Switching from inverter to inverter/charger

[Unchartered]

Made the move to a pure sine wave inverter a few years ago and am happy with it on my '16 Hurricane 35C. I do wish I could dump more amps into my lead-acid batteries when running the generator. Thinking about one of the new inverter/chargers that can charge at up to 50 amps.
Has anyone done this? How tough of a job is it (and is it necessary) to disable the charger in the converter as I wouldn't think you'd want to run two.
Why am I still lead acid? One word... "Minnesota).

 

[Mark54]

Made the move to a pure sine wave inverter a few years ago and am happy with it on my '16 Hurricane 35C. I do wish I could dump more amps into my lead-acid batteries when running the generator. Thinking about one of the new inverter/chargers that can charge at up to 50 amps.
Has anyone done this? How tough of a job is it (and is it necessary) to disable the charger in the converter as I wouldn't think you'd want to run two.
Why am I still lead acid? One word... "Minnesota).

If you are going to increase amp usage, you may have to change wires to larger AWG.

If going from wet-cell to LFP (LiFePO4), you have to change the charging systems to LPF, unless your existing one has dip-switches. or other to change to LFP charging, which is 14.6V instead of 13.6 for wet-cell/AGM.
To add, if you have a BIM or BIRD isolator, it may not be compatible with LFP.
Chassis battery is probably wet-cell or SLA (sealed lead-acid) type, so not the same charging rate as LFP.

Going from a 30A to 50A charger may need bigger wires. I have 2/0 wires in my 30A RV, so 50A might need 3/0 or 4/0 wire upgrade, and larger fuse on the B+ cable to the I/C (Inverter/converter) or charger.
Check an ampacity chart to determine, or hire a good mobile tech to advise you.
20A increase @120VAC is significant. (+2400W, or like adding two 1200W toasters)

Look into adding solar panels as well. I doubled mine from 190 to 380 w/o any changes to the system. I did go from PWM to MPPT controller tho- 20% more efficient.

 

[Beau388]

When I converted my 30 amp coach to 50 amps (2018) - I used a Parallex Power System LLC, 5375 Power Center from Tweetys. With a 75 amp max output, it was necessary to change the cabling from the converter to the house batteries to #2 awg, change the latching to a 110 amp model from Del City and change the CB to 90 amp. With the change to 4 LFP 100 AH house batteries (2024), only the AP products conversion module had to be added to the PPS converter.

Extra 12 volt converters can be added in parallel to the house battery bank if you need more amperage, as long as you have the CB room in the power center to power them.

 

[16ACE27]

Made the move to a pure sine wave inverter a few years ago and am happy with it on my '16 Hurricane 35C. I do wish I could dump more amps into my lead-acid batteries when running the generator. Thinking about one of the new inverter/chargers that can charge at up to 50 amps.
Has anyone done this? How tough of a job is it (and is it necessary) to disable the charger in the converter as I wouldn't think you'd want to run two.
Why am I still lead acid? One word... "Minnesota).

But your existing converter will already charge at up to 55 amps.

What was the issue again?

 

[Unchartered]

Thanks for the replies. I am only looking to replace my 3k inverter with a 3k inverter/charger. Lithium, solar and incoming service are not involved. Upon doing some research, looks like I can simply disable the charging circuit in my current converter... Which is a 55 amp converter, but only a 7.5 amp charger if you look at the original specs.

 

[16ACE27]

Thanks for the replies. I am only looking to replace my 3k inverter with a 3k inverter/charger. Lithium, solar and incoming service are not involved. Upon doing some research, looks like I can simply disable the charging circuit in my current converter... Which is a 55 amp converter, but only a 7.5 amp charger if you look at the original specs.

It doesn't know the difference between "converting" and charging. It's a 55 amp capable DC producing device.

7.5 amps is the maximum AC current it will draw.

 

[Unchartered]

It doesn't know the difference between "converting" and charging. It's a 55 amp capable DC producing device.

7.5 amps is the maximum AC current it will draw.

B.G.I.T.Y.R. !
(By George, I think you're right!).

 

[macdaddy1111]

Made the move to a pure sine wave inverter a few years ago and am happy with it on my '16 Hurricane 35C. I do wish I could dump more amps into my lead-acid batteries when running the generator. Thinking about one of the new inverter/chargers that can charge at up to 50 amps.
Has anyone done this? How tough of a job is it (and is it necessary) to disable the charger in the converter as I wouldn't think you'd want to run two.
Why am I still lead acid? One word... "Minnesota).

I did it! turned my rig into a BOONDOCKING power plant!
Victron inverter and their modules rock.
Ran some serious copper.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

Note...

Macdaddy's rig is plainly visible from the ISS. :coolsmiley:

 

[Bob Nodine]

Note...

Macdaddy's rig is plainly visible from the ISS. :coolsmiley:

I thought that was a photo taken from the surface of the moon.

MacDaddy rocks.

 

[macdaddy1111]

Note...

Macdaddy's rig is plainly visible from the ISS. :coolsmiley:

Ha

We do light up ocracoke nc! The place that lit the fuzz to go mega solar/lithium.