driver505
peachland b c
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I'm installing a Cobra 2500/5000 watt inverter for boondocking in a 2006 Colorado. I planned on cutting in to the shore powerline before it gets to the main circuit panel by installing a dead man's switch to isolate inverter when back on shore power. I got thinking, that if I did it that way, will it not activate the charging system through the circuit panel? And rewiring is not an option!! Is there another way of cutting in to the panel so it will make one or two lines hot and not activate the whole panel?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Pat & Caryn
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pulsar
Lewisville, NC
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Moved from Forum Technical Support to Tech Issues.
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OnaQuest
Raleigh, NC
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Why not just plug your power cord into the inverter (will need an adapter, 20 amp to 30 or 50 depending on your setup) and then trip the CB for the on-board converter/charger? You can select what 120 appliances to use and have the isolation from the 12v charger that you want.
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smkettner
Southern California
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It is called a subpanel. Feed the subpanel with a 20 or 30 amp breaker and move what you want powered by the inverter to the subpanel. The transfer switch and inverter connection goes between the main panel and the sub panel.
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Mandalay Parr
Phoenix, AZ
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Does your inverter have an internal transfer switch to help with those matters? What does the installation instructions say.
Jerry Parr
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA USA
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You need to do it after the main breaker in the rig.
You will need to isolate or install a switch to separate the inverter power from the existing shore power line.
The Cobra website doesn't show that a 2500/5000 has any transfer switch.
Bud
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smkettner
Southern California
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I am not sure what you mean by a dead man's switch but here is a 30 amp automatic transfer switch.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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I would suggest doing a proper inverter install
Normally you do not want to run air conditioners, water heaters and other power hogs off the inverter, you do want to run televisions, radios, perhaps an electric razor and microwave
So do it right, put in a sub panel (2nd breaker box) put a proper size breaker in the main box to feed the inverter, put the lines you want powerd in the 2nd box, and re-balance if necessary in the primary box (if it's a 50 amp rig)
If it's a 30 amp rig and you have a 3,000 watt inverter... Then you can feed shore power direct to a proper inverter/converter and let it do the switching, but then you run the risk of leaving the A/C on and killing batteries fast.
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RJsfishin
Winston Or.
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Its amazing,.....the OP says "rewiring is not an option" but thats after he says he plans on cutting into his power cord 
His idea starts out good,....
Cut the power cord in the area where the inverter will be, and bring both ends to an ATS like the one shown above, or one sold by "Backwoods".
The inverter output will be brought to the 3rd (or empty) place on the ATS.
So far, very simple, and everything works, including the charger/converter, which is not good, so the converter's ac power must be rewired to connect to the same place in the ATS as the power cord is connected to. Now, everything works, and it is not difficult to do,....if you know much about wiring at all.
Now then, while inverting,...
the water heater must be on propane.
and the fridge should be on propane
and the air conditioner and electric heaters must be off
Or,...like was mentioned above, install a sub panel for a completely fool proof installation.
Rich
'98 Flair, 454, Onan Microlite 4k, Intel PD 9155 w/ wizard, Sta-power 1500 watt Inv, 2 6v batts, ammeters, KingDome/sat, Oly Catalytic Heat, hauling 2 Bent Bikes and sometimes towing a Tracker F&S boat.
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Hurricaner
Hurricane Utah
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Do you have a 30 amp or a 50 amp rv?
Sam
Sam & Kari
Hurricane, Utah
2004 34' Damon Challenger 315
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