diy solar

diy solar

Inverter/charger

csharp5830

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Feb 6, 2022
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I’m planning to install an inverter/charger and have done a fair bit of reading on this and other forums, yet still have some concern about all my Rv power (30amp) going thru the integrated ats in the inverter/charger and needing to have the device powered “on” in order to pass through power when on shore or generator. We are on shore power when stored and most camping trips, but do dry camp about 20 days per year, 3-5 days at a time. Should I be concerned- are folks seeing high reliability from the lower price point devices say from AIMS, Renology, or Sungoldpower? If I add a standalone ATS to effectively bypass the inverter/charger/ats that would go on the output side of the inverter/charger- correct? So, two inputs (one from shore and one from inverter/charger) going to my ac panel. If Inverter/charger dies, I could still get power via shore or generator. I’ve seen other posts where they’ve done this with a changeover (manual a/b) switch and I guess a cheaper work around would be to carry 3 wire nuts, but looking for a cleaner setup ;-)
 
It should not need to be on in any way in order to pass through shore power. The reason it needs to be on is to charge the batteries. I can turn my inverter/charger off and it still passes through the shore power.
 
Good to know- Thanks! I’ve seen folks ask this on Amazon and vendors state that the unit must be powered on. Guessing they are saying it must be powered on to passthru and charge (duh?!). Just wanting pasthru and not charge so I can store camper with batts at ~50% soc or really only turn the inverter/charger on when I need to invert or charge. Guess there is always the chance it fails (as any ATS can). In which case, I’ll just tie the 120v in/out together to bypass.
 
I confirmed with Sungoldpower support that their 3000w inverter/charger must be powered on (and batteries connected) in order to passthu shore power. To reduce wear and tear and facilitate long term storage of the camper- would it work to add a standalone ATS with inputs from shore power and the inverter 120v output?

Shore power - goes to Inverter/charger 120v input and to standalone ATS,
Inverter/charger 120v out to standalone ATS,
ATS out to AC panel.

Alternatively, are there other lower price point integrated inverter/charger/ats units that do pass through shore power when turned off?

corn18- I reviewed some of your other posts and believe you are using Victron gear. Price aside, I’m a bit intimidated by the setup on the Multiplus. So looking at simpler/cheaper (tho less tailorable) units. It seems Aims, Renogy, and Sungoldpower all require power on in order to pass thru shorepower.
 
I confirmed with Sungoldpower support that their 3000w inverter/charger must be powered on (and batteries connected) in order to passthu shore power. To reduce wear and tear and facilitate long term storage of the camper- would it work to add a standalone ATS with inputs from shore power and the inverter 120v output?

Shore power - goes to Inverter/charger 120v input and to standalone ATS,
Inverter/charger 120v out to standalone ATS,
ATS out to AC panel.

Alternatively, are there other lower price point integrated inverter/charger/ats units that do pass through shore power when turned off?

corn18- I reviewed some of your other posts and believe you are using Victron gear. Price aside, I’m a bit intimidated by the setup on the Multiplus. So looking at simpler/cheaper (tho less tailorable) units. It seems Aims, Renogy, and Sungoldpower all require power on in order to pass thru shorepower.
My Aims inverter/charger (6000watt, 120/240vac in, 120/240vac out) must be connected to both batteries and shore power even when shore power is priority. Shore power flows into main switch and then through the inverter to the sub panel. So, if batteries are disconnected, my inverter will now allow shore power to pass through. They don't have to be fully charged; just connected/sensed. I do not know if the inverter/charger would be damaged if you added a manual rotary selector switch between main switch and subpanel to select/bypass the inverter/Charger. Since the inverter/charger would still be connected to the subpanel and you may power the subpanel directly from the main via the secondary switch, I think this would risk flow INTO the inverter power bridge from the inverter OUTPUT. Perhaps a dedicated SECOND inverter/charger AC main breaker between the inverter/charger and the subpanel would be needed to protect the inverter/charger when the bypass switch is set to Shore instead of Inverter/Charger?
 
I understand the inverter/charger needs to be connected to the battery. Does your Aims have to also be powered on to passthru the 120vac?
I may just have gotten bad info from Sungoldpower. I do see others siting this as a failure point for Aims (Amazon ratings, etc)- but it may be only when unable to sense the batteries (as in the bms shuts them down or battery cutoff is switched off).

Good feedback on the breaker etc above. I‘ll think that thru more…or maybe just should get a Multiplus or Aims is they don’t have this limitation. Hope to reduce complexity and reliability, along with being able to run when the inverter/charger is out of commission partially or completely.
 
Hybrid inverters need to power the AC input connect relay coils. It can get the power from AC input or from battery power. Some units only get processor control and relay power from batteries, they don't have the small AC to DC power supply to provide the power from AC input.

It is always a good idea to have the ability to bypass the inverter. If inverter fails, and/or you have to remove it to get repaired, the bypass switching allows you to run on shore power only.

This does not have to be a fancy transfer switch. It can be toggle linked circuit breakers.
 
I understand the inverter/charger needs to be connected to the battery. Does your Aims have to also be powered on to passthru the 120vac?
I may just have gotten bad info from Sungoldpower. I do see others siting this as a failure point for Aims (Amazon ratings, etc)- but it may be only when unable to sense the batteries (as in the bms shuts them down or battery cutoff is switched off).

Good feedback on the breaker etc above. I‘ll think that thru more…or maybe just should get a Multiplus or Aims is they don’t have this limitation. Hope to reduce complexity and reliability, along with being able to run when the inverter/charger is out of commission partially or completely.
I'm currently updating my system and have the inverter/charger disconnected (all powered down). I will have to check to see if the Aims must be powered on to allow shore to pass thru. I suspect it does have to be switched on since it may not sense batteries otherwise (if off, it is all off).
 
I'm currently updating my system and have the inverter/charger disconnected (all powered down). I will have to check to see if the Aims must be powered on to allow shore to pass thru. I suspect it does have to be switched on since it may not sense batteries otherwise (if off, it is all off).
AIMS, sungoldpower, Hjkj are all the same as the signeer (most likely the OEM and producer) hybrid LF inverter/charger and to let shorepower through it has to be „on auto“ Charger on mode and the DIP switch sw3 must be set to auto sense mode.

Plan to get the sungoldpower 12V 4000W one
as there are not many choices in 12V that can really handle a 3400W induction stove of my electric galley on my catamaran or stove running at 2,7kw while the 1100W microwave/convection/Steamer combo is running at the same time. Having the Electrodacus BMS I will only use the inverter as it will shut it off completely when LVC.
For shorepower I will use a 50A Victron Smart Phönix charger that is controlled and shut down by bms. having shorepower I have time and a 24h charge so 50A is enough, especially when 100A charge comes additionally from solar during the day, for my 840AH bank. The sungoldpower charger part will be backup or manually operated to fast charge :) the LifePo4 bank.
I have a hardwired 1or 2 bypass switch that routes all 240V house loads either from shorepower or inverter. Even if you put the inverter on that won‘t get fconnected anywhere when on shorepower. I am very seldom in marinas on shorepower, mostly on Anker so that’s a cheap and safe solution.
 
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I have a 48v all in one inverter solar charger on my travel trailer (30amp shore power supply) my unit has to be powered on to supply power to the coach. After I figured out how to wire it I purchased a 4 pole transfer switch I hope to wire in so that I can isolate the inverter setup and still be able to use shore power. So far I have never needed to do that but it’s sure to happen eventually
 
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