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CLOC-AdminI have a 2011 Cameo 32fws with the gen prep package. I am considering installing a 2000 watt inverter and wiring it directly to the gen prep junction box in the front compartment. Does anyone know if the junction box wiring is energized when the shore power cord is plugged in? I will eventually install the Onan 5500 watt generator. Currently, my 2 Honda 2000’s work well but with some hassel involved.
Many thanks…rexPosted: 12:26 PM – May 06, 2013The Gen Prep junction box in the front compartment connects to the transfer switch that was a part of the package. Unless it is faulty or wired incorrectly it is not hot when shore power is present. Think about solar before adding the expense, weight and operation hours limitation of the Onan generator. To say nothing of the rate at which they consume propane.Posted: 4:16 PM – May 06, 2013Thanks for the quick reply. The possibility of solar is one reason why I didn’t go with the generator. So back to the inverter – if I hard wire the inverter ac into the junction box then any time the shore power cord is plugged in, the transfer switch will know it’s shore or inverter power? What about a transfer switch that may or may not be part of the inverter I buy? I had previously installed a Magnum Energy inverter into an ’02 Cameo and it was fairly straighforward. I guess 50 amp and existing transfer switches are confusing me.
Thanks again…rexPosted: 9:29 PM – May 06, 2013The transfer switch should have been installed by Carriage. Mine is mounted under the floor behind the wall in the storage compartment. You may be able to hear a faint hum. But if you loosen the panel and look into the space you will probably be able to see it. A metal box about 8″x 5″ x 4″ with three cables coming out of it: a cable toward the rear (shore power), a cable toward the front (gen junction box) and a cable going up to feed the 110 volt breaker panel. The transfer switch will use shore power if present. If shore power isn’t detect and there is a load from the generator or inverter it will make the switch. It precludes both sources feeding into the 110 system.Posted: 7:54 AM – May 07, 2013Rex,If you have a great memory, no one else but you ever ever plugs in shore power, never put your inverter in “auto” mode, and never leave the inverter on or turn it on when on shore power or about to plug into shore power, the yes you can hardwired into the generator switch on the amplifier/c side. All the same nevers with regard to the generator, and you can hardwired the inverter into the generator switch on the generator side. Most everyone else has a separate switch for the inverter.
Some of the more expensive inverters come with a switch built in. Some of the even more expensive inverters also have a converter function (a/c to 12 volts), allowing you to remove the converter that came from the factory.
A 2000 watt inverter will drain the stock battery in a big hurry. If you have entered a large battery pack the inverter cannot runthe air conditioners, and will drain the battery very fast if you leave the water heater on electric. Most people add a sub panel, from the main a/c panel, for items to be run by the inverter. Some remember to always turn off heavy load breakers including the air units, fireplace, and water heater, and in some cases the microwave; if not a pure sine wave inverter they unplug sensitive electronics, or turn off the appropriate breaker. If you use the stock or any converter not built into the expensive inverters, you must unplug the converter, or turn off the appropriate circuit breaker when running no good the inverter. If you don’t, your batteries will be run down much faster.
Hope this helps. There are lots of detailed posts on how to wireless an inverter. Use the search feature of this Web Site. Good luck.
Posted: 9:19 PM – May 07, 2013Expensive, but the Magnum pure sine on our rig is a converter and inverter – the dealer also installed a sub-panel I have the Magnum remote meter and can see the amp draw on my 4 6 volt batteries. I have more than once forgot to turn off the 110 v water heater and noted the excessive battery draw. As such, I have marked the breaker that runs the electrical plugs and can use my TV and sat receiver with little amp draw. The distance from my electrical panel to the Magnum meter is about 6 feet.Posted: 9:02 AM – May 10, 2013Line length and BIG wires are very important between the batteries and the inverter. Once you converted to 110 volts, line loss is a lesser concern.Posted: 8:58 PM – May 10, 2013yes, Magnum required heavy cables, 2/0 I believe, almost 3/4″ in diameter, and as I had 4 batteries, I made a considerable investment. I used somewhat lighter and cheaper cables for my 1000 watt inverter in the former fiver.B.W.Gentry
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