Inverter charger install with inverter prep
- Thread starter jamac
- Start date
George
Prominent Member
Seems like you're talking about two different things.
The inverter prep has nothing to do with charging batteries.
The way I understand the prep is...
You would cut the wire and the hot end would be the inverter IN, the other would be inverter OUT.
If you're on shore power then power would pass through the inverter back to the sub panel.
If you're not on shore power the inverter would not see shore power on inverter IN and would produce 120v from the battery(s) to supply the sub panel. Only a select number of circuits are on this sub panel.
On shore power the converter will charge battery(s) independent of the inverter.
There are numerous threads on this and it seems most people are starting from scratch and using an inverter/charger to provide 120v inverter power to the whole coach while not on shore power. Check out the thread @Tropical Tom has going on his project. 👍🏼
The inverter prep has nothing to do with charging batteries.
The way I understand the prep is...
You would cut the wire and the hot end would be the inverter IN, the other would be inverter OUT.
If you're on shore power then power would pass through the inverter back to the sub panel.
If you're not on shore power the inverter would not see shore power on inverter IN and would produce 120v from the battery(s) to supply the sub panel. Only a select number of circuits are on this sub panel.
On shore power the converter will charge battery(s) independent of the inverter.
There are numerous threads on this and it seems most people are starting from scratch and using an inverter/charger to provide 120v inverter power to the whole coach while not on shore power. Check out the thread @Tropical Tom has going on his project. 👍🏼
Last edited:
This question comes up a lot, so I made a diagram (with some text) to help folks understand the "Inverter Prep" and how it works.
Tropical Tom
Member
Power is already run from your main panel up to the front of the camper and from there back to the main panel.
Those two 30 amp breakers are the inverter prep ones. Everything to the left of them runs only on shore power or generator. The four breakers to the right are the ones powered by an inverter if installed via Alliance inverter prep.
So, if you want to install giant batteries and a big inverter and cover the roof with solar panels, you can do all those things, but you still won't be able to run those appliances on the left side of the panel. I mentioned in my related thread that I moved the factory generator prep out of the way but kept it accessible in case I ever want a much bigger inverter (or two) to run the whole camper.
I disagree with this a bit. My inverter has a three way switch: INVERTER - OFF - CHARGER.
If you leave it switched to INVERTER and the camp site power fails, it will automagically start inverting and power everything on the right side of the panel. That includes the living room air conditioner, except that my inverter and batteries won't really run an air conditioner. For that reason, I leave it set on CHARGER unless I actually want it to be an inverter.
Tropical Tom
Member
The Victron manual says it can switch fast enough that a computer won't shut down. We use laptops in the camper so won't be testing that.
I disagree with this a bit. My inverter has a three way switch: INVERTER - OFF - CHARGER.
Tom...your system is not factory. Yes, the Victron system has 3 profiles. However, I think George's comment was directed to "inverter prep" not the inverter. I agree...Inverter Prep does not have any connection to charging (as shipped from factory) as the converter is not part of Inverter prep.