diy solar

diy solar

Transfer switch expectations

H

hour

New Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2019
Messages
155
Maybe I just don't know how these things work, I freakin' hate AC.

But anyway I just used the inverter prep wire on my camper (a big loop of wire that powers some of the GFCI outlets in the camper, I just want my tv and starlink to stay on) and identified the hot end of the loop.

I wired that and my Victron Phoenix 500's output to the inputs of a Go Power TS-30. The model Will used here

His edition of the ATS may be different, mine has a cover on top of all terminals. So anyway I wired the inverter to the bottom input, the hot end of the inverter prep to the middle, and the output back to the circuit panel to run those GFCI outlets.

Shore power unplugged, inverter on: Television was playing on one of my GFCI outlets (Hooray)

Plugged in shore power and flipped breaker - 20 seconds later (generator warm up time) and it switched, and TV didn't miss a beat. Phoenix output dropped to 0 (Hooray)

Flipped breaker off for shore power a few mins later: TV turned off. Phoenix showed a bit of load but it was tv in standby mode.

So is that normal? I figured it'd fall back to inverter seamlessly.
 
For a small but sensitive load like this sometimes it is easier to run from inverter full time.
Let the generator or utility power charge the battery while inverting. No switching. Especially frustrating with a satellite box that has to rescan for channels for 10 minutes to restart a movie.
 
hour said:
Maybe I just don't know how these things work, I freakin' hate AC.

But anyway I just used the inverter prep wire on my camper (a big loop of wire that powers some of the GFCI outlets in the camper, I just want my tv and starlink to stay on) and identified the hot end of the loop.

I wired that and my Victron Phoenix 500's output to the inputs of a Go Power TS-30. The model Will used here

His edition of the ATS may be different, mine has a cover on top of all terminals. So anyway I wired the inverter to the bottom input, the hot end of the inverter prep to the middle, and the output back to the circuit panel to run those GFCI outlets.

Shore power unplugged, inverter on: Television was playing on one of my GFCI outlets (Hooray)

Plugged in shore power and flipped breaker - 20 seconds later (generator warm up time) and it switched, and TV didn't miss a beat. Phoenix output dropped to 0 (Hooray)

Flipped breaker off for shore power a few mins later: TV turned off. Phoenix showed a bit of load but it was tv in standby mode.

So is that normal? I figured it'd fall back to inverter seamlessly.
Click to expand...
You'd need a multiplus to do the seamless switching back and forth.
 
time2roll said:
For a small but sensitive load like this sometimes it is easier to run from inverter full time.
Let the generator or utility power charge the battery while inverting. No switching. Especially frustrating with a satellite box that has to rescan for channels for 10 minutes to restart a movie.
Click to expand...
Well I sure hosed myself on this install then :LOL: I already buttoned up the underbelly, and the section I removed was still a PITA to do (and work under) for battery relocate. I'd have to drop the entire thing to run from under the bed at the front of the camper all the way to the rear where the panel is.

I sized and purchased everything for the specific use case of keeping the tv and starlink on while I periodically remote started the generator to run the air con, and wired up a Victron 30 amp charger to the transfer switch to help out the converter/charger. Last thing I want to do is jump back in the storage pass through and undo things I've done, and drop another $1200 on a multiplus.

Curses!
 
hour said:
Well I sure hosed myself on this install then :LOL: I already buttoned up the underbelly, and the section I removed was still a PITA to do (and work under) for battery relocate. I'd have to drop the entire thing to run from under the bed at the front of the camper all the way to the rear where the panel is.

I sized and purchased everything for the specific use case of keeping the tv and starlink on while I periodically remote started the generator to run the air con, and wired up a Victron 30 amp charger to the transfer switch to help out the converter/charger. Last thing I want to do is jump back in the storage pass through and undo things I've done, and drop another $1200 on a multiplus.

Curses!
Click to expand...
Consider a Victron Filax 2 it's got a fast transfer switch time for both sources:

invertersrus.com

Victron Energy Filax 2 Transfer Switch 110V/50Hz-120V/60Hz

The Filax has been designed to switch sensitive loads, such as computers or modern entertainment equipment from one AC source to another.
invertersrus.com invertersrus.com
 
hour said:
I sized and purchased everything for the specific use case of keeping the tv and starlink on while I periodically remote started the generator to run the air con, and wired up a Victron 30 amp charger to the transfer switch to help out the converter/charger. Last thing I want to do is jump back in the storage pass through and undo things I've done, and drop another $1200 on a multiplus.

Curses!
Click to expand...

One of the reviews on Amazon mention a way to do immediate switchback:

Screenshot_20240502_182032_Chrome.jpg
 
Brucey said:
Consider a Victron Filax 2 it's got a fast transfer switch time for both sources:

invertersrus.com

Victron Energy Filax 2 Transfer Switch 110V/50Hz-120V/60Hz

The Filax has been designed to switch sensitive loads, such as computers or modern entertainment equipment from one AC source to another.
invertersrus.com invertersrus.com
Click to expand...
Is the culprit the switching speed of the transfer switch? Or the phoenix not picking up the load quick enough?

In my observation with a light plugged in to one of the gfci outlets, inverter to shore power is imperceivable. Switching off shore power produces a blink. I'm wondering why Will wired his differently in the video of my post, and if that'd make a difference (or just inverse when the blink happens)

I'm guessing inverter chargers with built in ATS (like a progressive dynamics, or potentially dreaded renogy) don't have this problem
 
Brucey said:
One of the reviews on Amazon mention a way to do immediate switchback:
Click to expand...
I think that's just for allowing the generator time to warm up, which i'm ok with. the inverter stays powered the whole time - that shore power (or generator) transition is seamless with the light bulb test, it just takes 15-20 seconds to do it.. but inverter carries the load in the mean time.

So actually I think if I changed the transfer switch wiring like I mentioned in my post above, I'd make thing worse (unless I did what your amazon review guy said)
 
If the pheonix is On and not in eco mode there shouldn't be any delay in powering the load.
 
Brucey said:
If the pheonix is On and not in eco mode there shouldn't be any delay in powering the load.
Click to expand...
Yeah definitely on, not eco mode.

The transition from inverter to shore power (after the 20 seconds delay for generator warmup) makes the light pulse but it remains illuminated. When I flip the breaker off at the podium to kill shore power it does transfer back to inverter, but the light does not remain illuminated in that half second time. Youtube video stuck on processing for last 30 mins.. its a 15 second clip :cautious:
 
I don't have the spec for that ATS but is it a double throw make before break like the Filax? Filax is designed for sensitive electronics, Victron also has some larger transfer switches with a switching delay in the 5kVA and 10kVA 220V ranges for other requirements.

Thinking of getting one myself so my wfh setup can switch from inverter (48/1200) as priority to grid as needed.

Screenshot_20240502_181608_Samsung Notes.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
New Multiplus 3000/12v (NOT MULTIPLUS II) GFCI Tripping when in charge mode at only 6 amps DC (90 Watts)
Replies
9
Views
240
HarryN
H
O
MPP LV6548 RV Open Ground
Replies
1
Views
135
Ozark
O
C
Rookie looking to convert to lithium 12 volt
Replies
11
Views
545
0truck0
0truck0
A
GFI trips on inverter when trying to power my trailer AC panel with Renogy New Edition Inverter
Replies
2
Views
186
Aikalowych
A
J
Inverter Ground/Neutral Bonding
Replies
11
Views
312
Snapperhead
Snapperhead
Back
Top