Inverter Transfer Switch Question - Renogy 2000 Watt

[Logik]

Hey everyone,

I've recently picked up a 2000 watt Renogy inverter (https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07...e?ie=UTF8&th=1) and installed into my Citation Supreme motorhome.

We had our power hooked up last week and now have our unit plugged in to a 30 amp receptacle.

I've now noticed that even while plugged in, we are limited to 2000 watts as if the inverter is running all of our electrical.

The inverter specs state that the built in transfer switch will allow current to pass through. Shouldn't this mean that the inverter will not need to power the system and we wouldn't observe the 2000 watt limit imposed by our inverter?

I'm concerned that when summer comes we actually won't be able to run the AC unit as it will exceed the limitations of the inverter.

Am I missing something here? I don't see any options related to the transfer switch in the inverter manual.

Thanks in advance everyone!!
Kyle

[twinboat]

You need to wire it like a branch circuit .

Leave out the roof top air, water heater, old converter charger and gas/electric fridge. Residential fridge can stay.

The microwave can stay, if you have 4 batteries.

[bakedalaskan]

I have made a post addressing this in the past. My Aimes inverter will not pass through 30 amps. Like you noticed it will only pass through 2000 watts or 16.6 amps. You will see many replies with some good advice and some with incorrect information. I too believed that pass through meant I would get 30 amps but I can assure you my inverter will only pass through the rated capacity of the inverter which is 16.6 amps or 2000 watts. I had to install a switch to either use shore power or inverter and have to trip the circuit breaker for the charger while on inverter.

[Marine359]

Don’t quite understand the post. First, I didn’t know there were inverters with internal transfer switches except for hybrid inverter/chargers, which is what I have. A transfer switch is normally wired such that it switches to the inverter in the absence of ac shore power, if ac SP is present it should switch to the 30amp breaker on the panel, bypassing the inverter. This is the branch wiring described by twinboat above. In the absence of ac SP, the transfer switch switches to the inverter, and from there, there are variety of ways the current flows depending on which ac Circuits you want hot. If your inverter is really a hybrid inverter/charger it’s different. In the absence of ac SP, the inverter is on (unless you turn it off). In the presence of ac SP, the internal transfer switch passes through the ac power, unless the unit has power sharing, in which case the charging function is reduced, so max ac loads can be serviced. If no charging load, internal transfer switch passes through 30 amps to ac panel.

[twinboat]

The OP linked his inverter charger brochure.

Spend a little time reading and and it's all explained.

Little long winded but that's the way many work.

[Marine359]

Originally Posted by twinboat

The OP linked his inverter charger brochure.

Spend a little time reading and and it's all explained.

Little long winded but that's the way many work.

Sorry, didn’t notice the link. OK, so it’s really a hybrid inverter/charger. Amazon Q&A says the renogy will only pass thru 20 amps. So, I suppose not much can be done unless he bypasses the renogy with an external transfer switch. But then he wouldn’t be able to charge batteries when on SP unless it’s a manual switch.

[davidmorgan]

Originally Posted by twinboat

You need to wire it like a branch circuit .

This is correct and if you are really handy with electrical work i can draw you up the diagrams. Basically you will be able to run one of your in house circuits on inverter power.

I have a Xantrax 1000W with two external auto switches. lots of wiring but ALL of my house outlets are hot with Inverter. the dealership told me this wasn't possible. spent months researching. its not work for the faint of heart.

[Persistent]

Renogy specifies this model to pass through 30 amps.
https://www.renogy.com/2000w-12v-pur...w-lcd-display/

When 120 volts is applied to AC input lines, battery charger is switched "on" and inverter is switched "off". Verify battery charger is "on" when plugged into shore power.

Link to manual:
https://www.renogy.com/content/R-INV...S%20Manual.pdf

See page 16 for operating instructions.

See page 26 for setting priorities. Your unit may be set to "battery priority".

"The second setting is Battery Priority (SbU). Under this setting the inverter charger will provide power using the connected battery bank even when it detects an AC source.

When the battery voltage reaches the low voltage set-point in Program 12, the inverter charger will power the loads using the connected AC source but will not charge the battery bank."

Fault codes are on page 36.

[corn18]

I grew weary of looking so here it is:

[Logik]

Thanks for all the input everyone!!

Disappointing to see that only 20 amps/2000 watts while SP is connected as well.

I suppose the best solution is to create a branch circuit as twinboat mentioned and keep my AC, Fridge, Micro, and water heater off of the inverter circuit.

Much appreciated for all of the help!!

[Persistent]

Originally Posted by Logik

Thanks for all the input everyone!!

Disappointing to see that only 20 amps/2000 watts while SP is connected as well.

I suppose the best solution is to create a branch circuit as twinboat mentioned and keep my AC, Fridge, Micro, and water heater off of the inverter circuit.

Much appreciated for all of the help!!

I agree, that would be a good solution.

You will need at least two output branch circuits, probably 15 amps 120 volts each. Some inverter/chargers have two branch circuit breaker outputs built in.

I assume you mean "30 amps/3600 watts while SP". 30 a * 120 v = 3600 w

2000 watts while inverting provides 17 amps. 17 a * 120 v = 2000 w

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!

[dssl]

Do you have the entire coach wired through the inverter? Or is there an inverter sub panel?

I like the idea of having the entire coach running through a hybrid inverter, but if at all possible you may want to get an inverter that supports a full 30 amp bypass, like maybe a Victron Multiplus inverter.

[Logik]

Originally Posted by Persistent

I agree, that would be a good solution.

You will need at least two output branch circuits, probably 15 amps 120 volts each. Some inverter/chargers have two branch circuit breaker outputs built in.

I assume you mean "30 amps/3600 watts while SP". 30 a * 120 v = 3600 w

2000 watts while inverting provides 17 amps. 17 a * 120 v = 2000 w

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!

Thanks Persistent!

Hmm that's what I expected, a 30 amp bypass allowing me to run everything directly on shore power when I was plugged in, but it seems that is not the case. Everything is wired through the inverter. Even though the display states it is on "Bypass" and showing 113v SP input, but the inverter will alarm when exceeding 2000 watts.

Originally Posted by dssl

Do you have the entire coach wired through the inverter? Or is there an inverter sub panel?

I like the idea of having the entire coach running through a hybrid inverter, but if at all possible you may want to get an inverter that supports a full 30 amp bypass, like maybe a Victron Multiplus inverter.

Yes the entire coach is wired through the inverter. SP Comes in to a sub panel with 30 amp breaker, then to inverter, then to main panel (And battery). I had thought that when on SP the inverter would be on bypass and allow me to operate everything directly from SP. But as I mentioned, when exceeding 2000 watts the inverter will alarm and display a fault code.

So far I don't have to many issues, Microwave operates fine and I'm relying mostly on space heaters currently, but I can't run them both simultaneously on high without exceeding 2000 watts. This is when I realized that the inverter isn't bypassing as I had expected. I now realize that the AC unit will not be able to operate at all come summer, as it will exceed the inverter rating as well.

From what I gather, It seems the only solution is to manually bypass the inverter for my AC unit (and the microwave as well as I'll never run it from my battery bank) on a separate circuit.

[dssl]

A manual bypass would work and certainly be your least expensive option.

Only other option for running 30 amps is a better inverter/charger. If you go hybrid you could run sb AC off of a 2k generator if that matters to you.