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Old 01-13-2025, 07:57 PM   #1
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Need 2000W inverter with backfeed protection?

I smoked my Giandel inverter when I plugged my shore power in before disconnecting my inverter and it back fed into inverter and smoked it. I loved the inverter.
Now...Ive been doing it manually for two years and i dont want to be spending big money on protection circuits and auto switchovers if I don't need it. I was hoping there was an inverter that would protect me from being an idiot from this situation.
Thanks guys.
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Old 01-13-2025, 08:20 PM   #2
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Get an inverter/charger that is designed for uninterrupted power to the loads. I have had both Xantrex and Victron units that I liked. You can leave them on and they simply pass through the shore power when hooked up or they automatically switch to inverter mode when shore power goes away.

You need to eliminate your converter as the inverter/charger takes its place.
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Old 01-13-2025, 09:15 PM   #3
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You need an automatic transfer switch, the only fix. Prevents backfeeding.
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Old 01-13-2025, 10:42 PM   #4
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I have used Renology Inverters 2KW on two motorhomes. The first I switched with a Leviton 1288 DPDT switch.(looks like a household light switch) To use as a transfer switch you wire in reverse from the diagram shown. Line A (hot)and B(neutral) becomes the load(output). Load 1 (a & b) becomes Line I from breaker panel. Load 2(a&b) becomes Line 2 from the inverter. Works really well and is fool proof. Used it for 6 years. Currently under $50 Amazon.

On the current motorhome I used the pictured DPDT relay (TWTADE/JQX-62F-2Z) same concept as the manual switch except when the inverter is turned on it automatically switches from breaker panel to inverter. About $30 on Amazon.
Used the inverter quite a bit this year and the relay has worked perfectly. But I still trust the manual switch more. Renogly has a built in circuit breaker so an additional breaker isn’t necessary.

Mine is setup to provide power for fridge, microwave and one kitchen outlet.
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Old 01-14-2025, 12:18 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RickNC View Post
I have used Renology Inverters 2KW on two motorhomes. The first I switched with a Leviton 1288 DPDT switch.(looks like a household light switch) To use as a transfer switch you wire in reverse from the diagram shown. Line A (hot)and B(neutral) becomes the load(output). Load 1 (a & b) becomes Line I from breaker panel. Load 2(a&b) becomes Line 2 from the inverter. Works really well and is fool proof. Used it for 6 years. Currently under $50 Amazon.

On the current motorhome I used the pictured DPDT relay (TWTADE/JQX-62F-2Z) same concept as the manual switch except when the inverter is turned on it automatically switches from breaker panel to inverter. About $30 on Amazon.
Used the inverter quite a bit this year and the relay has worked perfectly. But I still trust the manual switch more. Renogly has a built in circuit breaker so an additional breaker isn’t necessary.

Mine is setup to provide power for fridge, microwave and one kitchen outlet.
If you have the inverter output wired to the wiring in the RV, you also need to have the inverter neutral tied to ground when it is the power source. A proper RV/Marine Inverter with transfer switch does this.
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Old 01-14-2025, 12:25 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Homeby5 View Post
I smoked my Giandel inverter when I plugged my shore power in before disconnecting my inverter and it back fed into inverter and smoked it. I loved the inverter.
Now...Ive been doing it manually for two years and i dont want to be spending big money on protection circuits and auto switchovers if I don't need it. I was hoping there was an inverter that would protect me from being an idiot from this situation.
Thanks guys.
Imagine if you plugged in with the inverter on and you back fed the park power while some one was working on it. Never should have been possible for any power source to connect directly to another power source.
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Old 01-14-2025, 07:30 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by d23haynes57 View Post
If you have the inverter output wired to the wiring in the RV, you also need to have the inverter neutral tied to ground when it is the power source. A proper RV/Marine Inverter with transfer switch does this.
Are you talking about a third contact for a switched neutral? What he used is a common 2 contact relay for 30 amps.

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Transfer...on/F30ATS.html
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Old 01-14-2025, 07:47 AM   #8
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Are you talking about a third contact for a switched neutral? What he used is a common 2 contact relay for 30 amps.

