Inverter Question

[Walker]

On a 2017 Memphis, the Xantrex 1000 watt inverter is located on the passenger side front corner. I have the usual battery cables running across the generator cover, and the cable for the remote display.
Then there are 2 cables that carry the AC voltage to the breaker panel. 1 cables/breaker is for the residential fridge. What is the other cable powering? I can't trace the wires thru the maze behind the tanks, and nothing on the backer of the breaker panel is labeled.
So what is powering?

Too hot to unplug from shore power....

[ComputerChips]

Some inverters pass the 110 from the breaker to the load. That may be why you see 2 AC cables. One is from the breaker, the other one returns to the outlets/circuit that gets powered by the inverter when necessary. When there is no AC from shore power or genny the unit begins to provide power to the load circuit via the inverter's ability to create 110ac power from the batteries.

[heiser252]

Originally Posted by ComputerChips

Some inverters pass the 110 from the breaker to the load. That may be why you see 2 AC cables. One is from the breaker, the other one returns to the outlets/circuit that gets powered by the inverter when necessary. When there is no AC from shore power or genny the unit begins to provide power to the load circuit via the inverter's ability to create 110ac power from the batteries.

What he said. I haven't used that particular Xantrex inverter, but It should be wired one of two ways. Option one, you have a circuit breaker in your panel labeled refrigerator or something like that. The wire coming from that breaker goes to the input side of the Xantrex which (assuming we are correct) has a built in transfer switch. The second wire goes to the refrigerator outlet. When on shore power, the power passes from the circuit breaker, through the inverter, to the outlet. When not on shore power, the inverter supplies the power to the outlet.

Option 2, the inverter is an inverter charger and you have a circuit breaker in your panel labeled something like inverter. The wire coming from this circuit breaker goes to the input side of the inverter/charger and supplies power to charge your batteries. It also passes power through a built in transfer switch to the output wire which goes to the refrigerator circuit. At this circuit there will be another small point of use transfer switch that accepts the output wire from the Xantrex and a wire from the power panel coming from a circuit breaker labeled refrigerator. An output wire from this point of use transfer switch then energizes the refrigerator circuit from one of the two sources (panel box or inverter).

There are a couple of other less likely options for the wire runs, but these are the most likely.

Look more closely at your inverter and see if there are any labels where the wires come out of it to see if they are labeled something like "load" and "supply".

These two options assume you have only one main panel box in your trailer. If you have a main panel and a sub panel, then there would be a different wiring scheme.

[gmc]

Originally Posted by Walker

On a 2017 Memphis, the Xantrex 1000 watt inverter is located on the passenger side front corner. I have the usual battery cables running across the generator cover, and the cable for the remote display.
Then there are 2 cables that carry the AC voltage to the breaker panel. 1 cables/breaker is for the residential fridge. What is the other cable powering? I can't trace the wires thru the maze behind the tanks, and nothing on the backer of the breaker panel is labeled.
So what is powering?

Too hot to unplug from shore power....

Assuming this is the model you have: Power Inverter, Marine Inverter, PRO Series Inverter

It contains a built in transfer switch, so will have INPUT from 12v and 110v and a 110v output - all hardwired... ( Looks like it also provides a convenience outlet, but shouldn't:be used for permanent connection.)

With this you will have a 110 line FROM the breaker box to the inverter (likely breaker labeled inverter.) The 110 line output would go either directly to outlets... Or back to a subpanel breaker.

Are you sure both lines are going to the same breaker panel? Or does in make a turn in that nest of wires?

[Walker]

Originally Posted by heiser252

What he said. I haven't used that particular Xantrex inverter, but It should be wired one of two ways. Option one, you have a circuit breaker in your panel labeled refrigerator or something like that. The wire coming from that breaker goes to the input side of the Xantrex which (assuming we are correct) has a built in transfer switch. The second wire goes to the refrigerator outlet. When on shore power, the power passes from the circuit breaker, through the inverter, to the outlet. When not on shore power, the inverter supplies the power to the outlet.

Option 2, the inverter is an inverter charger and you have a circuit breaker in your panel labeled something like inverter. The wire coming from this circuit breaker goes to the input side of the inverter/charger and supplies power to charge your batteries. It also passes power through a built in transfer switch to the output wire which goes to the refrigerator circuit. At this circuit there will be another small point of use transfer switch that accepts the output wire from the Xantrex and a wire from the power panel coming from a circuit breaker labeled refrigerator. An output wire from this point of use transfer switch then energizes the refrigerator circuit from one of the two sources (panel box or inverter).

There are a couple of other less likely options for the wire runs, but these are the most likely.

Look more closely at your inverter and see if there are any labels where the wires come out of it to see if they are labeled something like "load" and "supply".

These two options assume you have only one main panel box in your trailer. If you have a main panel and a sub panel, then there would be a different wiring scheme.

Never considered it to be a charger.... RTFM.....
So the next question is-
Did DRV run wiring from the converter to the battery bank as well, for 2 charging sources, or did they do the correct way and let the Xantrex handle the charging duties?
And has anyone put a Kill-A-Watt on the fridge to see how much it actually draws? We have a small 5cu upright freezer that I would like to power off the inverter as well. The label on the back says 1.65 amp at 115v, so 190 watts or so.
Thoughts or ideas?

[gmc]

Originally Posted by Walker

...
We have a small 5cu upright freezer that I would like to power off the inverter as well. The label on the back says 1.65 amp at 115v, so 190 watts or so.
Thoughts or ideas?

What batteries are you using and how long do you want it to run??
1.65 amps sounds low - but that is at 115v.
From your 12v source, to provide that 190 watts, will draw almost 16 amps...

1.65 amps * 115 volts = ~190 Watts
190 watts / 12 volts = ~16 amps

Your inverter is rated at 1000 watts - but to deliver that your batteries would need to provide almost 85amps.
Batteries should only be drained 50% normally for longest life - so take your battery capacity, divide by 2, then divide by expected amp draw to get number of hours... in an ideal world.

[Walker]

We currently have 4- 6v When we travel, I have a genset on the truck to power or recharge batteries as needed. Plus our Volvo is set up to charge the RV batteries at 15amp while traveling, not thru the 7-way but an aux cable.... as soon as I pull the cables from the RV pinbox to the batteries.
The most we currently boondock is overnights. On our last rig, I had a timer on the freezer. As long as the door wasn't opened, running the freezer for 4 hours a day would keep everything frozen.

[gmc]

Originally Posted by Walker

We currently have 4- 6v When we travel, I have a genset on the truck to power or recharge batteries as needed. Plus our Volvo is set up to charge the RV batteries at 15amp while traveling, not thru the 7-way but an aux cable.... as soon as I pull the cables from the RV pinbox to the batteries.
The most we currently boondock is overnights. On our last rig, I had a timer on the freezer. As long as the door wasn't opened, running the freezer for 4 hours a day would keep everything frozen.

Sounds like you have the ability to keep them charged... Have at it then..