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**EA37TS** · 07-12-2015, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chance

All inverter/chargers I've seen have an automatic transfer switch so that as soon as you connect to shore power (or start generator) the inverter is bypassed. At that point the charger section of the inverter/charger starts to charge the batteries.

I don't know whether the transfer switch would work or not if the inverter/charger goes out, but I assume that's a problem that can occur with a simple inverter also. Additionally, I think I may be able to bypass the entire unit by rewiring in an emergency if the wires are long enough.

There are limitations to the ATS within the inverter/charger. The Xantrex Freedom for instance will only supply shore power to the appliances connected to the inverter. It would require one heck of an inverter and battery bank to power all residential appliances (refrigerator and convection microwave), two AC units, three televisions, and an electric fireplace. This is not to mention a clothes dryer if one were installed in my coach or the 120VAC outlets used for coffee pot, toaster, laptop computer etc.... Oh, I almost forgot the electric side of the hot water heater.

And before someone says you don't have to, or your not going to run all of that at the same time or that the battery bank doesn't have to be that large, if it is connected to the inverter the inverter must be able to operate all at the same time using shore power or when disconnected from shore power.

I believe that by the time a manufacturer such as Thor or Forest River changed the configuration to accommodate such a system they would probably price 5 to 10 percent of their entry level customers out of the market.

The nice thing about RVs is that after sign the contract and drive it away from the lot you can do whatever it is that you want to do with the coach.

With my current system as is, the only thing I would consider changing would be to connect the passengers workstation 120VAC outlet into the inverter. Other than that, the configuration of converter/charger and separate inverter works just fine.