Are Two Inverters Better Than One? | Discussing Split Phase Off Grid Pros And Cons

Is a split-phase inverter system worth installing for off-grid applications? In this video, I chat with Jason Miller of the Getaway Couple / getawaycouple about their dual inverter setup. We talk about the pros and cons and how they deal with them. This video is a bit of a nerd-out session and as Jason says, this kind of setup is for those who know or want to learn lots about electrical builds.
#inverter #dualinverter #splitphase #offgridpower #solar #RVsolar
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We are Tom & Caitlin Morton and we are the Mortons on the Move. We are co-hosts of 'The RVers' TV Show on the Discovery Channel, PBS, and Fun Roads TV. We are the Creators of the 'Go North' series available on Amazon Prime and KZbin. We've lived full-time in an RV since 2015.
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[@kevinf3861]

Thanks Tom (& Cait). It's been fun watching both the channels over the last few years. The progression has been fun, educational, and stimulating. Happy trails to all! 👍👍

[@MortonsontheMove]

Glad you're enjoying our content! :)

[@mickwilliams7587]

I follow you both and enjoy both of your blog articles and videos. Thanks for this one as we are heading down the exact same road with possibly going split system.

[@MortonsontheMove]

You're welcome! Hope it helped! :)

[@dirtybloomers7068]

Why am I watching (and enjoying it!) RV electrical power system nerds?

[@ccrvsolar]

Thanks for the video.... it was watching both of you that lead to me and my wife falling in love with the lifestyle, going and taking RV Tech classes then getting certified in RV Solar which then lead to our business....would love to meet both you at some point in our travels....

[@MortonsontheMove]

That's awesome. We love hearing these kind of stories. Happy travels! :)

[@curtiswaagner]

Great review. Still happy with my single 24v

[@terryhaynes1596]

Of course Victron just released the Multiplus Ii 12/3000 inverter which will take the 30 amp and automatically bridge it accords both 50 amp loads. They are always improving their products. Love your clean install, especially how you ran the conduit on the roof. That makes a lot of sense.

[@bobocrina2643]

Have you asked yourself if the new inverters gen 2 are not as great.I mean so durable?

[@terryhaynes1596]

@@bobocrina2643 I trust Victron whether first or second generation. Victron has an incredible warranty and track record. Thus far my Victron Multiplus II has been outstanding and does everything they said it would do. Combined with the 712, ColorControl GX and WEN Generator it is an outstanding system. Not sure I want or need solar.

[@bobocrina2643]

@@terryhaynes1596 I was told by a well known Australian Victron Dealer/ Instaler that they do not have so great experience with second generation inverters . they are lighter with not so solid materials to cut costs.

[@terryhaynes1596]

If so, glad they have a 5 yr warranty.

[@ezrider7970]

We love the video! We have built out a full kenworth t300 with 2400 watts dual Victron 24/3000

[@NeverStopAdventuring]

The system my husband installed for us is also a split-phase dual inverter setup. It's working great! Good info!

[@livinganewdream3682]

Love the nerd out vids. I'm an EE and installed a system similar to Jasons. Dual Victrons/600ah BattleBorns/1200w solar. All power from shore passes thru the Victrons. My victrons operate more efficiently in split-phase mode than in single phase parallel mode. I seem to get a little more out of my battery bank in split phase when boondocking. Perhaps because each unit alternates which is pushing energy into it's coils during inverter mode. However, the hybrid function works far better when I had just one Victron unit installed. They don't just cooperate that well when you limit your shore power. I frequently get whole loads tossed into "inverter" mode when only a few watts is needed from batteries to supplement. My 50a split phase mode works a little different than Jasons. Both units draw from shore power, one on each leg. The second system does not draw from DC. Also, the constant reprogramming from parallel to split phase is a hassle when you move around a lot and don't know whether your getting 30a or a 50a connection next. As smart as the Victrons are, this should be a software fix. Just detect the incoming waveform on each leg. If they're 180 out, switch to split-phase, if not stay in single phase. Hello Victron!

[@MortonsontheMove]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@demonrat1319]

Hey maybe you could answer my question. I am wanting to hookup a solar system to my house.. my plan was solar to charge controller to battery to inverter then to one Positive lug where the meter used to be... Same exact setup running into the other Positive lug with ground and neutral together... Would that make a split phase to allow me to keep the original breakers and wiring in the house?

[@charlieodom9107]

You wouldn't need to reprogram anything if you wired them correctly!

