Inverter and other plugs - 2018 Hurricane 34J

[mdntblu]

I have a 2018 Xantrex PRO Inverter XM 1000 and when I turn it on the fridge gets power, the desk plug, and the TV plugs.
I have installed USB port receptacles in several other places on the RV and they will be used for charging ipads, phones, etc but how can I make it so those plugs get powered from the Inverter as well? Is there a simple wiring setup I can do for this?

 

[16ACE27]

If you had installed 12 volt powered USB receptacles you wouldn't have to worry about connecting to the inverter.

There is no "simple wiring setup" to add AC powered USB receptacles to your inverter. It will have to be custom depending on where you put the receptacles and how the AC cable can be run to the inverter. Sounds like time to hire an electrician.

 

[mdntblu]

If you had installed 12 volt powered USB receptacles you wouldn't have to worry about connecting to the inverter.

There is no "simple wiring setup" to add AC powered USB receptacles to your inverter. It will have to be custom depending on where you put the receptacles and how the AC cable can be run to the inverter. Sounds like time to hire an electrician.

Oh my gosh. I didn’t know they had 12v looking ones like this. I’m assuming they have USB-C ones as well for all newer Apple products. I guess then I’d have to figure out a way to get 12v to those areas.
I am an electrician but not for RV’s. I just wasn’t sure if under the bed where the converter and fuse panel and breaker panel is, if there was a simple way to move something to inverter. Because without the inverter on they work from shore power obviously (and generator). I guess I need to understand how the wiring is run. Like from 12v batteries, to inverter to plugs and then from shore/gen to plugs.

 

[Beau388]

From Amazon: "

Linkstyle 3 Ports 12V USB Outlet, PD3.0 Type C, QC 3.0 USB A & 2.4A USB A Fast Charger Socket Adapter for Car Marine​

$11.89

These are plate rather than the plug-in type.

 

[PS89]

I just wasn’t sure if under the bed where the converter and fuse panel and breaker panel is, if there was a simple way to move something to inverter.

There's a simple way but it is absolutely not safe. As you indicated you are an electrician, you can imagine what I'm thinking of. Just think of what a unknowledgeable home owner might do....

I guess I need to understand how the wiring is run. Like from 12v batteries, to inverter to plugs and then from shore/gen to plugs.

Yep. First thing to do is to go to Thor's website, register your coach by VIN and download the available schematics for it.

Second thing is to scream and pull your hair out at the lack of detail in the drawings.

Third thing is to resign yourself to figuring it out the hard way given the mishmash of drawings and a lot of time hands-on looking and learning.

Easiest places to tap into the 12V circuits would likely be the overhead lighting.

 

[Beau388]

I put mine in by the light switches in the bedroom. I also have a 120 volt duplex receptacle in the bed frame that works off the inverter (it is a for a CPAP).

 

[macdaddy1111]

There's a simple way but it is absolutely not safe. As you indicated you are an electrician, you can imagine what I'm thinking of. Just think of what a unknowledgeable home owner might do....

Yep. First thing to do is to go to Thor's website, register your coach by VIN and download the available schematics for it.

Second thing is to scream and pull your hair out at the lack of detail in the drawings.

Third thing is to resign yourself to figuring it out the hard way given the mishmash of drawings and a lot of time hands-on looking and learning.

Easiest places to tap into the 12V circuits would likely be the overhead lighting.

"Second thing is to scream and pull your hair out at the lack of detail in the drawings."

Couldn't have said it better! Like designers and installers at Thor ever have meetings!

 

[mdntblu]

There's a simple way but it is absolutely not safe. As you indicated you are an electrician, you can imagine what I'm thinking of. Just think of what a unknowledgeable home owner might do....

Yep. First thing to do is to go to Thor's website, register your coach by VIN and download the available schematics for it.

Second thing is to scream and pull your hair out at the lack of detail in the drawings.

Third thing is to resign yourself to figuring it out the hard way given the mishmash of drawings and a lot of time hands-on looking and learning.

Easiest places to tap into the 12V circuits would likely be the overhead lighting.

Oh I downloaded those a while ago and it still wasn't clear like you're saying. Yeah I think I'm just going to add some 12v ones and forget about needing an inverter. I already have Lithium batteries and upgraded all that so it shouldn't be a big deal. Thanks for your help.

 

[mdntblu]

I put mine in by the light switches in the bedroom. I also have a 120 volt duplex receptacle in the bed frame that works off the inverter (it is a for a CPAP).

I wish I had a plug that was on in the bedroom with the inverter but I don't which is weird. We have plugs under the mattress area on the wood frame area on both sides but both require shore/gen to work.

 

[mdntblu]

This is my wiring diagram. I don't even see an inverter in it.

So I took my kitchen drawers out, found a large 5S metal electrical junction box. I opened it up and found a large amount of wires going in and out of it. So I turned on the inverter and started checking them with my meter. Found a few that were for like the TV's in the bunks. I was able to run a new romex cable from there over to the underside of my dinette seat and there is a plug there and I just changed it over to my inverter. It has USB ports in the plug so it works perfect now. That is really all I wanted.

 

[16ACE27]

That's not a wiring diagram, that's a 12 VDC BLOCK Diagram. The article linked below has an example of a Thor provided wiring diagram for a Challenger motorhome"

My inverter only powers one outlet. How can I rewire it to add more?

Dear Dave, I have an inverter in my new camper and despite repeated requests I cannot get a wiring diagram for the camper. The inverter only seems to power o

www.rvtravel.com

 

[paulwadley]

I think I would go with the 12 volt outlets and just tap into the lighting system overhead. Seems to be the easiest way to go.

Paul

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

Converting DC power to AC then back to DC doesn't make a lot of sense. Those 120v outlets are for residential use. Since you have 12v readily available, take advantage of it. That way the outlets are available for use without using your inverter.

 

[mdntblu]

Converting DC power to AC then back to DC doesn't make a lot of sense. Those 120v outlets are for residential use. Since you have 12v readily available, take advantage of it. That way the outlets are available for use without using your inverter.

My inverter has to be on for my fridge to be on, so it was easier than trying to find power from lights and run it down the wall which is next to impossible. I see your point that it's going from DC to AC then back to DC but for me I have to have my inverter on when I cruising down the road to keep the food cold. If I had a propane fridge then I would see the point.

 

[Beau388]

Even though Thor MC does not install inverter sub electrical panels on smaller coaches, it is fairly east to install one. Thor MC usually puts an electrical junction box directly behind the inverter's output. My coach had one 120 volt Romex from the inverter into the junction box and four wires out (3 - 14 awg Romex cables plus one SJOOW 14/3 cable). I simply moved the four cables to the individual breakers, common and ground in the sub and fed it directly from the inverter output. I did not need any additional wire or splices.

When I moved to a 2000 watt sine-wave inverter, it was only necessary to upgrade the the power center's circuit breaker to 30 amp and the Romex to the sub-panel to 30 amp (orange). This is the the original sub panel. I switched to the more compact European type sub panel with 16 amp circuit breakers, but no pictures on this computer, as I am presently at a SMART muster it the Hurricane.