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Class C RV Upgrade

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Grabcon

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Class C RV Upgrade

2003 Thor Class C RV. I am in the planning stages of an electrical up grade and need thoughts on if my thinking will work.

The existing electrical system is relatively simple. The goal is to prepare the unit to be more off grid. Meaning 2 to 3 days, not a life time.

Here is the existing system description.
  • 4000 watt generator with a 30amp outlet, no auto start.
  • 30amp shore power plug.
  • To use the generator the shore power plug gets plugged into the generator 30amp outlet.
  • One 12volt battery, charged from the RV alternator or from a converter that is integrated into the AC/DC power distribution panel. This converter is not compatible with Lithium Iron batteries.
The initial goal is to:
  • Install Auto Transfer Switch between the generator and shore power. The shore power plug would now be tied to the ATS.
  • Next would be to install a 2000 or 3000 watt inverter/converter/ATS (Inverter).
  • I would like to take the panel output from the new ATS and tie this to the 120AC input on the Inverter, then the 120AC output to the existing power distribution panel.
  • Delete the existing converter on the existing power distribution panel and of course utilize the converter from the inverter.
  • Lastly for this phase install lithium iron battery bank.
I know there are a lot of details not mentioned but what I am most interested in for the moment is the usage of the ATS for shore power/generator and the integrated ATS in the inverter. This aspect is key for things to work.
 
Grabcon said:
Class C RV Upgrade

2003 Thor Class C RV. I am in the planning stages of an electrical up grade and need thoughts on if my thinking will work.

The existing electrical system is relatively simple. The goal is to prepare the unit to be more off grid. Meaning 2 to 3 days, not a life time.

Here is the existing system description.
  • 4000 watt generator with a 30amp outlet, no auto start.
  • 30amp shore power plug.
  • To use the generator the shore power plug gets plugged into the generator 30amp outlet.
  • One 12volt battery, charged from the RV alternator or from a converter that is integrated into the AC/DC power distribution panel. This converter is not compatible with Lithium Iron batteries.
Click to expand...

Have you confirmed that the voltages produced by the converter are not compatible with LFP batteries? Just because a converter doesn't say it's lithium compatible doesn't mean it's not compatible.

Grabcon said:
The initial goal is to:
  • Install Auto Transfer Switch between the generator and shore power. The shore power plug would now be tied to the ATS.
  • Next would be to install a 2000 or 3000 watt inverter/converter/ATS (Inverter).
  • I would like to take the panel output from the new ATS and tie this to the 120AC input on the Inverter, then the 120AC output to the existing power distribution panel.
Click to expand...

I would like that too, but there's not really such a thing as an inverter/converter in most common installations. You're looking for an inverter/charger (w/internal ATS) - one that can take AC-in, pass it along to the loads and act as a UPS if grid/genny go down or get dirty or use AC-in as a charging source when the batteries get low.

Grabcon said:
  • Delete the existing converter on the existing power distribution panel and of course utilize the converter from the inverter.
Click to expand...

Per the above, inverter/chargers don't generally have a converter in the traditional sense. You would just tie the batteries powering the inverter into the DC panel.

Grabcon said:
  • Lastly for this phase install lithium iron battery bank.
I know there are a lot of details not mentioned but what I am most interested in for the moment is the usage of the ATS for shore power/generator and the integrated ATS in the inverter. This aspect is key for things to work.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're pretty much on the right track.
 
Sounds good to me. No issues with having two transfer switches in sequence. Need to post the converter model to know compatibility. Many will work just fine. The inverter/chargers are great and add some simplicity to the installation. Do you have space for more battery that is fairly close to the inverter/charger?
 
Thanks for the input from both of you. My existing power distribution is a Parallax Electronic Series 7300. From what I can tell there is only one charging profile. This is a 2003 unit so I am not expecting much.

The construction of the RV does not lend itself well to making these mods especially battery placement. But baby steps are in order. The first improvement will be the ATS for shore and the generator. That will be a huge improvement. I currently don't have any type of inverter and having combined functions because of the lack of space is important.
 
Exactly what I did to my class c, but I just upgraded the converter for lithium
 
Yes the 7300 is a bit weak for any battery. However it would still work in a pinch. Consider removing the 120v power to the unit and leave it in place as a back up supply.
 
WFCO and others make converter replacement kits that allow you to keep the existing fuse and breaker box. Adding an auto transfer switch (or 2) might seem difficult but can be quite simple. WFCO, Go Power, progressive Dynamics and others make transfer switches.....
wfcoelectronics.com

WFCO Technologies - Innovating the Future of RV Power

WFCO Technologies is committed to simplifying, enhancing, and optimizing every RV owner’s experience through advanced power technology and proven support.
wfcoelectronics.com wfcoelectronics.com

Automatic Transfer Switches Relay Base

If your need to automatically switch multiple power sources from one to another, you will need to get an automatic transfer switch.
www.rvupgradestore.com
 
I'm actually only seeing one installed ATS, right? Not counting the one in the inverter charger.

Concerning the use of converters... by the time you've gone from 12VDC to inverter to converter to 12VDC - you're at about 75% efficiency on a good day.

If you have few 12V loads, it's no big deal, but if they're substantial, you're losing a lot.
 
Whinny said:
Adding an auto transfer switch (or 2) might seem difficult but can be quite simple.
Click to expand...
Installing the ATS is not the issue. But like I said my RV really does not make placement of devices easy. As an example the outlet from the generator is access from the exterior and is located in the bathroom vanity. The power distribution center is located under the shower pan. All electrical wires 120 and 12 volt go under the shower pan. RV manufacturers are idiots.
 
Snoobler I guess I used the wrong term. The combination Inverters are inverter chargers or at least the ones I was looking at.
 
I won't argue about RV manufactures being idiots.....
They do normally....sometimes.... leave enough "tail" on the connections to the power center to allow it to pull away from the cabinet giving access to the back. that could be a spot for the 1 or 2 ATS?
Quite often built in inverter ATS are only rated for 20a keep an eye on that..
 
Whinny said:
They do normally....sometimes.... leave enough "tail" on the connections to the power center to allow it to pull away from the cabinet giving access to the back. that could be a spot for the 1 or 2 ATS?
Click to expand...
The wire tails are not the issue. The power center is under the shower pan, no ATS room there. I have a spot for the ATS identified and that would be where the Generator outlet and 30amp shore plug are located. Enough room for the ATS box but just tight to work in.
 
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