When to Use the Inverter/Charger Switch on 2023 Vista 29NPF

[Dixie1214]

We have a "new to us" 2023 Vista 29npf with solar and lithium battery. I have read the owners manual and maybe I have overlooked when the inverter/charger switch should be on or off. Understanding it should be off when not in use. Any help would be greatly appreciate.

 

[Morich]

Isn't life full of questions when we get new toys!!!
I'm amazed when I make it to noon with still knowing what to do!
But I think I get this one, even though your new model RV does have some new things I would need to test! Auto start generator throws a number of ideas I had not considered.

But for the question, I took a look at the owner's manual and thing I get it.
Keeping in mind that the inverter uses battery to make AC power, even if we are not using that power.! There is some power used just to set there!
So when considering the inverter on or off from the monitor, we will want to keep it off if we are not actively needing AC like when we are not plugged into cord power. Don't run the battery down unless you need to make your own AC!
I found a note to refer us to a different little book in the info pack if that is on hand, it may add better ideas?
But I find this in the owners manual:

Thinking this tells you to turn the inverter off at the panel until needing to "make" your own AC.
But when not using the RV, turn the second big switch off! On to use the whole electrical system except the inverter like when using the RV. But when stored, turn it ALL off at the switch!

Clear but I still would have some things to watch until getting to know the new RV!
Most RV leave some things turned on, even when we flip a battery disconnect switch as they do not want safety items like CO and propane detectors off. We might come back to an RV full of danger???
I would guess turning both these switches off will still let the battery go dead over the winter but that IS guessing that needs to be watched the first year or so to verify!
I'm pretty sure of that and we get a really terrible drawing to try to see but this may be a big thing to know where a lot of good stuff is done!

https://www.winnebago.com/Files/Files/Winnebago/Resources/Diagram/2022/000259848.pdf

Left side is solenoid that closes to connect chassis and coach battery together to charger or for jump start if we use a dash switch.
But at right is the battery disconnect that the switch moves to open and close contacts. This drawing misses even getting the wire ends on the big side posts! But coach battery is on left but also there are small wires that go to safety items on GJ. Not sure of what is on LJ but those both stay hot as they do not go through the disconnect!
Most power for coach goes through relay and out on KKF, K and to the generator!
So GJ can slowly run the coach battery down if we store and don't watch over the winter!
Point to know as it catches about half of new users! LJ stays hot unless you do something radical like disconnect the cable at the battery!

Hope that helps clear a headache a little bit!

 

[creativepart]

You have two inverter “switches”. You can turn the inverter on and off on the SilverLeaf screen as shown. But you also probably have an inverter rotary cutoff that connects the inverter to your battery. When in storage that rotary cutoff must be off, but anytime you are using the RV and not just storing it, you’ll want that switch on.

Here’s why, when you are parked somewhere connected to shore power (or using your generator) your inverter is your battery’s charger and the inverter can’t charge your battery if that rotary switch is off.

 

[Dixie1214]

Thanks for the help. How does the solar panels tie into this situation? If we are boondocking, would we need to have the inverter switch turn on for the solar to charge the coach lithium battery?

 

[creativepart]

No, the solar charge controller is separate from the inverter. The inverter charger is a 110vac device and works from Shore power or generator power. While your charge controller is a DC device connected directly to your house battery and solar cells on the roof..

 

[Dixie1214]

Thanks. So, if i am boondocking, I do not need the inverter/charger switch in the on position unless I am using a 120v device and the solar will keep the coach battery charged? Wow! I'm trying lol.

 

[creativepart]

Keep in mind that when boondocking it is not a given that the solar will keep up with your 12v usage. Your 12v fridge and propane heater fan will use a lot of power and while solar helps a lot there’s no guarantee that it will be enough to keep your battery charged.

We have a similar system in our 2026 View an we find it’s necessary to run our generator 1-2 hours in the morning and at least that much at dinner time.

So we keep our inverter power rotary switch on all the time for charging. And, in our case, we also keep the inverter standby switch on for our internet router and various device chargers that run on 110vac.

 

[Dixie1214]

Thanks for the information. We are leaving for central Florida shortly for three weeks. It is full hookup, but It may be a good time to try boondocking part of the time to see how it all shakes out. We will be leaving SE North Carolina for Glacier, Yellowstone, Utah, etc. August through Mid-October so I would like to have everything dialed in before leaving. Thanks again and safe travels to all

 

[Morich]

One more point to throw in confusion?
The use of different words may not always be correct and exact. The use of inverter in this case seems to be way out of line with the most common use of that term!
Do a search of "inverter" and you will likely not find anything that says it charges batteries! But your unit from Winnebago does have an inverter in their use of the term.
I just file that sort of loose terms as likely a smallish group in the shop who may totally know the difference but it is easier to short cut things when speaking of some "everybody knows" parts.
It never hurts anything until it gets out here where many of us don't know they mean something else that charges batteries!
When looking at the parts list for your RV, it shows NOTHING to charge the batteries.
But we do know there is SOMETHING to do that job!

Just don't put too much value on terms like this in the RV world! Official info from Winnebago says you have two different options for 1000 or 2000 watt inverters but nothing to charge the batteries!
In the RV world, we put our boots on before pulling on the pants?