Inverter outlet

[bborc]

I have a question.When plugged in to shore power and the inverter is shut off at the control panel I still have 120v at the outlet. Is this shore power or still inverter power?

[ArmyEOD]

Yes, if you are on shore power it will be hot!

[Good man]

bborc,
Your question has a number of possible twists and turns dictated by whether your transfer switch is working properly and how your outlets are wired as regards the power source. I will limit this response only to the specific question you asked. First, to be sure, please understand that regardless of the source of 110vAC voltage, it is hazardous, so always handle it with due caution.
The power at a given 110v outlet in a RV can come from 3 possible sources; A. "shore power" from a hookup, B. Inverted power from onboard storage batteries, C. power from an onboard generator.
As regards your SPECIFIC question, the generator is not running and you are hooked up to shore power. You simply want to know if the power at an outlet is coming from the inverter or from the shore line. You state that the inverter is turned off at the "control panel."
Not knowing your rig or how that control panel operates, I can only assume that means the inverter is truly "cold off" and not inverting 12vDC from your coach batteries.
If this is true, if you removed the power from the shore line, a given 110v outlet should cease to be energized. Therefore, you can conclude that specific outlet was getting its power from the shore line.
If you still have power after dropping the shore line, it is coming from your inverter and that can be proven by simply turning your Main Battery Disconnect switch off.
Bear in mind that some coaches have outlets that run ONLY on shore lines or the generator. Other coaches have outlets which run only when the inverter is turned on... and there may be a mix within a given coach.
Bear in mind also that alterations may have been "engineered" by previous owners...there is no such thing as a reliable "standard" configuration.
As I said, lots of twists and turns, but with the above information you should be able to determine what is powering a given 110v outlet ...until it changes because the transfer switch cycles. Confusing enough????
Take care... I mean it.
Jim

[bborc]

Thanks, that is the info I was looking for. When I unplug the shore power the plug is dead, but if I turn the inverter switch on I have power. After reading the manual It says the transfer switch in the inverter switches over to shore power when plugged in. Thanks again.

[wa8yxm]

If the inverter is shut off at the panel, and the outlet is "hot" (has power) It's shore power. That simple.

Some inverters have power pass through.. HOWEVER be aware that some of them will not pass power if shut off AT THE INVERTER.. The remote panel does not shut it off, it "disables" it (Nearly the same thing) this allows pass through.

[JimM68]

The magnum inverters in modern Monaco products have automatic passthrough.

The inverter powered outlets will be hot if shore power is connected, the only way to shut them off is to turn off the switch on the inverter itself.

[Good man]

bborc,
Glad you were able to determine the answer... The other members who posted good information address the more sophisticated functions of you coach's power system... such as the passthrough and having your transfer switch automatically latch onto any incoming 110v power; thus conserving your coach batteries and possibly even shunting power through your inverter to charge the batteries in the process.
You can hear the pronounced "clunk" of that transfer switch when you fire up your genset or hook up to shore power after having run the generator.
When you work on the power distribution system of your coach, be sure you have all possible sources of power disabled. That means turnng off your battery bank, positively killing the inverter, disabling any auto-start for the genset and obviously dropping the shore line.
Please continue to use caution with these sophisticated systems while you enjoy the flexibility and redundancy they provide.
Happy trails!
JimG