AC200L for Travel Trailer -- DC40 or not?

Product Discussion BLUETTI AC Series
1

I’m pretty new to the solar generator scene. I own an AC200L and currently power my travel trailer via the 30A 120V output using the built-in inverter. In addition to the 120V it provides, the trailer’s converter uses this to supply 12V for powering lights, etc., as well as charge the house batteries. It’s all very convenient, but that means it’s going from DC → AC → DC, and there is certainly some inefficiency there.

My question is this – is it worth investing in a D40 to run the trailer’s 12V and charge the house batteries directly, skipping the AC200L’s inverter? I don’t have an inverter in the trailer, so I know I’d loose 120V going this route.

The D40 could also be useful as a charger controller for the PVs, but is it overkill to only use it for that?

Thanks for any help you can send my way! I’m having fun learning about all of this.

2

I actually bought the D40 thinking it would be easier to just plug into the existing system, but it’s not looking that way, so I’m thinking the 30A/120V plug may just keep things simpler and that I should return the D40.

I’d like to be able to charge my trailer batteries directly via solar as a backup to having the AC200L, but I think I can get a charger controller for my panels for less money than the D40.

Am I missing something?

3

@devguydavid I’d rather suggest you charge the battery directly from the cigarette lighter and return D40.