[@6969smurfy]

Mpp solar baby! They've been doing split phase for a long time

[@mikekessel2103]

I have a similar setup and can not figure out why my shore power will not pass thru. Can you make a video about the setup and charging specks for running split phase. This video is awesome thanks!

[@TheTchieX]

Seems like the new Multiplus II 12/3000 2x120 or a Quattro 5000 is a better solution than dual inverters. Having to remember to adjust one inverter all the time when doing 30AMP or Generator is not something people seem to talk about on all these RV KZbin videos. Thank you for the honest opinions.

[@PatrioticUSAmerican]

With a dual 3,000 watt Victron Inverter system like this, I would definitely have a battery bank of 10 Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries. I'd have such a great time installing the quality Victron Energy components for a boondocking-bound rig. Electrical Gear Geeks Galore!

[@ludlow7369]

Well, you guys talked a lot. Didn't show us much at all of the system. I'm guessing the 2 legs are kept separate, otherwise he would've had to address paralleling them together. Guess I still need to find another vid. Thanks anyway.

[@dwanehudson6904]

Tom will the auto former balance the power to both inverters if you say your using 4000 watts just running on your batteries only?

[@tatung70]

When you connect to any shore power source thats less than 50amp, how are you getting around the pass thru power issue? From what Ive read, 30amp (example) shore power connected to a dual inverter setup cant supply power thru both inverters. For victron you have the option of passing thru single phase power on one inverter while the other inverter (L2) is only able to invert. So you would have the full 30amp on L1 that goes thru inverter 1. However L2 only has power from batteries, not shore power since L2 routes thru inverter 2. And then single phase generators have this same issue.

[@derekwrecked]

How do you switch from split phase to parallel with Bluetooth app? I can do it on a laptop, but it would be very convenient to do it on my iPhone.

[@wonderwhere2wander9]

I system like is on 12v is impressive.

[@patrickconrad396]

Hi do you need two charge controllers? I got a 3000w inverter/charge controller, but want to add a second regular 2000 watt inverter. I don't have a victron inverter though. Also my main inverter charges via shore too. So I'm assuming I'd need a system that turns off the secondary inverter when shore power is connected?

[@Cordycep1]

Can I use a split-phase inverter for single phase only?

[@karenpolansky9097]

That was interesting, but I have enough trouble just keeping my little system running smoothly. 🤷‍♀️

[@MortonsontheMove]

Yea he has had a few challenges with this setup.

[@DamienRufus]

Can you run two acs at the same time? 15k and 13k btu?

[@rontech34]

Question I have 2 PowMr 24v hybrid inverters 3000w each I have 24v 600ah Lipo4 battery bank can I connect both inverters to the 1 battery bank? But can I connect 4000w solar panels to 1 Inverter to charge the batteries ? The reason why because I don't want to split the panels in half and run another set of wires from my roof down to the garage it's to much work

[@benjones8977]

I’m curious that if you’re using two separate inverters, are you using two separate battery banks? If not, how do you wire this up? 🤔

[@ccrvsolar]

One battery bank, normally batteries run to a busbar and then from busbar to each inverter....inverters have to have the same firmware and be programmed to work together....

[@RogerWilco1]

Using the slider is nice here, but I would slow it down. Its a bit too intrusive and more noticeable when you do a jump cut because of the speed.

[@MitchOfCanada]

Nice install, I would install on strut next time then you can update easier, move, or takeoff solar easy. 800watt nuc, wtf!

[@stephenpolos1689]

Great video 😁 but for people not familiar solar & duel inverter's it was a little confusing you guys work on systems all the time

[@takismenexes6131]

I'm in dilemma. Multiplus or multiplus ii ?

[@globaldemise]

Victron autoformer solves all this but it’s another box and more weight and money

[@wipatriot510]

By upgrading suspension components doesn't mean you've increased the GVWR, that's set by the manufacturer...

[@joethecomputerguy1]

A bit cost prohibitive for many of us. And that extra weight! I have half the solar wattage and the same Ah in lithium batts. But nice system just the same. For the few days I need the AC without hookups I just run the gennie. Personally would not be without the gennie.

[@unyalliman]

Not 3000 watt. These are 3000VA or 2400 watt or 20 amp AC.

[@lrobie123]

The Volta Power Systems: Automotive-Grade Lithium-Ion Energy Storage (48 volt) is catching on in the RV industry as a solution installed. It is automotive grade as well.

