Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-11-2005, 08:49 PM   #1
5thwheeler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 270
Installing a Xantrex 1500 watt inverter

We have a Xantrex 1500 watt inverter we will be installing in the upcoming week - be sure & check back for a full review.
__________________

5thwheeler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2005, 12:16 PM   #2
5thwheeler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 270
Its finally complete - we let the smoke out of the first Xantrex for reasons unknown. We didn't have anything wired incorrectly so I guess I'll just chalk it up to random failure - electronic things usually fail in the first 24 hours of operation or run forever.
Attached are the photos of the install but in a nut-shell here is what we wanted

1. All of the outlets in the 5thwheel live if the inverter is turned on.
2. The ability to switch the inverter off/remove 12v source because it does
have a small draw even when idle with no load.
We sometimes leave our 5thwheel for a week or 2 parked without hookups
so anything to prevent battery drain is a plus.
3. Have the system automatically switch over to shore power when its
applied.
It makes no sense to have shore power converted from 115vac to
12vdc to the inverter and then have the inverter change it back to
115vac.

We bought a Xantrex 1500watt inverter on ebay for $98.00 new and a DPDT switch with 120vac coil from Digi-Key for $35. We also put a battery cut-out switch inline with the 12vdc supply from the battery to enable us to remove power from the inverter.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg switchsetup_554.jpg (48.3 KB, 95 views)
File Type: jpg switch_188.jpg (45.7 KB, 95 views)
File Type: jpg switchinstalled_154.jpg (50.2 KB, 95 views)
File Type: jpg cutoutinstalled_173.jpg (26.9 KB, 95 views)
__________________

5thwheeler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2005, 02:30 PM   #3
rverdlm
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: On the road
Posts: 1,063
Loks good, but a question. Where did you run the 120V after the DBDT switch? I thought that 120 goes into the converter, not out. I guess I really don't understand!
__________________
Dave & Barbara
KenWorth T2000
2005 Mobile Suites 38RL3 #2338
MorRyde IS 8K axles, LazyBoy recliners, LCD tv
Full time since '96
rverdlm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2005, 02:39 PM   #4
5thwheeler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 270
115vac comes into the DPDT switch from one of the existing circuit breakers in the converter. Basically the DPDT was placed in-line with the factory circuit from the converter out to feed all of the outlets. Its wired so that the 115vac when present energizes the solenoid and closes the shore power circuit.

Make sense?
5thwheeler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2005, 11:58 PM   #5
CAMPDOG
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: WYOMING
Posts: 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by rverdlm
Loks good, but a question. Where did you run the 120V after the DBDT switch? I thought that 120 goes into the converter, not out. I guess I really don't understand!
The DPDT switch has 4 wires coming in 120 vac from shore power via the circuit breaker, to DPDT NO side... 120 vac from the xantrex inverter to DPDT NC side ( ...gotta switch the neutral cuz it carries current...) and two wires going out to the outlets DPDT com side shore power closes the switch 120 vac control coil outlet are hot all the time unless the xantrex inverter is not seeing enough dc voltage (shut off low batt) and all without laying a finger on it!!! Neat install !
CAMPDOG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2005, 05:58 AM   #6
rverdlm
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: On the road
Posts: 1,063
When you say 2 wires going out to the outlets, where does that wire run go? Does it go to your main electrical panel? The way my trailer is wired all my outlets are fed from, I think, 4 breakers in the electrical panel. I don't see how to feed from the inverter to all these breakers. What I've done is place an outlet near the inverter and plug my main cord into it. I like the automation of what you've done and would like to replicate it on my new trailer, so I'm trying to understand it better.
__________________
Dave & Barbara
KenWorth T2000
2005 Mobile Suites 38RL3 #2338
MorRyde IS 8K axles, LazyBoy recliners, LCD tv
Full time since '96
rverdlm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2005, 06:50 AM   #7
5thwheeler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 270
All of our outlets were run off of 2 breakers in the campers main panel. We pulled these off the main panel, tied them together as one large circuit and then placed them on the common end of the DPDT switch. With two open breakers in the panel we used one & ran a new 120vac circuit to the DPDT which is our shore power.
5thwheeler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2005, 08:00 PM   #8
rverdlm
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: On the road
Posts: 1,063
Ah, now I understand! Thanks for all the info. When I get the new MS I now know what I'll do.
__________________

__________________
Dave & Barbara
KenWorth T2000
2005 Mobile Suites 38RL3 #2338
MorRyde IS 8K axles, LazyBoy recliners, LCD tv
Full time since '96
rverdlm is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×