Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load (Read 973 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #25 –
My coach is setup to run the microwave on the inverter.  The other day I ran the microwave on the inverter to heat up some leftovers and the only thing that got hot was the inverter and shut down.  I am going to take the microwave off of the inverter panel and move it to the main panel box. If I keep the microwave on the sub panel what type of inverter would I need to effectively run the microwave?  I just think it is easier to move the the microwave over to the main panel and run the generator.
John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #26 –
Quote from: John Morales –
My coach is setup to run the microwave on the inverter.  The other day I ran the microwave on the inverter to heat up some leftovers and the only thing that got hot was the inverter and shut down.  I am going to take the microwave off of the inverter panel and move it to the main panel box. If I keep the microwave on the sub panel what type of inverter would I need to effectively run the microwave?  I just think it is easier to move the the microwave over to the main panel and run the generator.
John M.
John, if you are running gen, inverter is bypassed anyway. Sounds like you have a inverter, battery or cabling problem. No need to move microwave to main panel. Your inverter and batteries were designed by Foretravel to run your microwave for short periods. Shore power or gen bypasses inverter so it will run fine without you moving it. You now need to find inverter problem.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #27 –
Quote from: jcus –
Chuck, noticed you put front ac on inverter panel, have you ever used the ac on inverter only?
I asked AM Solar to put the front A/C on inverter, just for the fun of it.  I told them I wanted to see if it would work.  They were dubious, but they complied.  I have tried running the A/C several times, under different conditions, but the inverter kicks off line each time the compressor tries to start.  Too much load.  As Roger points out, I don't have enough battery capacity or a big enough alternator to make running the A/C practical, even if it would start.  It was just a "science experiment", so no big deal.

I have used the fan setting on the A/C to provide air circulation in the coach when driving down the highway.  The fan works fine on inverter!  8)
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
I asked AM Solar to put the front A/C on inverter, just for the fun of it.  I told them I wanted to see if it would work.  They were dubious, but they complied.  I have tried running the A/C several times, under different conditions, but the inverter kicks off line each time the compressor tries to start.  Too much load.  As Roger points out, I don't have enough battery capacity or a big enough alternator to make running the A/C practical, even if it would start.  It was just a "science experiment", so no big deal.

I have used the fan setting on the A/C to provide air circulation in the coach when driving down the highway.  The fan works fine on inverter!  8)
Thanks Chuck, have also tried it on a outback 2800 with 1300 ah batteries, same results. Think compressor start up amperage way too high.
Maybe a soft start module would help.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #29 –
Yes, LRA about 63 amps. RLA 14 ish.
Soft start will bring start amps down to around 24 and inverter will start it then
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #30 –
Well with more than 1550 amp hr capacity and a 240 amp Delco brushless alternator I might be able to make a go of it but it is just hard on everything to try to run AC on the inverter.  Peter Flemming put in a 400 amp Delco as step one heading that way and then he sold his FT.

The new Tesla Semi is very interesting.  With a giant battery bank, very high HP electric traction/regeneration motors and an adequate generator the parts would make a very interesting drive train for a coach.  Wait a few years.  It will happen.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #31 –
John Morales in Reply #25 you indicated that you ran the microwave on the inverter and the only thing that got hot was the inverter which shut down.

I run the microwave (Sharp R1875) on the Xantrex 1800 watt pure sign inverter several times a day (microwave or convection). The OEM inverter in a U320 is a 2500 watt which is larger than the one I replaced it with.

There is something wrong if you cannot power your microwave with the inverter.  I would check the 12 volt supply cables for low voltage to your inverter, or feel for overheated connectors on the 12 volt cables. If you inverter is OEM, perhaps it has become faulty and needs replacement.
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #32 –
This has been a very interesting thread, from which I have learned about some inverters having more then one pass through circuit.

I am trying to understand what benefit there is to having two 30amp pass through circuits in an inverter (i.e.  Xantrex SW3012 or Magnum MS2812), when the inverter is rated to provide about 25 amps at 120v. Xantrex shows a circuit diagram with a 30amp pass through and an optional 15 amp pass through to a GFCI. How could this be used without causing confusion?
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #33 –
Quote from: P. Wyatt Sabourin –
This has been a very interesting thread, from which I have learned about some inverters having more then one pass through circuit.

I am trying to understand what benefit there is to having two 30amp pass through circuits in an inverter (i.e.  Xantrex SW3012 or Magnum MS2812), when the inverter is rated to provide about 25 amps at 120v. Xantrex shows a circuit diagram with a 30amp pass through and an optional 15 amp pass through to a GFCI. How could this be used without causing confusion?

Having a larger capacity pass through allows you to do away with the inverter/sp/gen
 ATS. When on invert, you are still limited to the inverter capacity, but on pass through you can pass whatever sp or gen can supply through inverter .
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #34 –
With the caveat that the wiring needs to be large enough gauge to handle the pass through average increase.

If your coach came with two ATS (one for the inverter) and an investor with 30 MP pass through, likely your wiring is not large enough gauge to pass through 50 AMPS AC.

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start

TCER Direct generator-gas-prod 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Question for Inverter Gurus: Passthrough vs. Direct Inverter Load

Reply #35 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
With the caveat that the wiring needs to be large enough gauge to handle the pass through average increase.

If your coach came with two ATS (one for the inverter) and an investor with 30 MP pass through, likely your wiring is not large enough gauge to pass through 50 AMPS AC.

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start


TCER Direct generator-gas-prod 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro
Re post #21, some Foretravels were wired that way, and Chuck had his rewired at AM Solar. But for most, larger gauge wiring mods will be necessary.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.