First let me say I will keep 1 or 2 of my current 12v lithium’s to power all the 12v systems and not use a buck device.
My coach currently has a 2800 watt inverter/charger to power lots of the 120v equipment except the A/C’s, Washer/Dryer, Central vac, electric side of the W/H. There are probably others. I am considering putting the inverter in front of the existing circuit panel so it can power everything in the coach. Its a 50amp shore power cable and a ~35amp diesel genny integrated with a transfer switch. (7500w) The genny puts out 120v x 2 only, on two Romex cables that look like 15amp size, not 20’s as I would have expected, I cannot see the size of the conductors but I am used to 20amp Romex being Yellow in 2006.
My quandary is if I need an inverter that does split phase… Nothing in my coach has a double breaker so nothing is using both legs of shore power. My uneducated guess is I do not. But I would think my Inverter must accept split-phase from the Shore pedestal. I am considering the Quattro 48-5000va (4000w)
That Quattro says it can charge at 220 amps (22amp @120v) which I think the SP could easily provide, but I am not sure the genny with its two legs of 120v on what looks like 15am wire could.
My panel currently has a 30amp single breaker to feed the existing Inverter/charger and I am thinking I would remove that (and that inverter) and replace it with 2 cheater 20 amp breaker to feed those existing 20 amp feeds from the existing inverter.
I would have loved to find a 6000w inverter charger but I wanted to stay with Victron and I am not finding one.
Are there any gotchas I might be missing with this installation? Will the Quattro power both output legs all the time whether on battery, Genny or SP?
My 2@ solar 100/50 controller will need to be replaced with something that can handle 48v.
Hi Bill. This forum isn’t appropriate for design consultation. I think you should call up your local Victron installer or distributor and have them help you design a system to meet your needs. If you don’t have one locally then find one that will work with you to design and prepare a comprehensive wiring diagram for you to follow. You are welcome to contact our company for guidance, but working with a local distributor is probably the best fit for you.
If the two legs of output from your generator are 120V in phase with each other, then I would recommend you look at two Quattro-II 24/3000 2x-120V models instead. Victron does not make a 2x-120V in a 48V DC model.
If the two legs of output from your generator are 120V 180° phase rotation, then two Quattro 48/5000 in split-phase configuration would be a good fit.
Your 50A shore power connection most likely feeds the entire load center, with one 120V leg powering the right side, and the other powering the left. You likely have a circuit breaker in the breaker panel that feeds the input of the inverter to power those loads when on shore power and charge the battery from one leg of shore power. This is why only certain circuits inside will run off the inverter.
The 2x-120V Multis and Quattros from Victron are meant precisely for 50A RVs in the USA.
Either OGPS or your local Victron installer/distributor can walk you through the rest. Have fun with your project!
Bummer. I do not have room for two inverters in the motorhome. Its odd my genny has two same phase hots, but that is what my Quiet Diesel Onan 7500 provides. But they do currently feed both sides of the panel via a transfer switch. -Bill
You’re right. The smaller Onan units are 120V only. I think you have to get to 10kW before they offer 240V in the recreational series but I could be mistaken. If you don’t have room for two inverters then get a single 2x-120V. It will pass through both legs of power when you are on 50A service and you can connect one 120V output from your generator to the input of the single 2x-120V. You can buy another battery charger to connect to the second leg of generator power so you can charge batteries faster, but if you can do that, then you could probably fit two inverters in the first place. With some creative thinking, I’m betting you can fit two inverters in there In motorhomes we usually put dual inverters in between the frame rails toward the rear of a baggage compartment. Best of luck!
What I seem to be understanding from this thread is Victron does “not” have an inverter/charger that can power both sides, L1 & L2, without having to install 2 inverter/chargers so I can run everything in my coach from my battery’s? I probably would never run the W/H from the battery, but excluding that seems shortsighted especially if I wanted a larger quattro like the 8k. -Bill
Disclosure: I don’t speak for Victron or work for Victron. I am a Victron distributor.
Victron does not offer quite a few of its products to the North American market. For example, there are no Quattro 8kVA units for our market. Nor do we have the Multi RS, ESS, grid codes, Quattro-II (except for the 2x-120V), 8kVA inverters, the new 4k5 and 6k5 inverters, split-phase inverters, EVCS, etc. I won’t postulate on why this is, but I’ve shared my opinions with Victron rep and all the way up the chain. All I can suggest is that anyone in Canada, USA, or Mexico write to their Victron rep or Victron distributor and let them know your opinion.
As to your last question, Victron does not offer a single inverter that can provide split-phase inverted power.
Since my Genny is not split phase and it actually two independent 120v legs which currently powers both sides of my circuit panel today, what inverter/chargers does Victron make that can power two 120v outs that both legs continue to work on battery? Or do I need to look for SOB? I would like to stick with Victron but if I cannot get what I need there then I must. My current I/C is starting to become a bit of a flake. -Bill
Does it have to be 48V or will 24V work? If 24V is an option, then look at the Quattro-II 24/3000 2x-120. It will do what you want but will not full load up the generator when it is running unless you are passing through large loads. The battery charger will output a maximum of 2400W into the batteries. You either need a second inverter or add a standalone charger to load up the genset. That’s why I think two of the Quattros in parallel is a better option for you and I’m confident you can find space for it
I will be sticking with 48v for any new purchases. And I wouldn’t even consider installing two inverter/chargers in my motorhome. The space issues are one thing but the added complexities seem a bit like a Rube Goldberg approach to the problem. I’m sure some company will have a solution. I just would have liked to stick with Victron, but I have been using Magnum for many years and its giving me signs of upcoming problems. So my plan is to upgrade to 48v, and move my 8k of 12v batteries and old inverter into the house as a backup power system for short term power outages.
Kind of bummed they don’t have a reasonable and cost effective solution for what a lot of folks seem to be doing in the RV World today.
In motorhomes we usually put dual inverters in between the frame rails toward the rear of a baggage compartment. Best of luck!