Inverter install

[Joe Zig23]

My 2021 Passport 219BH bought new to me 5 month ago has 2 100a Lithium batteries, 400 watts solar and.a.100/30 controller. I'd like to add the inventory and remainder.of what's needed to have a complete system.Yes there are many schematics but really how bad or intense is it to move everything to where the breaker panel is??

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum

The inverter should be as near the batteries as practicable since the distance will determine the size (gauge) of the 12V cables needed. If you put it near the breaker panel, you may find it costly to get the cables large enough to go that length.

[Peto]

I'm running down the same road. Wanting to install an inverter. My trailer is pre-wired (just a loop I'm assuming) and the panel covering it is on the front wall of the forward storage. About 2' run to the batteries.


Still trying to figure out the size I need. Primarily just to run the 120v tv....

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Peto

I'm running down the same road. Wanting to install an inverter. My trailer is pre-wired (just a loop I'm assuming) and the panel covering it is on the front wall of the forward storage. About 2' run to the batteries.


Still trying to figure out the size I need. Primarily just to run the 120v tv....

If all you want to power is the TV I wouldn’t spend the money for an inverter in the pass through. I would simply find a small 100W inverter and install it on the wall near the tv.

https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Invert...s%2C145&sr=8-4

[Peto]

I thought about that route but 12v power access is unknown. For sure no cigarette lighter port available. Only 12v power is a USB on the other side of the trailer.

[Proxy907]

I'm in the process of installing a Xantrex Freedom 1200 in our Keystone Bullet. Their inverter prep is a Romex with a loop going into the pass through storage. So I'll be mounting the inverter in the pass through storage, and then cutting the loop in the middle. One side will go to the AC Breaker, the other side will go to the AC receptacles in the trailer. You then wire Romex into the "AC IN" and "AC OUT". I'll then run some power conductors from the inverter to the batteries.

The Xantrex from my understanding is what Keystone and Jayco use if you upped to the 400i package. This one comes with an Automatic Transfer Switch so if I fire up the generator it will run on that, if not then it will run off our batteries. Parts are on order so I will see how it goes once everything arrives.

We wont be powering anything too crazy, I just found the inverter for 61% off because the packaging was damaged. Figured I would give it a shot.

[GlasNav]

You appear to be expecting an awful lot out of a 1200 watt device!

[Proxy907]

Originally Posted by GlasNav

You appear to be expecting an awful lot out of a 1200 watt device!

Not really, it will at most be running a TV in the living room, maybe fast charging some phones. Again, as I said I decided to grab it up because the price was too good to pass up. If I need more than 1200w I'll fire up my Yamaha and call it good.

[GlasNav]

Originally Posted by Proxy907

Not really, it will at most be running a TV in the living room, maybe fast charging some phones. Again, as I said I decided to grab it up because the price was too good to pass up. If I need more than 1200w I'll fire up my Yamaha and call it good.

That makes sense, initially thought you were trying to run all your 120V off the inverter.

[Proxy907]

Originally Posted by GlasNav

That makes sense, initially thought you were trying to run all your 120V off the inverter.

Ahh gotcha, no this all started because my wife wanted the TV to work off battery. Ran into the same issue as others, no DC power outlet. I could tap into the DC power for the radio in the cabinet and put a 12v outlet with a simple inverter. Wife didn't like that solution, soo here I am!

[MikeHoyt]

We are in process of buying passport 221bh also inverter ready. What actually gets powered by the inverter? Is it just the 110v receptacles? Hoping it does not act like ugged in to shore power and run everything

[Proxy907]

Originally Posted by MikeHoyt

We are in process of buying passport 221bh also inverter ready. What actually gets powered by the inverter? Is it just the 110v receptacles? Hoping it does not act like ugged in to shore power and run everything

My understanding is it varies model to model. I believe duplex receptacles only and it's one in the bedroom, one in the living room / entertainment center and one in the kitchen. Once I identify them I plan on replacing the duplex receptacles with different color ones to make it clear they are on inverter power.


Once I cut the Romex and wire nut them I'll find out pretty quick which ones have no power once I connect up the shore power again.

[drrelli]

Originally Posted by MikeHoyt

What actually gets powered by the inverter?

The inverter-powered outlets usually have a yellow sticker on them to indicate that.

[Proxy907]

Update;


So I completed installing the Xantrex Freedom 1200 X on our 2022 Keystone Bullet 243BHS. Surprised to say that the AC outlets in the bedroom, entertainment center hutch and kitchen are all powered by the inverter. I didn't crawl into the bunks to test, but the boys have USB ports there for their tablets.

I used 2 AWG wire to run from the pass-through storage to the batteries, with the positive side fused at 100A; again not using this for big things. It does have a surge rating of 2400w for 5 seconds, but my wire is only rated at 130A and I do have a 120A breaker on order.

Keystone actually did a solid and they have a pass-through in the front cap where they fished their solar battery wires into the charge controller, it just large enough for the two 2 AWG wires I had to run. I just had to cut out a small hole in the pass through storage similar to how they did the solar and fished my wires through.

My test was running our TV with a Roku and I was concerned because the output wattage always showed 0. I believe it doesn't register until you get above 30-ish watts. I hooked up my laptop and it pulled 130 watts and it displayed on the panel.

Also, none of my AC receptacles had stickers to indicate if they were inverter powered. Once I was ready I cut the romex in half, wire nutted them off, plugged the trailer into AC power, went inside with my meter and confirmed all the outlets I wanted to run on the inverter were dark.

[MikeHoyt]

Can you post pictures of where you ran the wires to battery? Also, do you have a Giggy box? Does the inverter bypass that?

Thanks

Mike Hoyt

[Beatigger]

So, Should the outlets with yellow sticker work without me having to add and inverter? or will they work after I install an inverter? I have a cougar sport 2024 2400RE with the solarflex 220 package. Thanks in advance for the help.

[drrelli]

Originally Posted by Beatigger

So, Should the outlets with yellow sticker work without me having to add and inverter? or will they work after I install an inverter? I have a cougar sport 2024 2400RE with the solarflex 220 package. Thanks in advance for the help.

Without an inverter installed, the yellow sticker outlets should all work when you are plugged in to shore power. If they are not, you have an outlet or wiring or breaker issue.

After installing an inverter, they should work on shore power and battery power, but there are some options that will make this easier (and more expensive); cheaper inverters may not pass shore power through—you’ll want pass-through current and automatic transfer.

[Beatigger]

Thanks for the quick response. That's what I gathered but the dealership keeps telling me they should work. I don't have much confidence in them. Would anyone have a picture of the romax wire that I cut to add in the inverter? It wasn't attached to the inverter prep panel and again dealership is no help.