[@chachi5975]

Why do you only have 2-50 amp controllers for 2000W of panels? The most you can get at 14.6v is 730W per controller, so 1460W max. It would be an easy upgrade and not inexpensive, but it's like 2 of those panels aren't even being used.

[@BenBrand]

Generally having extra solar panels is a good thing, it means on cloudy days you can still make 1460W to max out the controller and in the summer you don't have to tip the panels because you still have enough coming in with them being flat at a bad angle.

[@chachi5975]

@@BenBrand having the controllers sized so that they can provide the maximum power that the panels are generating makes more sense. On cloudy days you take what you can get but on sunny days they are limited by undersized controllers.

[@ewetuber186000]

How about 1 larger inverter….say 5000 watt….and an auto transformer to balance the loads?

[@mgd09050]

Yeah that's for sure the better way to go. Problem with this setup is that you can only ever get up to 3000 watts on each leg. With the autoformer setup you can use 100% of the power on each leg. Edit: They do cover this at the end of the video

[@scotthelmann5156]

A single inverter is more efficient as the standby power of only 1 inverter being on is half as much, as well as creating a simpler system. Sometimes simpler is more efficient and in the end better. I have a 4000 watt giandel super efficient DC-DC/AC inverter which works the same as powering from the generator.

[@cruisinguy6024]

Am I actually first for a change? Noice!

[@MortonsontheMove]

Lol, nice!

[@bobfleming3400]

It’s like a different language. I don’t understand anything they say. Except “batteries”, I got that.

[@taurustodd9112]

I want to see this dudes beard. Where is she?

[@onlyscience7120]

RV's just don't need 240 Volt.

[@mrsunelectronics544]

🤔 warum nur auf 12V ??? ist bei Leistungen über 800W uninteressant, da der Strom viel zu groß wird... 24V od für Daheim 48V deutlich sinnvoller ! mehrere Wechselrichter macht sinn, um Strom zu sparen bei kleinen Verbrauchern würde ich sogar noch ein 800-1200W Victron dazu nehmen vorallem wenn im System 5000er verbaut sind wie bei mir, die nur für große Verbraucher aktiv sein müssen.... im K30 hab ich nen 24/3000 und 800W PV (2x400W) Sunpower Maxeon 3 ;) Grüße aus Deutschland

[@djkillachris]

Conduit requires a larger wire gauge due to heat. At least if you follow ABYC standards.

[@coolchef09]

tucking your mic in your shirt collar makes you sound muffled

[@rogerkerkmann]

I can understand dual inverters for redundancy but if you don't have any 220 volt appliances why do you need split phase 🤔👍

[@ticopowell]

If you don't have a split phase system you can't take advantage of the 220v 50 amp plugs. You'd get 50 amps but only 110 volts. I don't know if this makes a huge difference with rv's though.

[@moretoliving2236]

Considering guy ends every sentence with a question… i hope he grows sea legs sooner than later because it sounds like he just does not understand what he has… still… and paid a few thousand dollars too much and professionals made out like bandits.

[@Weak_juan]

What does it matter to you?

[@tomasthomas7407]

Mac RV 👎🏼👎🏼, almost ‘obscene’🙀

[@mikemiller9119]

Man, are you two okay? We can all see the love in your eyes. You guys can barely contain yourselves. I say ditch the wives and go at it. Btw, I’m just poking fun. I know you two are just geeking out and are excited to do it.

[@jameshuynh5436]

Too much talk

[@michaelphilip9378]

Have been an Electrician for over 50 years and never heard of split phase until this year. There is only Single Phase and Three Phase. Quit making up things in an attempt to sound smart. Watched about 2 minutes before shutting this off

[@LuckyCharmRVing]

Split phase is the North American standard for 50A 240V RV electrical systems. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-phase_electric_power

[@michaelphilip9378]

@@LuckyCharmRVing 120/240 is Single Phase, same as 120/208 and 347/600, etc... are 3 Phase. And my bad, meant over 40 years, not 50

[@LuckyCharmRVing]

@@michaelphilip9378 indeed, fully aware of the difference in phases. Was just pointing out split phase is the standard as what is referred to in North America’s 50A 240V RV electrical systems. Surprised a 40/50 year electrician doesn’t understand that. Just wanted to clarify that it is common knowledge and industry standard, not something made up as you stated. I guess it’s hard for someone to learn something new if they think they already know everything though.

[@closetcleaner]

I'm sorry you don't understand that.

[@dwanehudson6904]

Tom will the auto former if your just using your batteries and say running 4000 watts still balance the power to both 3000 watt inverters?