Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

One of my upcoming projects on out 1988 FC will be to replace the
existing inverter and "dumb" battery charger with the 458, 2000 Xantrex
inverter charger. I do not plan on running the A/C with the inverter.
But I thought it would be nice to operate the Micro and once in a while
the TV's. In my unit the existing charger and inverter are in adjacent
comaprtments, streetside. The inverter is in the large compartrment
just forward of the dinette and the charger is in the one right under
the dinette. The charger also has a big fan in the compartment for
cooling. I have not yet determined which circuits are powered by the
inverter but I only see one 110volt romex coming out of the inverter. I
have the basic remote for the Xantrex and will probably be able to
utilize the existing wiring for the remote. I do not have a complete
wiring diagram and would appreciate any tips on this install. If I just
connect the existing wiring to the inverter/charger what will be the
results? Any suggestions appreciated. As always this forum is a wealth
of knowledge.

Bruce

Bruce I am not familiar with the layout of your coach. Where is the
power panel inside (which closet)? How far is it from where the
chargers are now located to the batteries?

Tom Warner
Vernon Center,NY
1958 PT 40
0/2006, you wrote:

>One of my upcoming projects on out 1988 FC will be to replace the
>existing inverter and "dumb" battery charger with the 458, 2000 Xantrex
>inverter charger. I do not plan on running the A/C with the inverter.
>But I thought it would be nice to operate the Micro and once in a while
>the TV's. In my unit the existing charger and inverter are in adjacent
>comaprtments, streetside. The inverter is in the large compartrment
>just forward of the dinette and the charger is in the one right under
>the dinette. The charger also has a big fan in the compartment for
>cooling. I have not yet determined which circuits are powered by the
>inverter but I only see one 110volt romex coming out of the inverter. I
>have the basic remote for the Xantrex and will probably be able to
>utilize the existing wiring for the remote. I do not have a complete
>wiring diagram and would appreciate any tips on this install. If I just
>connect the existing wiring to the inverter/charger what will be the
>results? Any suggestions appreciated. As always this forum is a wealth
>of knowledge.
>
>Bruce
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The inverter circuit powers:
The ice maker( duplex behind cabinet), the oulet on the sink counter
near the Nu-Tone.
The electric drapes (if this option exists).
Front and rear TV's are plugged into duplex outlets, The other half
we sometimes use for battery chargers, (phones, computer, GPS, etc.)
If you have sufficient inverter power, wiring can be changed at the
circuit breakers in the AC load center panel.
The Pac 1500 is probably dead.

Bill 88 FC


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> One of my upcoming projects on out 1988 FC will be to replace the
> existing inverter and "dumb" battery charger with the 458, 2000
Xantrex
> inverter charger. I do not plan on running the A/C with the
inverter.
> But I thought it would be nice to operate the Micro and once in a
while
> the TV's. In my unit the existing charger and inverter are in
adjacent
> comaprtments, streetside. The inverter is in the large
compartrment
> just forward of the dinette and the charger is in the one right
under
> the dinette. The charger also has a big fan in the compartment for
> cooling. I have not yet determined which circuits are powered by
the
> inverter but I only see one 110volt romex coming out of the
inverter. I
> have the basic remote for the Xantrex and will probably be able
to
> utilize the existing wiring for the remote. I do not have a
complete
> wiring diagram and would appreciate any tips on this install. If I
just
> connect the existing wiring to the inverter/charger what will be
the
> results? Any suggestions appreciated. As always this forum is a
wealth
> of knowledge.
>
> Bruce
>

Tom: The electrical panel is located in the entry way behind the drop
down step cover.

Bruce

Bill:

I did some investigating and found the circuits that were powered by
the inverter. The PAC still works as the ice maker started when I
turned the inverter on. Now I will have to find the circuit that powers
the micro. Am not new to electrical work but having trouble
understanding how the original inverter is wired. Is there a transfer
switch somewhere?

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

I upgraded a friends '87 PT 40 to a 2500 watt inverter/smart charger
a couple of years ago and that coach had the same inverter circuits
as Bill stated.


