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09-13-2016, 06:56 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: seattle,wa USA
Posts: 1,025
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RV inverter and RV converter
The 50 amp electrical box has a fuse for the RV converter, which, as I understand it, "converts" 120 to 12 volt in order to run the 12V side of things in my RV.
I have a 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter which I use when there is no 30/50 AMP service available and I don't want to fire the gen set.
It would seem to me that I should click off the 20 AMP fuse in the 120 panel for the converter when I'm using my inverter as the exclusive power source for the RV.
I called Newmar customer service and posed the question to them and was told to leave the 20 AMP converter fuse on when using the inverter.
It seems to me, I then have the converter making 120 AC from my house bank and the converter using that same 120 AC to make 12 V dc, which seems like a useless daisey chain.
Not that it matters, but the RV in question is a 2002 Kountry Star diesel pusher with a Cummins 5.9 24 Valve.
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09-13-2016, 07:03 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
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Is your Inverter/Converter a combined unit or are they two individual separate devices?
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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09-13-2016, 07:07 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: seattle,wa USA
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr4Film
Is your Inverter/Converter a combined unit or are they two individual separate devices?
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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2 separate devices
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09-13-2016, 07:13 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,189
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There is a chance that the inverter does not power the converter circuit. I As I understand it my inverter runs the frige and the plugs on one side of the coach(meaning when it was wired they chose what it would power.
__________________
Larry B, Luckiest Dreamer
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09-13-2016, 07:17 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
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I would bet that the converter is wired to its own separate circuit breaker that uses either direct shore power or generator power ONLY not inverter power. Therefore you can leave the converter CB on when using your inverter.
Most combo units are wired similarly where when hooked to shore power or have the generator running the inverter is in bypass mode which transfers 120 VAC directly through the device and into the coach plus it is using the charger portion of the device to keep your house batteries fully charged.
When using the inverter the converter and charger are disabled.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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09-13-2016, 07:19 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: seattle,wa USA
Posts: 1,025
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If I leave the converter 20 AMP breaker in the "on" position, my inverter digital readout shows the total electrical draw to be close to the 2000 WATT max. If I turn the 20 AMP breaker to the "off" position, the digital readout drops down to 100-250 range.
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09-13-2016, 09:00 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Nor'easters Club Appalachian Campers Ford Super Duty Owner Coastal Campers
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,463
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It's definitely feeding back, leave it off. The inverter may be aftermarket wired like ours which powers the whole coach.
__________________
Stewart, Brenda and kids
2008 Newmar Canyon Star 3410, now at a new home
2006 Roadtrek Versatile 210
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09-13-2016, 09:50 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tizzyfit
If I leave the converter 20 AMP breaker in the "on" position, my inverter digital readout shows the total electrical draw to be close to the 2000 WATT max. If I turn the 20 AMP breaker to the "off" position, the digital readout drops down to 100-250 range.
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Who did the installation and wiring for the converter? Something doesn't sound right.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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09-13-2016, 04:05 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: seattle,wa USA
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr4Film
Who did the installation and wiring for the converter? Something doesn't sound right.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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I've owned this Kountry Star for 4 years. The 50 AMP system hasn't been touched since I've owned it. As to who did the install, I'm sorry, but I can't answer that question.
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09-13-2016, 04:10 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: seattle,wa USA
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Luv2go
It's definitely feeding back, leave it off. The inverter may be aftermarket wired like ours which powers the whole coach.
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The previous owner had 2 solar panels installed on the roof. It has a ProStar 15 solar monitoring system in the same compartment as the 50 AMP breaker box and the 12 V fuse panel. All are in the overhead cabinet above the bed on the curb side. Not sure how much of this was original factory install and what was after-market.
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09-14-2016, 06:29 AM
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#11
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tizzyfit
I've owned this Kountry Star for 4 years. The 50 AMP system hasn't been touched since I've owned it. As to who did the install, I'm sorry, but I can't answer that question.
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Great!
So what has changed recently that may have caused this condition to occur? I am assuming that since you have owned the coach for the past 4 years this condition wasn't present when you first owned the coach.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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09-14-2016, 06:33 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 113
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As your system is not wired properly, you will have to switch the converter/charger off when you use the inverter. Switch the inverter off when you have shore or generator power. See an electrician when you get the opportunity and have things set right.
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09-14-2016, 07:11 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: seattle,wa USA
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr4Film
Great!
So what has changed recently that may have caused this condition to occur? I am assuming that since you have owned the coach for the past 4 years this condition wasn't present when you first owned the coach.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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10 months ago, I replaced the 4 6V house bank and the 300 WATT inverter that was in the motorhome at the time of purchase. Due to the lack of capacity of the inverter, my choices were to just run the gen. set OR run a 50' extension cord from the inverter plug-in to the front of the motorhome to power the TV and Dish box. I purchased the 2000 WATT inverter, connected the RED and BLACK wires from the smaller inverter to the new inverter and that's when this "converter" situation came up.
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09-14-2016, 07:15 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: seattle,wa USA
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sehc
As your system is not wired properly, you will have to switch the converter/charger off when you use the inverter. Switch the inverter off when you have shore or generator power. See an electrician when you get the opportunity and have things set right.
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Excellent advice! A qualified electrician has been added to my priority list.
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