Extra Batteries and Inverters
I saw this article and thought it was pretty neat. Since I want to add aux tanks in front of the rear fenders, I like the lift off wooden box that sits on top of the fender the best. https://www.tr...
Forum Discussion
I just installed a second transfer switch in my new Northstar 12 STC a few weeks ago. The camper came with a transfer switch installed to switch between shore power and generator power. If you are connected to shore power, and start the generator, after 30 seconds or so the switch disconnects the shore power and almost instantly connects the generator power. I added a second transfer switch that switches between the output from the first transfer switch (either shore power or generator power) and my inverter. The only tricky part to a transfer switch is choosing the priority for the switch. There are two input connections to a transfer switch, usually called shore and generator. The generator input is the priority, if both shore and generator are connected, the switch will always shut off shore and connect the generator. If the generator is turned off, the switch will switch back to shore.
I took the output from the first transfer switch, and connected it to the "Generator" input of my second transfer switch. I then connected my inverter to the "Shore" input. Then I connected the output to the 110V distribution panel in the power center of the camper. So now, if I'm running on the inverter and plug into shore power, the second switch disconnects from the inverter and connects to the shore power. If I'm running on the inverter and have no shore power, then start the generator, the second switch disconnects from the inverter and connects the generator.
So the priority for 110V in my camper is lowest priority inverter, mid priority shore power, highest priority generator. You can set the priority however you want, just have to connect each power source to the appropriate priority of the transfer switch. As I said, the transfer switch two input connections are usually labeled "Shore" and "Generator", the "Generator" input has priority. If there is power coming into the "Shore" input and the "Generator" input at the same time, the transfer switch turns on the generator input and shuts off the shore input.
It sounds more confusing than it really is. But if I can figure it out, anybody can.
I took the output from the first transfer switch, and connected it to the "Generator" input of my second transfer switch. I then connected my inverter to the "Shore" input. Then I connected the output to the 110V distribution panel in the power center of the camper. So now, if I'm running on the inverter and plug into shore power, the second switch disconnects from the inverter and connects to the shore power. If I'm running on the inverter and have no shore power, then start the generator, the second switch disconnects from the inverter and connects the generator.
So the priority for 110V in my camper is lowest priority inverter, mid priority shore power, highest priority generator. You can set the priority however you want, just have to connect each power source to the appropriate priority of the transfer switch. As I said, the transfer switch two input connections are usually labeled "Shore" and "Generator", the "Generator" input has priority. If there is power coming into the "Shore" input and the "Generator" input at the same time, the transfer switch turns on the generator input and shuts off the shore input.
It sounds more confusing than it really is. But if I can figure it out, anybody can.