"The inverter circuit powers:
The ice maker( duplex behind cabinet), the oulet on the sink counter
near the Nu-Tone.
The electric drapes (if this option exists).
Front and rear TV's are plugged into duplex outlets>>>>snip,
Bill 88 FC"

After removing the old unit and chargers (that one had the single
Romex too.) I installed the new combo unit along with a 2 circuit
breaker panel and an additional transfer relay for the second
circuit. The original single transfer relay was located behind the
panel under the kitchen sink near the icemaker and I was able to
split the duplex outlet for the microwave and run a wire from that
to the existing circuit. The wire and transfer relay were rated
above what was needed to add the microwave. The second transfer
relay was mounted in the compartment with the new inverter and 2
circuit pane. (Lot's of room left over.) This relay was used to
power outlets in the bathroom for a hair dryer etc. As in any case,
use of all at once (toaster or coffee maker in the kitchen outlet,
ice maker, microwave, hair dryer etc.) would overload a 2500 watt
inverter but the protection of the additional breaker panel adds
another layer of protection should the circuit be overloaded.
Rich D. '99LXi43' CT


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> One of my upcoming projects on out 1988 FC will be to replace the
> existing inverter and "dumb" battery charger with the 458, 2000
Xantrex
> inverter charger. I do not plan on running the A/C with the
inverter.
> But I thought it would be nice to operate the Micro and once in a
while
> the TV's. In my unit the existing charger and inverter are in
adjacent
> comaprtments, streetside. The inverter is in the large
compartrment
> just forward of the dinette and the charger is in the one right
under
> the dinette. The charger also has a big fan in the compartment for
> cooling. I have not yet determined which circuits are powered by
the
> inverter but I only see one 110volt romex coming out of the
inverter. I
> have the basic remote for the Xantrex and will probably be able
to
> utilize the existing wiring for the remote. I do not have a
complete
> wiring diagram and would appreciate any tips on this install. If I
just
> connect the existing wiring to the inverter/charger what will be
the
> results? Any suggestions appreciated. As always this forum is a
wealth
> of knowledge.
>
> Bruce
>

Hi Bruce,

I will try to answer, This may "NOT" be precise, as I do not have an
AC wireing schematic. Under the sink behind the pegboard is a
relay, You may hear it humming when plugged into shore power or
Gennie.
This is the inverter relay , energized with AC power , so the
Inverter is out of the circuit always, when AC power is applied.

I think the MicroWave is not on this circuit because of its' high
current demand and the convection oven option that draws lots of
Amps. And the oven, could inadvertently be turned to the "ON"
position.

I occationally use a three foot extention cord on the MicroWave to
plug into the AC Inverter socket on the kitchen counter, to warm up
a cup of coffee, when on the road. I use it only for a minute.
The MicroWave plug is in the overhead cabinet above the sink far
right.

One must be "CAUTIOUS" with this outlaw plug wireing, because the
Old Sharp, does not like the modified sine wave and the inverter
does not like the high current demand.
"SO,THIS IS NOT A GOOD PRACTICE".
Yep, I am open to constructive criticism on this.

Your new Inverter may have a pure sine wave output.
I think the MicroWave draws about 10 amp to get started.

Bill 88 FC, Michigan (sometimes does not follow all the rules)





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> Bill:
>
> I did some investigating and found the circuits that were powered
by
> the inverter. The PAC still works as the ice maker started when I
> turned the inverter on. Now I will have to find the circuit that
powers
> the micro. Am not new to electrical work but having trouble
> understanding how the original inverter is wired. Is there a
transfer
> switch somewhere?
>
> Bruce
>

Bill,
I've done a similar thing in mine and there's nothing wrong with
it, depending on which inverter you have.
I first bought a cheap Cobra 4,000 watt inverter and wired it to
the battery circuit. I have to use an extension cord to use it. I
mainly used it to make coffee and occasionally run the microwave. It
did fine. I installed it in the cabinet next to the entry door.
I later installed a Xantrex inverter/charger (1500 watts) and ran
a special circuit to the kitchen wall outlet only. I use it the same
way for other things when needed, using an extension cord.
The reason I didn't run it to the main circuit breaker panel is I
run electric heaters off the street side circuit in the winter. My
2,000 watt engine heater also runs off that circuit, as does my TV set
and entertainment center. If I ran that circuit off the inverter, it
would be bye-bye inverter over the winter, especially when I run the
engine heater.
I tried to run separate wiring to the TV set, but the way a Bird
is built, I had a hard time and gave up on the project for the time
being. I wanted to run it under the coach and up the outside wall,
but there's too much steel at the bottom of the wall. Sheesh.
Somebody on this network said it was silly to try to protect
cheap electronic components with highly expensive pure sine wave
inverters. With microwaves being a few hundred bucks, I can see the
point.
I don't think you're off base at all. Most microwaves are 1500
watts, that's about 13 amps.

