RV Inverter Installation: Rewiring the Charger Breaker | The Savvy Campers
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
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In order to install your RV inverter and use your shore power plug, you will need to rewire your charger so it does not run while you are using your batteries to power your inverter.
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If it is hooked up, it will try and charge the batteries therefore draining them.
Here are some items we use on our Trailer:
Solar Kit: amzn.to/3iYoKVU
Go Wise Inverter: amzn.to/35Wj1gD
Lion Energy Batteries: lionenergy.com...
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Only video that I seen that considered loss and had a solution. Thanks
Did same set up with our 5th wheel. Actually installed construction grade 20a cord from inverter to rear using a 50a/20a adapter. Know not to use high energy devices ie. microwave, toaster oven, hair dryer. And of course forgot to turn breaker off so killed batteries faster as they were recharging & even forgot to turn it on so they didn't charge. Oh! the daily challenges.
this video gives me more confidence to move some breakers and wires to isolate my converter on Line 1 and put the appliances powered by the inverter on Line 2 (50 AMP system).
There seems to be a need for an automatic transfer switch or relay to automatically shut off the charger while the inverter is in use.
Thanks for the video! I recently installed solar and an inverter for our camper. The 3000w inverter goes into short circuit protection when the "general purpose" breaker is on. This might be just the fix I need, as all of the non GFCI outlets are powered by the same breaker, and we need those.
Great video! The best thing is it is the same circuit breaker panel as mine! So.... Main is for everything, GFI would be for power outlets, A/C is for air conditioning, W/H would be for water heater.... leaving the one circuit breaker labeled both 'General' and M/H. So one wire goes to the converter.... where does the other wire go? I couldn't trace it when I removed the panel? Also - I have two 40amp fuses on the DC side below the main row of fuses....do you know what these would be for? Thanks!
Looking to do this with our camper as well. Great video! Thanks
Thank you for an excellent video; you have a nice calm presentation style that’s easy to listen to and learn from.
I want to replace the OEM lead acid battery on my ‘21 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS with a lithium battery. I’ve gotten bogged down with info, like will my existing charger/inverter work with a new lithium battery?
Yes your charger/inverter should work with a lithium battery. You can check the manual for it with the model number. You may still want to upgrade your charger/inverter to a higher amperage to charge your batteries faster while on the road.
@@TheSavvyCampers Thank you. What about sizing my new LifePO4 battery in terms of staying within the limitations of my existing wiring.? I was thinking of a 100ah lithium battery; my existing lead acid is 150cca. Is this a consideration?
Also, I understand that a newer camper like mine should only require the changing of a jumper? I’ll look up my existing charger/inverter model # and see if I can find info as well.
@@cwqrpportable If you change to Lithium you won't need to upgrade your wiring unless you add a higher watt inverter and want to draw more power, or if you do upgrade your charger/inverter and your wiring can't handle it. If you stay with your original converter, you should be safe as your manufacturer "should" have sized it correctly from the factory, but your manual should dictate what size of wiring to use for the length of wire if you do want to upgrade it. If it doesn't, this article should help out a lot: www.renewablewise.com/battery-to-inverter-wire-size/
@@TheSavvyCampers Thank you, that really helps. I just want to eliminate the constant babying necessary with SLA batteries. So if I can use my existing inverter that would be perfect.
I think I will go with a 100AH LifePO4 battery as a replacement. The size of the battery won’t affect wiring size if I stay with the current inverter correct? I could get a 200AH battery for more capacity….
Thanks again; I think I was making this harder than what it actually is….
What if Renology 2000w with ATS in it ie installed in the place of converter?
Great video! Easy to understand!
Glad it was helpful!
If im plugging my rv into the house, will my battery charge? If so, is it better to turn off the convertor during this? (I have not installed my inverter yet)
With the converter switched off, does the solar panel still charge the batteries? Rookie rv’r
Yes, thanks for the info. Looks like the 12 volt reverse polarity fuses are removed from your box? The two on the far right. Will that also prevent charging?
TH-cam didn't accept my first comment > Great Instructive videos! I Subscribed, 👵D.
Great Video! I was stressed about how to install the Inverter becasue Ive seen other videos that were complicated as can be. I have a small camper and no other breaker spaces available so I will just double up something else and do the charge controler on its own. Thank you for a well made and explained video.
If you don't need the appliance on your charge breaker, you could also leave it and have that turn off at the same time too.
