My inverter charger control panel is a Magnum Energy, it has 2 buttons, INVERTOR-ON/OFF and CHARGER-ON/OFF. I have not hit any of the buttons since we got the Rig, it has been on the whole time. When the genny is running, i assume both buttons should be on, how about when we are plugged in to shore power? Also when we are boondocking and just running off the batteries what should be on? I have not read to much about the whole electrical system thing yet. Outside the Rig we have a 30 amp Magnum Sine Wave Inverter and 6 Marine batteries, and a 12,500watt Onan, i think i should be able to get some time out of this system, the controller is however a little intimidating, thanks Gene.

The inverter converts battery power, 12 volt, to AC 110 volt to run your appliances in the rig when you do not have a source of 110. When you are plugged into shore power (110), the inverter should be off. You should generally keep the charger on with both shore power and when using the generator, since you are almost always using some 12 volt items in the rig, and want to keep the batteries charged. There are a number of sites that give very good explanations of the electrical system and all all it's variations. Jack Mayers site would be a good start. It would be wise to sit down and educate yourself sometime before you venture too far in this lifestyle.

I do the same...inverter stays off until we need to use it. So far we have only used it for the laptop when on the road, and on a couple of occasions when the park lost power for most of the day and I wanted to watch the news on TV. It's handy to have, but I don't count on it for much. I know the microwave will eat the power from the batteries very quickly. We don't boondock but I know power management would be a big factor. I don't think I would let the batteries get below 11VDC before starting the genny to re-charge.

With a pure sine wave inverter I would leave it on all the time when on shore power since it works likes a UPS and will automatically switch over when your shore power goes out. That is what we do with our pure sine wave inverter. When boondocking only have the inverter on when needed. The only time the charger should be off is when you are working on the batteries so you don't get a surprise.

Luvglass wrote:

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The inverter converts battery power, 12 volt, to AC 110 volt to run your appliances in the rig when you do not have a source of 110. When you are plugged into shore power (110), the inverter should be off. You should generally keep the charger on with both shore power and when using the generator, since you are almost always using some 12 volt items in the rig, and want to keep the batteries charged.

There are a number of sites that give very good explanations of the electrical system and all all it's variations. Jack Mayers site would be a good start. It would be wise to sit down and educate yourself sometime before you venture too far in this lifestyle.

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Thanks Fred, i checked out Jacks site,  its very technical and more about building a system than managing a system, this controller of mine has so many functions, i am just curious how many people utilize all that the controller is capable of, or do most people turn them on and off as needed. I am a builder by trade and have a solid background on most all of the RV systems, houses however, typically dont use inverters therefore my knowledge is limited in this area. Like my cell phone, the inverter has a book 40 pages of details, my phone can do everything except maybe cook dinner, i however just make calls. Should this Inverter controller be looked at the same way, or do you all avail yourselves to all the controller is capable of, G

-- Edited by GENECOP on Tuesday 20th of July 2010 08:34:00 AM

I for one, just turn it on when I need 110 and turn it off when I don't. My model is different than yours and has a light that goes red when the batteries have been depleted and the system has to be shut off. That's all I need and want, so that's all I use it for. I'm too busy with retirement to worry about how many miliamps I'm using at any given moment, or some other esoteric piece of minutia information. And with my cell phone, I'm happy if I can answer a call.

That's the same one I have Gene. I set it for my battery type, leave the charger on and inverter off most of the time. I glance at it once in awhile to make sure it's showing full charge or float charge (so I know it's working) but other than that I don't mess with it. The only other time I touch it is when I am on shore power of less than 50 amp service. It will manage the load for you if on 30 or 20 amp service, but you have to tell it how much is available. The only issue I had with it is a bad temperature sensor on the batteries, and they sent me a new one. I was very pleased with their customer service, they were friendly and knowledgeable. Seems to be a reliable system that doesn't need much attention.