Space heater trips inverter breaker (R-Pod 195)

Originally posted by Pod_Geek Originally posted by TheBum Are you sure he didn't say "CONverter"? A solar charging system would need to have a converter to adjust the solar voltage to a battery charging level. An inverter would jump the solar power input up to 110 VAC. No...I pasted the verbatim reply in my post.  I did ask them for clarification. It is confusing, because the inverter would take 12V DC battery power and output 120V AC, so there is some reason to believe that the outlets could be powered by solar via the battery.  The solar panels of course produce 12V DC that is stored in the battery.  Still, why would the system use the 120V AC from the inverter when there is shore power available, especially when there's a 12-Amp limit on the inverter?

Can you post a picture of your solar controller? Many have an inverter switch or selection on them.

the owners manual you linked says the inverter comes with a switch and a 20 foot cable.. but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Bob at the factory to bin those and wire it straight in some manner..

However.. if the tech is recommending it be "left on".. that implies it can be shut off. That is the correct answer, if left on, it has a steady draw, just idling.

Originally posted by furpod Can you post a picture of your solar controller? Many have an inverter switch or selection on them. the owners manual you linked says the inverter comes with a switch and a 20 foot cable.. but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Bob at the factory to bin those and wire it straight in some manner.. However.. if the tech is recommending it be "left on".. that implies it can be shut off. That is the correct answer, if left on, it has a steady draw, just idling.

Originally posted by Pod_Geek Originally posted by Olddawgsrule Originally posted by Pod_Geek ...Shore Power first passes through the Inverter.  Any outlets on the circuit connected to the inverter are limited to 12A due to the Inverter breaker, which will be the first to trip (as I experienced). Is this what the Tech said? No reason for this. The inverter comes off the battery yet does supply the same outlet that shore-power will. Shore-power comes on the switch in the inverter activates, no power passing from the inverter.... From my reading of the manual plus the WFCO tech's comments it seems that when shore AC hits the inverter it senses the shore power and goes in to pass-through mode.  I'm not saying that shore power powers the inverter.   From the manual: The AC output of the WF-5110R Inverter, when in Pass-Through mode, is protected by a resettable [12A] circuit breaker...The breaker will trip in a high current situation. Should a breaker trip, reduce or remove the connected AC load and reset the circuit breaker. Re-start the inverter and check for proper operation. So again, I got bitten by the 12A limit imposed by the inverter even though I was on 30A shore power and the inverter itself was not supplying any power. Originally posted by Olddawgsrule ...Here is the latest from FR tech support: The solar panel powers the invertor I call BS on this one... I'm skeptical of this comment as well.

That inverter has an automatic transfer switch (ATS) in it. When shore power is present the ATS will connect any ac circuits powered by the inverter to shore power, leaving the inverter inactive. When shore power is not present the ATS will connect those circuits to the inverter which will try to power them from your trailer batteries.

Since the inverter has lower peak power capacity (1 kw continuous, 2kw surge) than the shore power receptacle, and MUCH lower energy (power x time) capacity (limited by your battery capacity) it is at best inadvisable if not impossible to run large electrical loads like space heaters on the inverter.

So I agree with the suggestion that you find out which outlets and appliances run on the inverter and which on shore power only. With your battery charged and your inverter running disconnect from shore power and see which circuits remain energized and which don’t. Then, only plan on running light loads on the circuits that the inverter powers. If possible put your heavier loads like that space heater on the circuits which only run on shore power. If that’s not possible then shut those appliances off before you disconnect from shore power.