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Transfer...on/F30ATS.html
Or the inverter has the neutral grounded within. Easily checked with a voltmeter. With inverter on there should be 120 volts from the hot blade to neutral and ground and 0 volt from neutral to ground. If the here is a split voltage from between the two blades and ground the inverter is only suitable for appliances-devices to plugged directly into tit, not connected to a distribution system.
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Old 01-14-2025, 07:59 AM   #9
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Got it.
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Old 01-14-2025, 09:47 AM   #10
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I used one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N11925K with the shore cord on one side and my inverter on the other. Has contacts available to bond neutral if needed.

With this switch or with your manual method, the converter needs to shut down when running from the inverter. I do this with the circuit breaker for it.
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Old 01-14-2025, 10:16 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RickNC View Post
I have used Renology Inverters 2KW on two motorhomes. The first I switched with a Leviton 1288 DPDT switch.(looks like a household light switch) To use as a transfer switch you wire in reverse from the diagram shown. Line A (hot)and B(neutral) becomes the load(output). Load 1 (a & b) becomes Line I from breaker panel. Load 2(a&b) becomes Line 2 from the inverter. Works really well and is fool proof. Used it for 6 years. Currently under $50 Amazon.

On the current motorhome I used the pictured DPDT relay (TWTADE/JQX-62F-2Z) same concept as the manual switch except when the inverter is turned on it automatically switches from breaker panel to inverter. About $30 on Amazon.
Used the inverter quite a bit this year and the relay has worked perfectly. But I still trust the manual switch more. Renogly has a built in circuit breaker so an additional breaker isn’t necessary.

Mine is setup to provide power for fridge, microwave and one kitchen outlet.
Yep, that's the smart way to accomplish this mission and exactly what we did a couple years ago. Having a fully independent 120VAC 20A 2,400 Watt circuit that can be fed from either shore power, inverter power or completely turned off gives you maximum flexibility and avoids the complexity and expense of a transfer switch. This independent circuit powers our microwave, Starlink Internet, refrigerator, toilet heated bidet seat and several outlets enabling us to use our coffee maker, hair dryer, vacuum cleaner, etc.

After replacing our 17 feet fiberglass Casita trailer lame 30A 120VAC 3,600 Watt shore power capability with 50A 120/240VAC 12,000 Watt shore power capability and adding this independent circuit, we now have 2,400 Watts power capability when dry camping and we have 14,400 Watts power capability when we have shore power. This enables us to use our propane/electric 6,500 Watt tankless water heater, 3,500 Watt induction cooktop, 1,500 Watt heater and everything else whenever we have shore power without needing to load shed anything and also avoid needing to use any propane too.

Our 3,000 Watt Renogy Inverter has a bonded ground/neutral. Since we use a low resistance Group 27 100AH LIFEPO4 Renogy battery modified to have a C2.7 discharge current rating and low resistance 4/0 cable, we use an Inverter capacitor pre-charge system to reduce the inrush current from 2,700A to about 14A so as to avoid damaging the Inverter or BMS. Details of our Casita trailer modifications may be found here if interested:

https://www.borstengineeringconstruc..._2023_Trip.pdf

Gayle & Bob
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Old 01-14-2025, 10:16 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d23haynes57 View Post
If you have the inverter output wired to the wiring in the RV, you also need to have the inverter neutral tied to ground when it is the power source. A proper RV/Marine Inverter with transfer switch does this.
Of the 3 inverters I have installed (2 rv and 1 boat) all had internal bonding. The only ones I know of that aren’t bonded or are convertible is some that are dedicated to solar.

For the record, none of my electrical work has yet killed anyone, though there are a couple that now talk funny. 😁
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Old 01-14-2025, 12:47 PM   #13
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UL458 inverters have neutral to ground switching.
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Old 01-14-2025, 04:08 PM   #14
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Thanks guys. I only use inverter to power both outlet circuits. I guess I may fo with the relay listed. Thanks again.
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