Still confused about inverter n gen

[Rockinfigs]

So I have a 2020 attitude 3218mm..i have a xantrax 1800 pro inverter, 2 solar panels n solar charger. When I bought my rig I took it in to eclipse for some warranty work.. They advised me to turn inverter off before i turn on gen(Onan 5500) n vice versa.. Turn gen off before turning on inverter. Now when this is done it interrupts my outlets which interrupts my TVs while watching. But I've been told I should have a automatic transfer switch built into the inverter n I should be able to leave inverter on while running the gen.

Can anyone with newer attitudes confirm this pls thks

[CA_Traveler]

When a RVer connects a non switching inverter to the battery then they have a uninterruptible source - AC charges the house battery and the house battery powers the inverter which is now independent of the battery charging source.

[CA_Traveler]

joebedford wrote:
A UPS doesn't switch. Its battery is being charged or not but the output is always driving the loads.

There are different types of UPS. Only the ones that convert AC to DC and then DC to AC don't interrupt the power - ie used in more critical applications so think more $.

The specs on the 900W Cyber Power unit for example indicate a 4 ms transfer time which is rather short and hence the switching may not effect most connected electronics. One AC 60 HZ cycle is 16 ms.

What is the definition on uninterruptible?

[2oldman]

nayther wrote:
yes, a UPS is the only way to truly have uninterrupted power.

I guess an inverter that's always on would qualify.

[nayther]

yes, an UPS is the only way to truly have uninterrupted power. I have a 2,000 inverter and 50 amp auto transfer switch from Bestconverter (Boondocker). Don't remember which way but going from/to generator there's a delay, the other way not but either will drop power long enough to my satellite receiver that it must reboot.

[dedmiston]

joebedford wrote:
A UPS doesn't switch. Its battery is being charged or not but the output is always driving the loads.

Yep, or else the "U" wouldn't stand for "uninterruptible".

[joebedford]

A UPS doesn't switch. Its battery is being charged or not but the output is always driving the loads.

[2oldman]

Rockinfigs wrote:
When it converted over to gen the TV shut off.

How long of a shutoff are we talking about?

[Chris_Bryant]

That’s odd- maybe newer televisions are more sensitive, but why can a $80 ups switch fast enough for all electronics to stay powered up, but a thousand dollar inverter will not?
Regardless, I’d have the electronics on a ups, set to not beep on power interruption ( we have 5 with all of our electronics on them at home).

[Rockinfigs]

ependydad wrote:

Rockinfigs wrote:

ependydad wrote:
Either my transfer switches aren't fast enough or my TVs are too sensitive and the all restart when switching power sources.

Not much of a problem until my kid was in the middle of a gaming session. :B

Exactly so yours does the same..what brand inverter do u have?

The transfer switches are the Xantrex 15amp Auto Transfer Relays:
http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/default/inline-transfer-relay.aspx

I'm not bothered by it, honestly.

Yeah by the end of the day I guess I could prob deal with it.. But I've just been told different information from different people so was just wondering.

[ependydad]

Rockinfigs wrote:

ependydad wrote:
Either my transfer switches aren't fast enough or my TVs are too sensitive and the all restart when switching power sources.

Not much of a problem until my kid was in the middle of a gaming session. :B

Exactly so yours does the same..what brand inverter do u have?

The transfer switches are the Xantrex 15amp Auto Transfer Relays:
http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/default/inline-transfer-relay.aspx

I'm not bothered by it, honestly.

[CA_Traveler]

This is common as the power switching involves relays and they MUST break the connection before making a new connection. This takes 16mS or more plus creates electrical transients so appliances may shut down.

A dedicated inverter that never switches the AC output is a solution. This will limit the battery charging amps by the amount of the inverter draw.

[time2roll]

Rockinfigs wrote:
So I did a Lil test I had the inverter on n turned tv on.. Then I turned on the gen n waited for the gen to convert over.. When it converted over to gen the TV shut off..then I did the opposite.. Had the gen on n inverter turned off.. Had tv on.. Then I turned inverter on n shut down the gen.. Same results

This is an issue of the transfer switch having power off for a few milliseconds before connecting to the other source of power.

Not sure what all is connected to what but you could reconfigure things so that you run the tv-satellite-dvd etc full time on inverter power regardless of the generator or utility power status. Basically you need to change the priority so the inverter power always goes direct and is not switched when other sources are presented.

[Rockinfigs]

ependydad wrote:
Either my transfer switches aren't fast enough or my TVs are too sensitive and the all restart when switching power sources.

Not much of a problem until my kid was in the middle of a gaming session. :B

Exactly so yours does the same..what brand inverter do u have?

[ependydad]

Either my transfer switches aren't fast enough or my TVs are too sensitive and the all restart when switching power sources.

Not much of a problem until my kid was in the middle of a gaming session. :B