I have a breaker labeled Converter. I'd just shut that off instead of adding another breaker right? You did this because you had other things running on that same breaker?
Yes, I had two things wired to the breaker. You can always take your panel off to see if there is only one wire to your converter to make sure it is in fact not powering anything else.
@@TheSavvyCampers Thank you. Still under warranty so I'm just going to run a cord over to the outside plug with an adapter, and then shut off the breakers for the converter and the A/C. This should light up all the receptacles just like you plugged into shore power. That way I can at least run things that have 120v ac adapters. Batts should still run lights, furnace fan, thermostat ect. My old pop-up has this built in, new entry level motorhomes come without inverters in many cases. :(
Thanks makes sense.
Why do you need the converter!
Good job
Thanks
It is easier to hook the converter wire to the new breaker and then install the new breaker in the panel.
Can I turn my inverter off to plug in into my bluetti ac200max? I noticed that when I plug in my trailer to the solar gen, it draws more than 1500 watts with everything off. I turned the inverter off, and it was only drawing around 300 watts or less, but I can't remember.
Hi, I have a question. The inverter of my RV has a black cable. It has another cable. What should I do to move it to the new switch?
Great video. I would like to do the same but don’t have any extra space in my AC side for an additional breaker.
Josh, depending on what else is on that breaker, you may not need it on anyways. They make tandem breakers that may fit in your breaker box as well. This will allow 2 breakers in a single spot.
@@TheSavvyCampers good news for me, I found the converter to already be on its own circuit so that step is done on its own. :)
@@TheSavvyCampers great idea about the double breakers within a single slot though! :)
It's better to have an automatic transfer switch that also controls the converter circuit.
that's the info I'm looking for...
But takes more space and money.
I am not sure that I understand the purpose. I have a 2021 2106DS that has Go Power 190 watt solar panels on the roof, 2 6v Lead Acid 135 ah batteries in series, Go Power Controller, and a Go Power PS 3000 wt inverter. We have a Go Power Auto Transfer Switch also installed. I am not impressed with the Go Power system. In addition we have a GP Inverter Remote Display installed inside but it never seems to be accurate or agree with the phone app. What am I missing or adding if I put the Converter onto its own breaker. Thank you for all the videos and instructions especially since we have the same model as you do.
Does your transfer switch have a separate power feed to your charger/converter? If so you shouldn't need to do anything. Feel free to go to the about us page on our website to directly email and I can help walk you through it. www.thesavvycampers.com
Great video!!! Thank you. If you had hardwired the inverter, would you still have moved the converter to a separate breaker or would it be better to install a transfer switch? Where would the wire go from the inverter to the panel? Thanks!
If you hardwire you would run a transfer switch. The wire from the inverter would be wired to one side of the transfer switch with your shore power wired to the other. You can also just add 1-2 outlets off the inverter that will only be live when the inverter is on if you don't need your whole trailer to have power.
I don't understand all this, but it seems Very Savvy! I'm saving your 3 video playlist on the subject & subscribing. WELL DONE & THANK YOU!
very well done sir, thanks for sharing.
Thanks, glad to help Dennis
How much solar do you have? Are those 2 100Ah Lion batteries? Not worried about theft?
I have 200 watts of solar, yes they are 2 100 amp batteries. I have them locked up, and remove them when away from our house in storage. Here is the video on our lock system: th-cam.com/video/wYPnPyhyyy4/w-d-xo.html
Will this allow the DC side of the camper to work simultaneously, while the AC is running off the shore side?
Yes, both sides will work.
I installed my inverter. When I use the inverter I have a outlet that makes a buzzing noise are you having the same issue? Or is this normal?
It should not be normal, have you tested it with a GFCI tester to make sure it is wired properly. Also a wire could be loose.
@@TheSavvyCampers Or possibly a modified sine wave inverter will do that.
Why not install a switch controller that manages all the AC power source Shore/generator/converter/inverter !?
You won’t have to turn ON and Off your converter charger when your inverter is working .
We had planned on upgrading our trailer in a few years and figured we would make that investment in the next model.
But why on earth would you run the inverter while on shore power?
Because the inverter usually has a shore power by pass thru the inverter yet you still get to use the inverter to 3 stage charge and maintain your batteries.
No link to the 11 in 1....
They are Klein 32500 and I ordered them on Amazon for about $15.
Transfer switch....problem solved