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Old 03-08-2016, 05:27 PM   #1
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Inverted circuit

I’m in the process of having Alliance Coach (http://www.alliancecoach.com/) in Wildwood, FL install a residential refrigerator (Samsung RF18) in my 2009 Diplomat 41SKQ.

In addition to the challenges with the physical installation, documented in a different thread (http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/dipl...or-276707.html), there is an issue with providing inverted power to the refrigerator.

The original Norcold refrigerator had two 110v outlets; one for the ice maker and one for the heating element. I had been lead to believe that the ice maker outlet was connected to an inverted circuit.On my 2009 Diplomat, that’s not the case.

Both outlets are “hot” when on shore power or generator. Neither is “hot” when on inverted power (no shore/genset).The other expected inverted circuits (TV, microwave, etc.) all function properly.

The folks at Alliance are scheduled to correct that on Thursday/Friday of this week.

Any guesses about how big a deal (hours of labor/$'s) it’s going to be to switch one of the two outlets to an inverted circuit?

Thanks for your insights.

Take care,
Stu
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Old 03-08-2016, 05:39 PM   #2
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I moved mine to a dedicated circuit in a couple of hours. Same as in a house, just not nearly as accessible (making it take longer).

I did, however, have an extra unused slot in the invertor panel.
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Old 03-08-2016, 05:51 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captjake1 View Post
I did, however, have an extra unused slot in the invertor panel.
Thanks for the info.

I know a lot, but I don't know everything, yet.

Where is the inverter panel? The only a/c distribution panel (circuit breakers) that I'm aware of is over the driver's seat. On that panel, among others, I see one 30 amp breaker labeled INVERTER and one 20 amp breaker labeled REFRIGERATOR.

I'm NOT an electrician. Is it possible that the only necessary rewiring will be done on that panel?

Take care,
Stu
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Old 03-08-2016, 06:09 PM   #4
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Depending on how your rig is wired it may be as simple as moving a wire or two. Or they could have to run a whole new wire to the refer and add a new breaker box to split the circuits.
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Old 03-08-2016, 06:09 PM   #5
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My 2 panels were one over the other. The 30 amp was the one for the inverter and the 50 amp panel is shore power. I was able to track one of those existing outlets to the 50 amp panel (I think it was the ice maker plug) and moved it to the open slot on the 30 amp panel (had to by the appropriate new breaker).

I think I had more time in thinking about it than it actually took. Not counting the 2 trips to the hardware store.
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Old 03-08-2016, 06:21 PM   #6
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It depends on they type of Inverter you have.

On my 2002 Windsor it would be difficult to add an outlet onto the inverter. The way my inverter works I have 2 120 volt breakers in my main panel that provide power to the inverter. The inverter then sends 2 120 volt wires to a sub panel that has all the inverted circuits in it. I would have to snake a new wire from the sub panel to where ever I wanted a new inverted circuit, no an easy task in a motor home.

Now if one of the 2 outlets comes off a circuit breaker in the main panel and the inverter has a subpanel you might be able to piggy back onto an inverted circuit.

A better option would be to splice into an existing circuit close to your refrigerator.
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Old 03-08-2016, 06:45 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jacwjames View Post
It depends on they type of Inverter you have.

A better option would be to splice into an existing circuit close to your refrigerator.
Thanks, Jim,

It's a Magnum ME2012.

As I look at it, there are 2 110v lines coming out of the inverter, one yellow and one orange that disappear into the rear cap area. I'm guessing that they're routed to the a/c distribution panel over the driver's seat. Hopefully, it'll be relatively simple to get inverted power connected to the refrigerator circuit(s) from there.

There are other inverted circuits (microwave and entertainment center) nearby the physical location of the refrigerator.

The "qualified" techs will have a look at it in a couple of days. Just hoping that it's not too hard to solve.

Take care,
Stu


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Old 03-08-2016, 07:00 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captjake1 View Post
My 2 panels were one over the other. The 30 amp was the one for the inverter and the 50 amp panel is shore power. I was able to track one of those existing outlets to the 50 amp panel (I think it was the ice maker plug) and moved it to the open slot on the 30 amp panel (had to by the appropriate new breaker).

