch to the magnetek charger

For now, yes, but you may grow to love inverting to want to run big wattage stuff.

You can simply fashion a plug into a smaller inverter and feed your ac panel. For small loads that's fine. Hard-wire lugs are for getting the full-rated wattage from a larger inverter, as the sockets are not designed for that. You don't 'mess with the panel', you find the 30a supply line TO the panel (presumably where your shore line enters the coach) and intercept there.

I found the 120v supply wire to my Magnatek and put an spst switch on it. Hasn't been run in 15 years.

I would skip the big inverter/charger for your described use. 300 watt inverter will work fine. Add a small transfer switch to the branch circuit and use the existing outlets. Replace the converter for faster charging of the AGM batteries.

2oldman wrote:

nakedgun wrote:
I am thinking though that the 2000w might be over kill. We mainly just need it for charging laptops.

All of the "affordable" ones have regular outlet sockets which I have read are not suitable for connecting to a distribution panel?

trying to add some kind of disconnect switch to the magnetek charger

For now, yes, but you may grow to love inverting to want to run big wattage stuff.

You can simply fashion a plug into a smaller inverter and feed your ac panel. For small loads that's fine. Hard-wire lugs are for getting the full-rated wattage from a larger inverter, as the sockets are not designed for that. You don't 'mess with the panel', you find the 30a supply line TO the panel (presumably where your shore line enters the coach) and intercept there.

I found the 120v supply wire to my Magnatek and put an spst switch on it. Hasn't been run in 15 years.

Thank you - I had no idea that for small loads you can fashion a plug. That helps a lot! I can access the 30a supply line to the panel easily enough. What would be ideal would be to tap the 30a supply line (somehow) with an additional 30a receptacle which the inverter plugs into - just for ease of connecting/disconnecting. Not sure if there's a gizmo for this use case - I guess this is the role of a transfer switch? Just to clarify - the 120v supply wire to the Magnatek. This should probably be the black wire going into the lower charger unit right?

time2roll wrote:
I would skip the big inverter/charger for your described use. 300 watt inverter will work fine. Add a small transfer switch to the branch circuit and use the existing outlets. Replace the converter for faster charging of the AGM batteries.

Thank you. Pardon my ignorance, but the transfer switch would connect the 30a shore supply line/inverter output and feed into the 30a supply line into the distribution panel? In this scenario, is it necessary to disconnect the Magnatek charger to prevent a power loop, or would the transfer switch handle that automagically? A link to an online product would appreciated, so I can investigate more.

Thanks all for your help.

You can also add a small inverter and add in a couple of new outlets just for that inverter in a couple of convenient places.

Hint, used a different colored outlet to indicate that it is only the inverter output. You can also use a plug from your added wiring to plug into a inverter, while not as ideal as a hard wired setup it is not a big problem either as long as you are not trying to power heavy current items.

Since you are also planning to mostly boondock, perhaps might want to consider some sort of "remote" capability to turn off the inverter when not needed..

That can easily save you a lot of battery capacity.. Typical inverters can have a no load idle current of .5A-2A.. That is 12Ahr-48Ahr of battery capacity used just to run the inverter per 24 hrs.

nakedgun wrote:
What would be ideal would be to tap the 30a supply line (somehow) with an additional 30a receptacle which the inverter plugs into - just for ease of connecting/disconnecting. Not sure if there's a gizmo for this use case - I guess this is the role of a transfer switch?

Just to clarify - the 120v supply wire to the Magnatek. This should probably be the black wire going into the lower charger unit right?

Yes, a transfer switch would be indicated for that. Smaller inverters won't likely have one. I got tired of Xfer switches burning out so now I just have a big manual knife switch.

I think my Mag supply lines were white and black. Doesn't matter which one you intercept.

Gdetrailer wrote:
You can also add a small inverter and add in a couple of new outlets just for that inverter in a couple of convenient places.

Hint, used a different colored outlet to indicate that it is only the inverter output. You can also use a plug from your added wiring to plug into a inverter, while not as ideal as a hard wired setup it is not a big problem either as long as you are not trying to power heavy current items.

Since you are also planning to mostly boondock, perhaps might want to consider some sort of "remote" capability to turn off the inverter when not needed..

That can easily save you a lot of battery capacity.. Typical inverters can have a no load idle current of .5A-2A.. That is 12Ahr-48Ahr of battery capacity used just to run the inverter per 24 hrs.

Thanks, all great tips. Will definitely consider the remote switch - didn't know the idle draw was so high on the inverter!

2oldman wrote:

nakedgun wrote:
What would be ideal would be to tap the 30a supply line (somehow) with an additional 30a receptacle which the inverter plugs into - just for ease of connecting/disconnecting. Not sure if there's a gizmo for this use case - I guess this is the role of a transfer switch?

Just to clarify - the 120v supply wire to the Magnatek. This should probably be the black wire going into the lower charger unit right?

Yes, a transfer switch would be indicated for that. Smaller inverters won't likely have one. I got tired of Xfer switches burning out so now I just have a big manual knife switch.

I think my Mag supply lines were white and black. Doesn't matter which one you intercept.

Great, that helps clarify things - thank you.

Now I just need to make a call on the 2000w vs something smaller.

nakedgun wrote:

Thanks, all great tips. Will definitely consider the remote switch - didn't know the idle draw was so high on the inverter!


...Now I just need to make a call on the 2000w vs something smaller.

Yes, inverters can have a pretty high idle current, generally the higher wattage inverter, the higher the idle current will be.

It is for that reason why some boondockers will employ a low wattage inverter for low wattage needs (300W-400W for say TV, entertainment) and a higher wattage inverter for heavy 120V needs and only run them when needed.

For extremely low wattage items like charging your phone, tablet, laptop PC consider buying 12V chargers designed to take 12V directly and convert to the needed application.

Pretty much any device that uses 5V USB connection to charge you can buy a cig lighter style 12V to 5V USB charger that will work great and has extremely low idle current draw when compared to any inverter.



$5-$10..

Just need to add in a couple of cig lighter power points..

You can also buy built in 12V to 5V USB charging ports..

$8-$15



For laptops, you can buy a "universal" 12V to laptop power supply, uses changeable "tips" that sets the voltage and current for your laptop..







That one is a 90W universal laptop supply I bought for DDs loaded i7 laptop.. DD liked it so much that she only uses that power supply for her laptop! Bought it back in 2019 and so far, she hasn't broke the power supply yet. Best of all, it can not only operate from 12V but 120V also and even has built in 5V USB charging port to boot!

Found HERE for $35

Just verify that the power supply you choose has a compatible tip for your PC..