George Witt
81 FC 35
Lincoln, Nebraska




In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "pattypape" wrote:
>
>
> Hi Bruce,
>
> I will try to answer, This may "NOT" be precise, as I do not have an
> AC wireing schematic. Under the sink behind the pegboard is a
> relay, You may hear it humming when plugged into shore power or
> Gennie.
> This is the inverter relay , energized with AC power , so the
> Inverter is out of the circuit always, when AC power is applied.
>
> I think the MicroWave is not on this circuit because of its' high
> current demand and the convection oven option that draws lots of
> Amps. And the oven, could inadvertently be turned to the "ON"
> position.
>
> I occationally use a three foot extention cord on the MicroWave to
> plug into the AC Inverter socket on the kitchen counter, to warm up
> a cup of coffee, when on the road. I use it only for a minute.
> The MicroWave plug is in the overhead cabinet above the sink far
> right.
>
> One must be "CAUTIOUS" with this outlaw plug wireing, because the
> Old Sharp, does not like the modified sine wave and the inverter
> does not like the high current demand.
> "SO,THIS IS NOT A GOOD PRACTICE".
> Yep, I am open to constructive criticism on this.
>
> Your new Inverter may have a pure sine wave output.
> I think the MicroWave draws about 10 amp to get started.
>
> Bill 88 FC, Michigan (sometimes does not follow all the rules)
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
> wrote:
> >
> > Bill:
> >
> > I did some investigating and found the circuits that were powered
> by
> > the inverter. The PAC still works as the ice maker started when I
> > turned the inverter on. Now I will have to find the circuit that
> powers
> > the micro. Am not new to electrical work but having trouble
> > understanding how the original inverter is wired. Is there a
> transfer
> > switch somewhere?
> >
> > Bruce
> >
>

Thanks Bill: I will look for that relay. I dont have the original
micro/convection. Just a regular GE generic unit. So the amp draw will
not be a problem. If I am understanding the circuitry correctly I can
just transfer the existing wiring from the old inverter to the Xantrex.
But I will use the heavy wiring from the old battery boiler. Your
outlaw rube goldberg method of powering the micro sounds OK to me. Just
need it for warming leftovers while stopping for lunch on the road.

Thanks again.

Bruce

Bruce its very difficult to give you help if we dont know what year
and model coach you have. I suggest you put the year and model of
your coach under your name at the end of each email. You will get
better responses. In any case I would not attempt to power the
microwave using a "cheater" cord. Why buy an expensive Xantrex unit
and then not use its full capabilities?

For the record the microwave on shore power does not use as much
current as it does on inverter power. On shore power you are using a
pure sine wave and on the xantrex its modified and clipped off. It
takes lots of power to properly run the microwave safely without
damaging it when you are using an inverter. I have wired up several
Fc models for a xantrex 2500 inverter/charger and am now doing my
PT40. Its a little more work to install a subpanel and change the
wiring but the results are more then worth it.

Tom Warner
Vernon Center,NY
1985 PT 40

At 12:01 PM 6/11/2006, you wrote:

>Thanks Bill: I will look for that relay. I dont have the original
>micro/convection. Just a regular GE generic unit. So the amp draw will
>not be a problem. If I am understanding the circuitry correctly I can
>just transfer the existing wiring from the old inverter to the Xantrex.
>But I will use the heavy wiring from the old battery boiler. Your
>outlaw rube goldberg method of powering the micro sounds OK to me. Just
>need it for warming leftovers while stopping for lunch on the road.
>
>Thanks again.
>
>Bruce
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]