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Old 09-03-2016, 03:01 PM   #1
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How the heck does THIS work???



LOL!!! Let me explain how it works!!!

Today I finished with my solar panel installation by hard-wiring my 2000w PSW Xantrex inverter to an outlet directly next to the trailer umbilical cord.

Now, all I have to do to set-up form solar is to make sure that my fridge is on LP (not elec or auto), and flip the breaker for the 12v converter/charger in the panel box to the off position. Turn on the Xantrex, and I then have power at ll of my 120v outlets. To switch to the generator for high demand (above 2000w), I just unplug from the outlet, and plug into the generator.

This gives me quiet, maintenance free 120v day and night while boondocking or dry-camping!
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Old 09-03-2016, 05:29 PM   #2
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Pretty sweet! If we ever have the opportunity to full-time it, I'd go that same route.
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Old 09-04-2016, 04:52 AM   #3
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Sweet... I like it!
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Old 09-06-2016, 09:36 AM   #4
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That's pretty slick!!
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Old 09-06-2016, 10:01 AM   #5
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Cool idea.

Is this one of those cases where an auto-transfer switch would prevent you from needing to manually flip breakers? Assuming that if you forgot to do that, your converter would smoke, right? I'm still learning some of the nuances of our electrical systems.

My electrician buddy calls those cables 'suicide cables' but he's seen people do some really stupid things regarding back feeding. (like back feeding a 240 volt dryer circuit, with a double male plug)
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Old 09-06-2016, 10:05 AM   #6
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LOL!!! Let me explain how it works!!!

Today I finished with my solar panel installation by hard-wiring my 2000w PSW Xantrex inverter to an outlet directly next to the trailer umbilical cord.

Now, all I have to do to set-up form solar is to make sure that my fridge is on LP (not elec or auto), and flip the breaker for the 12v converter/charger in the panel box to the off position. Turn on the Xantrex, and I then have power at ll of my 120v outlets. To switch to the generator for high demand (above 2000w), I just unplug from the outlet, and plug into the generator.

This gives me quiet, maintenance free 120v day and night while boondocking or dry-camping!

Nice. How big is your battery bank?
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Old 09-06-2016, 10:55 AM   #7
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Cool idea.

Is this one of those cases where an auto-transfer switch would prevent you from needing to manually flip breakers? Assuming that if you forgot to do that, your converter would smoke, right? I'm still learning some of the nuances of our electrical systems.

My electrician buddy calls those cables 'suicide cables' but he's seen people do some really stupid things regarding back feeding. (like back feeding a 240 volt dryer circuit, with a double male plug)
A transfer switch would do the same thing, except that I'd still have to shut-off the converter charger, because as soon as it sees 120v it starts charging batteries. It's not that it would "smoke" it would just draw 12v to the invereter, to make 120v to feed the converter, which would then make 12v back to the batteries... I'd be burning power to make power, to burn power....

Also, I don't want to run my batteries down running the fridge on 120v, so that would still need to be in LP setting.

It's not a "suicide cord" as a suicide cord has two male plugs, and is designed to jump power from one system into an unpowered system. The umbilical connection for my trailer is a 120v 50a male plug and the outlet that I installed is a standard female 120v outlet.
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Old 09-06-2016, 10:57 AM   #8
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Nice. How big is your battery bank?
Four 6v golf cart batteries, wired as two "big" 12v sources. 240aH total.
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2014 RAM Laramie 2500 w/6.7L Cummins Diesel and Automated Safety Hitch
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Old 09-06-2016, 11:05 AM   #9
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So could you just snake back up and plug your 30-15 adapter right into the the 120 outlet and not use the cord with the red end on it? Or is length and cord stiffness an issue and it pulls bad? This is so simple it's almost stupid simple!! And I love that you can just fire up the Gen and move one cord.
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Old 09-06-2016, 07:49 PM   #10
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So could you just snake back up and plug your 30-15 adapter right into the the 120 outlet and not use the cord with the red end on it? Or is length and cord stiffness an issue and it pulls bad? This is so simple it's almost stupid simple!! And I love that you can just fire up the Gen and move one cord.
The 30-15 dogbone reaches, but it's snug. By using the longer cord, I lock my 2400w Yamaha to the back bumper, and the longer cord will reach.

I like simple... It works.
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2014 RAM Laramie 2500 w/6.7L Cummins Diesel and Automated Safety Hitch
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300W of Suntech Solar w/Rogue MPPT Controller & Xantrex 2000W PSW Inverter
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Old 09-06-2016, 08:31 PM   #11
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Just freaking awesome. I like simple too. You turn off your charger and plug your trailer into itself. Doesn't get much more simple. You don't have to worry about blowing yourself up because you can't be plugged into shore power and yourself at the same time. Brilliant and not terribly expensive (I like that too)!!
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Old 09-09-2016, 03:51 PM   #12
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My trailer has gen-prep but my setup is similar. I put the inverter and AGM batteries where the genny would go and then wired a 110v plug into the genny feed to the xfer switch. If I plug the cord into the inverter I'm off battery, otherwise I plug it into my portable generator. I also stuck a label on the inverter to tell me to turn off the converter. There's another label on the main panel where I mounted a lighted push-button that I use to remote on/off the inverter.
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