Easy Inverter Installation Setup

ReenieG · July 14

I've watched a whole bunch of different videos and this seems to be pretty simple & straightforward but will allow me to run all appliances based on my battery capacity but without wiring it all through the converter panel.

https://youtu.be/FNJtXY15ksI?si=4yF_5u03FBuJLT3r

The only issue I see is I will have to rewire adding a breaker to the WFCO-AD to be able to isolate the converter to shut it off without shutting off the main.

It looks like one of the breakers could be replaced with a 20/20 breaker to give me that space. Or, I suppose it would be a 30/20.

Yoshi_TAB · July 14

Hi, Yes, it looks like branch 2 breaker can be replaced with a tandem breaker to make two circuits. Use the tandom breaker called out in the WFCO manual, THQL (or other brand equivalant). In my 320, I did the same thing, although if I remember, circuit 5 was the tandem breaker. If i recall correctly, the converter charger was doubled tapped into one of the breakers. You will see that when you pull the hot wire for the charger. 20 amps is ok.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/ek/xutij0bwqw43.jpg

ReenieG · July 14

@Yoshi_TAB is the converter not a 30 amp? This is why I was thinking of using a 30 amp for the converter, no? Since the main breaker is also a 30 amp, that would make sense to me. I found this one on Amazon.

Yoshi_TAB · July 14

Hi,

From the wiring diagram, you can see the 3 wires coming from the converter. White goes to the neutral bar that you don't need to do anything with. Green goes to the chassis ground bar that you also do not need to do anything with. Black or hot currently does to what looks like the circuit to the right of the main 30 amp. That is a 15 amp breaker. That is what on my '21 320 that was "doubled tapped" via a wire nut. You would remove that black wire and connect it to the new breaker you install to create an "ON/OFF" breaker for the converter/charger. When you get in, you will be able to see the wires and just need to double check it is wired per the below drawing. The converter does not need to be on a 30 amp breaker... as it's on a 15 amp circuit (at least it looks like it). That breaker looks like 20 amps and should work.

ReenieG · July 14

@Yoshi_TAB I was about to ask you about the wiring... Thank you!

I had tried to find a new 30/15 Siemens breaker, but no such luck anywhere. The double breaker is loose between them but when it's snapped it it's pretty tight. A contractor friend said it should be fine, but since I'm changing things around again, do you think it would be alright to change out the 30/15 with a 30/20 and replace the single 20 with a 20/20 to add the converter connection? What would ever be added on that 15 amp as there is a wire nut that says "available for branch circuit"? Would that be for a possible additional outlet? (which I don't see I would be doing atm)

So, basically, this would be the new layout replacing the first 30/15 breaker w a new one, (if this would be ok) then removing the second breaker and moving the third 20/20 breaker over and rewiring the Alde with the new third 20/20 breaker along with the converter. This way the converter is on the end for easy access. What do you think?

#1 Main 30amp

#2 GFI 15amp (will be replacing the current 30/15 breaker with a new one thanks to the link from deepsea5)

#3 AC 20amp

#4 Alde 20amp

#5 Converter 20amp

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/ez/fgdo0bmvfnhz.jpg

deepsea5 · July 14

This is the breaker that I installed in order to separate the converter power from the main power: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Siemens-QT-30-amp-15-amp-1-Pole-Tandem-Circuit-Breaker/5013503419

30A for the Main, 15A for the Converter.

This is how my Tab breaker panel was configured from the factory:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/m1/l1up502321xl.jpg

I replaced the 30A Main breaker with the new 30A/15A split breaker, for a total of 6 circuit breakers in the panel. The converter was wired to the same 15A breaker as the 120V outlets (labeled "GFI Outlets") in the camper. I just disconnected the converter off the existing 15A breaker and wired it to the 15A side of the new split breaker.
Sorry I don't have an "after" picture. For a mental image, left to right, of the reconfigured panel: 30A Main, 15A Converter, 15A GFI Outlets, 20A Alde System, 20A Air conditioner, 20A Microwave.

ReenieG · July 14

@deepsea5 Thank you! I think I'll go with a 20 amp though, since it seems to me that this is a 30 amp setup and the only 15 amp connection is the one GFI outlet, no?

deepsea5 · July 14

Technically speaking, you would need a minimum wire size of 12 AWG to use a 20A breaker. The wire to my converter, and I assume yours is the same, is 14 AWG. 14 AWG wire is normally protected by a no larger than 15A breaker.
Of course, the 20A breaker will "electrically" work on the 14 AWG wire; and many people have wired electric circuits in this manner. However, doing so can increase the risk of an electrical fire in a circuit overload condition.

ReenieG · July 14

@deepsea5 Ok, based on a standard wiring chart, 12-14 AWG is suitable for this short run. I would have to actually look at the wires once I open my bench to see the size, but yes, I see what you're saying. I know the various wiring in that bench is anywhere from 10-14 AWG.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/zd/vqrqm8ewlro5.jpg

ReenieG · July 14

@deepsea5 Based on your pic and labeling, it appears you have your converter and your GFI on that 15 amp circuit? So when you shut off your converter, you cannot use your outlet? Is that correct? Noted, you didn't reconfigure this like I'm doing in that pic, but I think you did after the fact? Do you have a pic of your new configuration? I'd like to be able to use that outlet while I have the converter off hence, adding an additional breaker which I believe you also did?

Yoshi_TAB · July 14

Hi @ReenieG,

I wired mine so the converter was on a dedicated breaker like you want to do. You have 5 branches in the WFCO and are only using 4 from your picture. Correct? Does not look like you have a microwave.

Main
#1 GFI/Converter (move converter over to #5)
#2 Alde
#3AC
#4Fridge
#5 Not used.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/1d/v5kx510wgew5.jpg

ReenieG · July 14

@Yoshi_TAB correct, no microwave wired in. I plug one in on occasion to the GFI outlet.

deepsea5 · 1:13PM

ReenieG said:

@deepsea5 Based on your pic and labeling, it appears you have your converter and your GFI on that 15 amp circuit? So when you shut off your converter, you cannot use your outlet? Is that correct? Noted, you didn't reconfigure this like I'm doing in that pic, but I think you did after the fact? Do you have a pic of your new configuration? I'd like to be able to use that outlet while I have the converter off hence, adding an additional breaker which I believe you also did?

Just a heads up: the photo shows the factory circuit breaker installation. I didn't take a photo of my current circuit breaker configuration.
The factory wired the converter and GFI circuit together on a single 15A breaker. When I removed the 30A single pole breaker and replaced it with the 30A/15A tandem breaker, I wired the converter to the 15A side of the 30A/15A tandem breaker. The GFI circuit remains on the original 15A breaker installed by the factory.

ReenieG · 4:38PM

@deepsea5 thank you for the clarification.

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