I think I had more time in thinking about it than it actually took. Not counting the 2 trips to the hardware store.
There are two 110v lines coming out of the inverter. They disappear into the rear cap; I'd guess that they are routed to the a/c distribution panel over the driver's seat. On that panel, there are 2 50 amp CB's (ganged together) that are marked "MAIN". There's one 30 amp CB labeled "INVERTER" and 1 20 amp CB labeled "REFRIGERATOR". There are a number of other CB's on that panel, none of which are connected to an inverted circuit (washer/dryer, block heater, front and rear A/C, etc.).

So, I'm hoping that the two a/c lines connected to the inverter do provide inverted a/c power to distribution panel and it'll just be a simple matter of connecting that source (inverter) to the refrigerator circuit in the distribution panel.

At any rate, the qualified techs will have their chance to get it all connected in a couple of days.

Thanks for your help.

Take care,
Stu
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Old 03-08-2016, 07:03 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_D View Post
Depending on how your rig is wired it may be as simple as moving a wire or two. Or they could have to run a whole new wire to the refer and add a new breaker box to split the circuits.
I'm hoping that it'll be the former!

Certainly the less expensive of the two choices.

Thanks for your help.

Take care,
Stu


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Old 03-08-2016, 07:31 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 777 Driver View Post
There are two 110v lines coming out of the inverter. They disappear into the rear cap; I'd guess that they are routed to the a/c distribution panel over the driver's seat. On that panel, there are 2 50 amp CB's (ganged together) that are marked "MAIN". There's one 30 amp CB labeled "INVERTER" and 1 20 amp CB labeled "REFRIGERATOR". There are a number of other CB's on that panel, none of which are connected to an inverted circuit (washer/dryer, block heater, front and rear A/C, etc.).

So, I'm hoping that the two a/c lines connected to the inverter do provide inverted a/c power to distribution panel and it'll just be a simple matter of connecting that source (inverter) to the refrigerator circuit in the distribution panel.

At any rate, the qualified techs will have their chance to get it all connected in a couple of days.

Thanks for your help.

Take care,
Stu
That sounds pretty similar to what I had going on. The one fridge plug was on a circuit with 3-5 more outlets on it. The other was standalone (I think that might have originally been the ice maker). I moved that stand alone one to the invertor panel (30 am) and it was now on a dedicated circuit within that invertor panel.

I am sure they will figure it out. As I am also sure this isn't the first one they have ever done.
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Old 03-08-2016, 07:37 PM   #11
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I am sure they will figure it out. As I am also sure this isn't the first one they have ever done.
You have, succinctly, captured the essence of the challenge!

I'll just write the check.

Take care,
Stu
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Old 03-08-2016, 09:19 PM   #12
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Monaco usually uses two AC electric panels, one from the inverter and the other straight 110. My refrigerator was wired from the straight 110 panel. Since the two distribution/circuit breaker panels were right next to each other, I removed the refrigerator wire from its circuit breaker and installed a 2' jumper wire that loops back behind the straight 110v panel and up into the inverter panel. I installed a new circuit breaker and connected the wire loop to it. Now the refrigerator is wired to the inverter.
The entire process takes less than 30 min if you have a piece of Romex wire and a circuit breaker.
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Old 03-09-2016, 07:44 AM   #13
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Not being their first rodeo it may take 1-3 hours. It took me about two to track down a second junction box that was supplied by the inverter and install a new outlet.

Remember, any Jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one. These snowflakes are so different and even two of the same floor plans can have differences.
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Old 03-09-2016, 06:55 PM   #14
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Remember, any Jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
Good one!

Although the wiring isn't rocket science, I'm a little hesitant to get creative moving wires around in a distribution panel. I don't want to earn the "Sparky" moniker, you know.

Anyway, I'm in place at Alliance tonight and they're supposed to get to my problems tomorrow. I've got tickets to an afternoon spring training game. How can it get better than this?

Take care,
Stu
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