Ultimate power inverter/charger question

[Crushedstang50]

Hello all!
I have a question for all of you more experienced than I in the RV area.
I just picked up a ultimate power 3000 watt pure sine inverter/charger (up12/3000pcul) for just a stupid cheap amount. I was researching 4 stage converter/chargers when I ran across it.
I know it is way more inverter than I need for my 30amp outback 23rs but at the price I could not pass it up with a 4 stage charger built in.
My question is... with it can't I just bypass my stock converter/charger. Wire the new inverter to the shore power line in. Then hard wire the output from the inverter/charger back to the breaker panel?
And of course my rig batteries to the 12v side of the inverter/charger.
Thanks in advance!
Derek

[deltabravo]

Crushedstang50 wrote:
with it can't I just bypass my stock converter/charger.

Yes. On my RV, it was easy to do.

Here's how I did it.

[wa8yxm]

Both yes and now. First the existing converter (I gather it's part of the breaker panel) you can disable. Just turn off the breaker or lift the wire off the breaker (you may need to do a bit more work than this)

Page 2: Now the inverter should be placed NEAR (not next to but in the next compartment over) from the batteries.. With a 3KW inverter you need BIG, HEAVY cables connecting we are tralking 00 or 0000 depending on the run. And a big fuse (30000 watts is around 300 amps at 12 volts so you may need a fuse... bigger (read the owner's manual for the proper size)

But wire that big is EXPWENSIVE so make sure you keep the run short as possible.

Final bit of advice. tape the black and red 12 volt wires side by side for as much of the run as possible.

Suggest battery size. One pair of GC-2 (6 volt two in series make 12) per thousand watts.

[pianotuna]

Not removing but rather just disconnecting the OEM 120 power feed to the converter may be a better choice.

[theoldwizard1]

BFL13 wrote:
I posted this yesterday, but people must have missed it. The pdf manual is linked in this, scroll down. Do what it says.

https://ultimatepower.com/products/inverter-chargers/pcul-series/3000w-pure-sine-inverter-charger-pc...

It does have an automatic transfer switch built in. You are better off REMOVING the old converter and hooking your 12VDC fuse panel directly to the battery bank.

From the manual

While in the Standby (charging) Mode, the AC input is continually monitored. Whenever AC power falls below the Trip voltage, the inverter automatically transfers back to the Invert Mode with minimum interruption to your appliances - as long as the inverter is turned on. The transfer from Standby mode to Inverter mode occurs in approximately 10 milliseconds. And it is the same time from Inverter mode to Standby mode.

[BFL13]

I posted this yesterday, but people must have missed it. The pdf manual is linked in this, scroll down. Do what it says.

https://ultimatepower.com/products/inverter-chargers/pcul-series/3000w-pure-sine-inverter-charger-pc...

[Crushedstang50]

It has a breaker on the ac output. But I should probably put another breaker on the shore power line going to the inverter. Better safe than sorry! Thanks!

[rrupert]

Does the inverter/charger have a fused 120-volt input? If not you should wire it into the power center breaker panel where the converter is now connected.

[Crushedstang50]

The storage I'm hoping won't be too big of an issue..... there is a bit of angle at the top front where I will mount it. So my hopes are it will not impede storage too bad. I won't know for sure until I grab her out of storage.

I like the idea of putting plugs on to easily swap supplies if need be.

[2oldman]

SoundGuy wrote:
At times when you're not using the inverter just turn the converter back on again.

It's an inverter/charger.

[SoundGuy]

Crushedstang50 wrote:
Yes my plan was to just disconnect the stock coverter/charger.

Why bother disconnecting the converter? :h Since your intention is to power your trailer "whole house" with the inverter just turn off the converter and plug your trailer's 30 amp main service cable (using a dogbone) into the inverter output - done. :B At times when you're not using the inverter just turn the converter back on again. K.I.S.S. :W

[pianotuna]

10 wire is what I used. But you are simply plugging in the shore power cord to the inverter.

I ran #10 to a 30 amp female outlet in the "mouse hole". I shortened the OEM cord to 5 feet, and put on a male plug. I saved the rest of the OEM cord to make an extension for shore power use.

Crushedstang50 wrote:
If that would work how big of 120v cable do you think would be safe? To and from the inverter/charger.

[Lwiddis]

You won’t need that little bit of storage space ever?

[theoldwizard1]

Crushedstang50 wrote:
Hello all!
My question is... with it can't I just bypass my stock converter/charger.

YES ! Just be sure that you are not back-feeding the charger from the inverter. Many (most?) charger/inverters have a built in automatic transfer switch to prevent this from happening.

[Crushedstang50]

Wonderful! Guess I have me a little project to add to the schedule!
Thank you all for the input!