I am installing a 2000 watt pure sine inverter in my RV to run a microwave oven. It is connected to the 110 volt shore power system. I would like to have the microwave and both the shore power and the inverter connected to a selector switch. I don’t know what such a switch is called so it is difficult to find. I hope this not a nuisance question but I have exhausted all of my research options. Thanks for your time.
Electrical – Kind of switch required to select between power sources
electrical
Related Topic
- Electrical – Two power sources, one 3-way switch
- Electrical – How to economically switch between two home power sources
- Electrical – Flickering lights, sometimes no power to some
- Sump Pump – Automated Battery Backup for Sump Pumps
- Electrical – Adding Critical-Loads Sub-Panel with PV Installation, Rationale, and Ampacity Calculation
- Electrical – How many wires per connector, why is a black wire connected to a white wire, how to install brace bar without attic access
- Electrical – Microwave outlet sparked while running, draws 17 A from 15 A plug
Best Answer
Transfer Switch
A double-pole double-throw break-before-make is essentially what you need. But there are devices designed exactly for this. Transfer switch is the term.
Large transfer switches are used in buildings to transfer between backup generator and utility power. You just need a small one - ~ 20 Amp - to transfer one circuit, but the principle (and the terminology) is the same. Depending on how your RV electrical supply is setup, you may be able to put a transfer switch inline with the one circuit for the microwave, or you may want to install it with the main breaker panel. If you install it with the main panel then you have to figure out how to separate different circuits so you don't overload the inverter when you flip the switch, though adding some LED lighting or other small loads would probably be fine.
There are automatic transfer switches, but those are typically for unattended switching to generator when the power goes out, but there is no benefit to that here, and in fact you would probably NOT want it on automatic as there will be times when you don't have shore power AND don't want to turn on the inverter either.