User Tag List

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 21
  1. #1
    Seasoned Camper
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    where ever my trailer is parked
    Posts
    259
    Mentioned
    2 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Installing solar system, do I need a 2nd transfer switch

    I am installing a 1200 watt solar system in my Momentum 397th. I have a Generator, with a ATS, and I am wondering if I need a 2nd switch, and if so can I use one for a generator? The Inverter is a 3500/7000. so it comes out to max of 58.6 amp. Will a 50amp ATS work?
    2012 Chevy 3500 DRW DURAMAX
    2016 Momentum 397th
    TOY 2013 800 RZR LE

  2. #2
    Long Hauler Paul & Deb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Carlsbad, CA
    Posts
    2,959
    Mentioned
    10 Post(s)
    Tagged
    3 Thread(s)
    What would be the purpose of the ATS? The solar is just charging your battery bank, it's not directly powering anything. You just need a solar controller between the panels and the battery bank.
    Paul "Poppy" and Deb Cervone
    2022 Imagine XLS 22MLE
    2021 Imagine XLS 17MKE - SOLD ; 2015 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS - SOLD
    2016 GMC Denali 3500HD SRW Duramax/Allison CC 4x4; Tire Minder TPMS

  3. #3
    Seasoned Camper
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    where ever my trailer is parked
    Posts
    259
    Mentioned
    2 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Poppy's 5th Wheel View Post
    What would be the purpose of the ATS? The solar is just charging your battery bank, it's not directly powering anything. You just need a solar controller between the panels and the battery bank.
    The solar will be powering the Inverter, witch will be feeding 120 volts in to my system. I have seen on YOU TUBE where some of them have installed ATS in the system for the inverter.
    2012 Chevy 3500 DRW DURAMAX
    2016 Momentum 397th
    TOY 2013 800 RZR LE

  4. #4
    Long Hauler DaveMatthewsBand's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    2,794
    Blog Entries
    2
    Mentioned
    22 Post(s)
    Tagged
    2 Thread(s)

    Installing solar system, do I need a 2nd transfer switch

    Quote Originally Posted by Ditchdigger View Post
    I am installing a 1200 watt solar system in my Momentum 397th. I have a Generator, with a ATS, and I am wondering if I need a 2nd switch, and if so can I use one for a generator? The Inverter is a 3500/7000. so it comes out to max of 58.6 amp. Will a 50amp ATS work?
    What exactly comes to 58.6 amps?

    Are you talking about total output of your solar? Reason I ask is because I have 1155 watts of solar but my output is 74 amps.

    Or are you talking about the charger output of your inverter?

    In which case 58.6 amps seems really low, as my 3000 watt inverter charges at 125 amps.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Resistance is Not Futile, It's Voltage Divided by Current.


  5. #5
    Long Hauler DaveMatthewsBand's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    2,794
    Blog Entries
    2
    Mentioned
    22 Post(s)
    Tagged
    2 Thread(s)

    Installing solar system, do I need a 2nd transfer switch

    Quote Originally Posted by Ditchdigger View Post
    The solar will be powering the Inverter, witch will be feeding 120 volts in to my system. I have seen on YOU TUBE where some of them have installed ATS in the system for the inverter.
    Close. The solar panels charge your batteries.
    The inverter pulls power from the batteries and this power is then distributed through out your trailer. Also, any decent inverter will have an ATS built in.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by DaveMatthewsBand; 02-07-2019 at 03:57 PM.
    Resistance is Not Futile, It's Voltage Divided by Current.


  6. #6
    Long Hauler howson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    NW Florida
    Posts
    2,816
    Mentioned
    49 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Ditchdigger View Post
    The solar will be powering the Inverter, witch will be feeding 120 volts in to my system. I have seen on YOU TUBE where some of them have installed ATS in the system for the inverter.
    Oh boy...treading into waters where I'm not 100% knowledgeable from experience, but I've done a lot of research on this subject. So take this with a grain of salt--I'm sure someone else will chime in.

    From what I understand, your solar will not be powering the inverter. Solar charges the battery(ies). The battery(ies) power the inverter. The diagram below is from https://two.ineedmorespace.co/solar_..._for_cabin.php (found searching Google images):

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	example for inverter.JPG 
Views:	30 
Size:	57.0 KB 
ID:	17546

    The ATS, in the diagram, is built into the inverter. The "AC Generator" in the diagram is synonymous with "shore power". In a system as shown in the diagram a second ATS is not required.

    I wonder how many times I'll have to edit this...
    2017 Ford F-350 DRW 6.7L Platinum
    2019 315RLTS (purchased 16 Jul 18 from Campers Inn RV in Byron, GA)

  7. #7
    Seasoned Camper kregli's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Roundup, MT
    Posts
    302
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    A typical installation has a transfer switch to select between a generator and shore power. Most large inverters have an internal transfer switch to bypass the inverter when connected to shore power (or gen). If your inverter doesn't provide that function you could mimic it with a second transfer switch. Chances are you'll never pull over 50 amps from the inverter, so a 50A switch is probably OK.
    Keith Regli
    2016 Momentum 388m
    2015 Silverado 3500HD DRW
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  8. #8
    Long Hauler DaveMatthewsBand's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    2,794
    Blog Entries
    2
    Mentioned
    22 Post(s)
    Tagged
    2 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by kregli View Post
    A typical installation has a transfer switch to select between a generator and shore power. Most large inverters have an internal transfer switch to bypass the inverter when connected to shore power (or gen). If your inverter doesn't provide that function you could mimic it with a second transfer switch. Chances are you'll never pull over 50 amps from the inverter, so a 50A switch is probably OK.
    I routinely pull 200+ amps from my inverter.

    But I’m a savage electricity user.

    : D


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Resistance is Not Futile, It's Voltage Divided by Current.


  9. #9
    Seasoned Camper
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    where ever my trailer is parked
    Posts
    259
    Mentioned
    2 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by DaveMatthewsBand View Post
    What exactly comes to 58.6 amps?

    Are you talking about total output of your solar? Reason I ask is because I have 1155 watts of solar but my output is 74 amps.

    Or are you talking about the charger output of your inverter?

    In which case 58.6 amps seems really low, as my 3000 watt inverter charges at 125 amps.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    The 68.6 amps is what 7000 watts divided by 120 volts comes out too, that's why I put it in. So you do not have a ATS in your system?
    2012 Chevy 3500 DRW DURAMAX
    2016 Momentum 397th
    TOY 2013 800 RZR LE

  10. #10
    Site Sponsor gbkims's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Pearland, TX
    Posts
    1,709
    Mentioned
    15 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Ditchdigger View Post
    The Inverter is a 3500/7000.
    Wondered what the make and model of the inverter is.
    - Gene

    Kim & Gene
    2015 Reflection 317RST
    2017 Ram 3500 CC LB 4x2 6.7 CTD AISIN 3.73 DRW Auto Level Rear Air, BD3, Prodigy P3, Aux Tank

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

DISCLAIMER:This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Grand Design RV, LLC or any of its affiliates. This is an independent site.