Adding existing outlets to the inverter.

[Rabeow]

I have 2014 Chateau 31W, class C. The only outlets that run off the stock 1800 watt Xantrex inverter are to the TV's and the residential fridge. What is the simplest way to have all of my electrical outlets run off of the inverter so that I can choose what to use or not use?

[Beau388]

The problem is you have at least two 20 amp circuits (one is the GFCI circuit) plus the inverter outlets and if they were all ganged together, you would be limited to just 20 amps when on shore power and 15 amps on inverter power. Larger coaches use two hybrid inverters with a large 600 amp-hour battery bank. It is cost efficient (in my opinion) to add a second inverter and bypass relay to supply the few circuits you might need for battery power while not on shore power. Then there is the problem the CFCI circuits do not play well with inverters. The whole system needs to be re-engineered - big battery bank, big circuit breaker, large battery cable to inverter and at least another 2,000 watt inverter. Connection of the new inverter to the power center and Romex to the duplex receptacles is relative easy.

[Thehobe1]

Easiets way: hook up all of the 120VAC hot wires from the output side of the circuit breakers to the inverter output line. Remeber now that any transfer switch that you have will be running the entire AC load when the inverter is not activated. Also, the 12V breaker into the inverter may get overloaded.

Just a question about the "residential" fridge. I assume you have to run the generator almost all of the time to run the fridge unless you have solar or a lot of batteries?

[TurnerFam]

in my coach, which has all the outlets on the inverter, including the 'hidden' outlet for the microwave, fridge, TVs, etc., I have 4 - 15amp circuit breakers as part of the 'sub panel', within the main panel, for the 30amp breaker from the inverter.
This 30amp breaker is fed from the Inverter, backwards, into the sub-panel power bar, where the 15amp circuits each get their juice.

While the 4 15amp breakers 'equals' 60amps, the thought is that this is enough for all of the outlets along the circuit branches, but that 'all' will not be used simultaneously, but gives you the ability to have many outlets around the coach for all the 'things' you need to power, from time to time, and 4 different circuits so that 'tripping' breakers doesn't happen too often.

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by TurnerFam

in my coach, which has all the outlets on the inverter, including the 'hidden' outlet for the microwave, fridge, TVs, etc., I have 4 - 15amp circuit breakers as part of the 'sub panel', within the main panel, for the 30amp breaker from the inverter.
This 30amp breaker is fed from the Inverter, backwards, into the sub-panel power bar, where the 15amp circuits each get their juice.
...cut...

Would you mind going into a little more detail on this if you can spare the time?

It sounds like you isolated circuits in the main panel to create a pseudo 'sub panel' (i.e. not a completely separate panel). Those circuits are for all your wall receptacles, microwave, fridge, TVs and ????. What doesn't run on inverter power other than A/C?

Is the 30A breaker the one that receives its feed from shore power and does the transfer switch in the inverter sense the shore power and shut down? What I'm wondering is how you controlled shore power back feed as to not damage the inverter?

Thanks.

[TurnerFam]

Originally Posted by RvEd

Would you mind going into a little more detail on this if you can spare the time?

It sounds like you isolated circuits in the main panel to create a pseudo 'sub panel' (i.e. not a completely separate panel). Those circuits are for all your wall receptacles, microwave, fridge, TVs and ????. What doesn't run on inverter power other than A/C?

Is the 30A breaker the one that receives its feed from shore power and does the transfer switch in the inverter sense the shore power and shut down? What I'm wondering is how you controlled shore power back feed as to not damage the inverter?

Thanks.

yes, and I've attached several photos of the panel with cover and labels, and the exposed panel, which is how you can see the the right side of the panel, the 'sub panel' has a separate 'power bar' behind those breakers.

so, in effect, the LEFT side is the 50amp main breakers for the incoming power from the ATS(either Shore or Generator), with circuit breakers for:
20amp Front AC unit
20amp Rear AC unit
30amp Inverter/Charger(really, it's just to the CHARGER)
15amp Water heater(electric element)
and
15amp Engine block heater(taped off)

and the RIGHT side is the:
30amp (far right) incoming power from the INVERTER
15amp breakers to each branch circuit for all interior and exterior outlets,
including those for the fridge, microwave, bath GFCI, etc.

so, what's really happening is that you don't see a truly 'separate' Sub Panel for the Inverter, as you would expect, but the way this 'RV POWER CONTROL CENTER' panel is designed, it is 'split' into two power bars, that the breakers get their power from.
BUT
The far right 30amp Inverter breaker is actually INCOMING power FROM the inverter, running backwards thru the breaker and INTO the power bar, to each of the 15amp branch circuit breakers.

This seems a little unnatural, but it works just fine, and allows the factory to use a simple breaker box that takes up less space and creates a more simple wiring scheme.

The digest this, I'll bring it down to a simpler list:
A) power from the ATS(which is from Shore or Generator) comes into the main breaker panel, to the 50amp double-pole breaker, and split to it's two 120v power bars(I assume, since I can't see them)

B) the higher draw Appliance breakers draw their power from these power bars. Both AC units(40amps) are from one 'side' of the 50amp supply, and the Charger, and Water heater/block heater(60amps) are from the other 'side' of the incoming 50amp power.
C) the other 'side' of the panel box is really the 'sub panel'... with incoming power from the Inverter thru the 30amp breaker to the power bar, and to each branch 15amp circuit breaker.

It's looks like there are more amps here than the 100amp from the 50amp double-pole Main breaker, and you would be right, but that is actually fairly common for homes and RVs, since you don't use EVERYTHING at it's max at the same time, at least not normally.
Even the sub-panel, while only a 30amp 'main' breaker, has 60amps of branch circuits. Not a problem.

NOW - as to the question of 'back feed': since the Magnum Inverter has it's own 'Automatic Transfer Switch' integrated within it's control, it will automatically 'pass thru' 120v incoming power from the ATS(Shore or Generator)[via the left 30amp Charger breaker] to the right side 30amp INVERTER breaker, providing the power to all the Inverted circuits.

I also looked up this type of panel, a WFCO Power Control Center, I believe, but can't find it on their website, or any mention of it. I can only imagine that it is a 'custom' item requested by the factory, for this type of installation where a separate sub-panel is not warranted, and a Converter/Charger is not needed since it is already integrated into the stand-alone MAGNUM Inverter.
The FUSE panel is next to it, and also a separate panel.

[The_Breeze]

I hardly know what to say except HOLY SMOKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!