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11-20-2022, 07:35 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 112
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Why 2 Breaker Panels?
Does anyone know why the 2004 Dutch Star has two AC breaker panels? Most of the breakers are in the larger one on the right but it also has 3 in the smaller plastic box on the left but they would all have fit into the larger box so why are there 2 of them?
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11-20-2022, 07:42 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Campbellsville Ky
Posts: 510
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The small one is for the inverter.
__________________
2008 American Tradition 42C 2018 JUL Jeep Wrangler
2004 Newmar Dutch Star 4010 Spartan (Sold)
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11-21-2022, 05:09 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,441
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One of the 30 amp breaker in the big panel send power to the inverter/charger.
Then the inverter sends power to the 30 amp in the smaller inverter panel.
If on shore or generator power, the inverter/charger is using some power to charge the batteries and passing the rest up to the inverter panel.
If no shore or generator power, the inverter/charger creates power from your batteries and sends it to the small panel. The items connected to that panel are the only things that will work until the batteries run down.
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11-21-2022, 09:37 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Hoodsport Wa
Posts: 3,145
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Put another way, the large panel handles all "shore power" or generator loads.
The small panel handles all "inverter" loads, even when the inverter is off it still outputs v.a.c. thru it's internal pass thru (transfer) circuit while connected to shore power.
Your inverter has its own circuit protection located either external or internal on the inverter itself also.
__________________
2000 Alpine 36 FDS #74058
04 Jeep Wrangler TJ
"On the road to find out..."
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11-21-2022, 07:27 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 112
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
One of the 30 amp breaker in the big panel send power to the inverter/charger.
Then the inverter sends power to the 30 amp in the smaller inverter panel.
If on shore or generator power, the inverter/charger is using some power to charge the batteries and passing the rest up to the inverter panel.
If no shore or generator power, the inverter/charger creates power from your batteries and sends it to the small panel. The items connected to that panel are the only things that will work until the batteries run down.
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So it looks like all the AC outlets in the bathroom, bedroom, dining area, kitchen, by the passenger seat and over the drivers seat and the microwave oven run off the inverter from the small panel while the 2 roof A/C units, water heater, fridge and washer run directly from the larger panel.
Does that sound about right?
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11-21-2022, 08:57 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Hoodsport Wa
Posts: 3,145
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve1000
So it looks like all the AC outlets in the bathroom, bedroom, dining area, kitchen, by the passenger seat and over the drivers seat and the microwave oven run off the inverter from the small panel while the 2 roof A/C units, water heater, fridge and washer run directly from the larger panel.
Does that sound about right?
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Yes, that sounds about right.
Our coach was originally wired that way, just be aware about the potential of overloading the inverter pass thru circuit. (we did)
Ive since wired the microwave and two outlets to the large breaker panel.
__________________
2000 Alpine 36 FDS #74058
04 Jeep Wrangler TJ
"On the road to find out..."
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11-21-2022, 09:07 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Headed North to CLE
Posts: 1,054
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Steve1000
This is off topic, but in the Post #1 Snapshot, nice to see an older Amprobe in use.
Had one years ago but have since graduated to the Fluke Clamp on meters.
Tim
__________________
2015 Silverado 3500HD CC DRW Duramax
2006 Hitchhiker Champagne
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11-21-2022, 09:11 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,859
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This illustrati9on shows how the power works in my Alpine Coach. Your coach is most likely similar but probably with different brands of components.
In the illustration, you can see that all 120V power comes in through the main AC Panel. One of the breakers on the main AC panel is for the inverter. The 120V power that goes to the inverter is used both to power the inverter/charger and also passes through the inverter (via an internal transfer switch) to a sub AC panel. The circuits that work through the sub AC panel are the ones that will work when you are "inverting" 12v battery power to 120V power.
__________________
2001 Alpine Coach 38/8
ACA 2018006
Andy
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11-22-2022, 12:06 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 112
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TB673
Steve1000
This is off topic, but in the Post #1 Snapshot, nice to see an older Amprobe in use.
Had one years ago but have since graduated to the Fluke Clamp on meters.
Tim
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Yeah I got that at Goodwill but it works fine for just checking current when I was trying to find out which leg the A/C units were on.
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11-23-2022, 10:17 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 112
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andy29847
This illustrati9on shows how the power works in my Alpine Coach. Your coach is most likely similar but probably with different brands of components.
In the illustration, you can see that all 120V power comes in through the main AC Panel. One of the breakers on the main AC panel is for the inverter. The 120V power that goes to the inverter is used both to power the inverter/charger and also passes through the inverter (via an internal transfer switch) to a sub AC panel. The circuits that work through the sub AC panel are the ones that will work when you are "inverting" 12v battery power to 120V power.
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When the generator is on does it run everything or just things on the small panel?
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11-23-2022, 10:30 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,441
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Generator runs everything.
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