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Wiring GFCI Outlet directly into Inverter Question

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8.2K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  keeponvaning  
#1 ·
Hi all,

This is probably a silly question to most of you veterans on here, but I've had trouble finding the exact answer to my question while scouring the internet.

I have a 2000 watt Renogy Inverter. It has AC hardwire connections on it and 3 outlets. Rather than running extension cords from the outlets on the inverter to my kitchen area, I am thinking of installing a GFCI outlet (in an outdoor outlet box) in my kichen area and hardwiring that oulet directly to the AC connections on the inverter.

Is this safe to do? Or do I need to run the GFCI outlet to a specific GFCI breaker box first, which would then be wired into the inverter? I only need the one outlet, so my assumption is I'm alright and the reason for adding in a full breaker box is solely to be able to run multiple outlets out of it throughout the rig.

Hopefully that makes sense. Apologies if this has been discussed here.

Appreciate it!
 
#3 · (Edited)
A GFCI outlet has the ground-fault protection built into it, so it protects anything plugged into (only) that outlet. If you wire them in series, the tripped one breaks the circuit for all that follow.

A GFCI breaker protects all the outlets that are wired to that circuit. You should be able to hardwire the GFCI outlet directly to the inverter to protect appliances near the sink. (My understanding of building code is outlets within 18" of open water containment need GFCI, but I'm not a licensed builder... and a van's not a building).
 
#4 · (Edited)
I used GFCI outlets everywhere in the van. I just ran them all to a small breaker panel and then fed the breaker panel from the inverter.

If your inverter is small and you're only hooking one duplex GFCI outlet to it, I think it should be fused or protected internally so you shouldn't need a separate breaker. You should be fine running straight from the inverter to the GFCI.
 
#5 ·
The simplest (and best option IMHO) is to simply but a 12/3 heavy duty extension cord and plug it into your inverter then run it to a electrical box. I have 2 10vac recepticals in my van. The both run off a 1500 w pure sine wave inverter where the male end of the cord is plugged in. I have a hidden receptical behind my micro and another one on my kitchen counter area. Obviously I don’t run appliances off both (with the inverter) at the same time as that is asking for problems but if I’m connected to shore power (which I rarely even bother with) I simply unplug the cord from the inverter and plug it into the shore power cord. Not high tech, for sure, but foolproof, safe and simple.
Think out of the box and many new opportunities will open for you!
 
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